The Lathe

Late 1930s Yates American J-70 with 12" throw, split pulley variable speed, Dayton 220V Single Phase 1 HP motor, and Dayton reversing drum switch.

Equipped with a Oneway Talon four-jaw chuck and a Robert Sorby Steb center in the tailstock.

I have various types of turning chisels, several of which are Robert Sorby high speed steel.

The lathe was purchased from a fellow woodworker who sold it to us in pieces that were covered in years of sawdust, dirt, and a bit of rust (I wish I had a picture of its former condition). However, as you can see below, my dad and I totally restored all of the components and assembled them using information from old manuals and talking with older generations of woodworkers. I was very fortunate that the components were still in good condition and aligned with admirable precision. Hearing the motor purr after investing many hours was gratifying, and now I know how every component works and interconnects to form the complete machine.