NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jun 30, 2010 22:20:00 GMT -5
I have wanted to try making a sphere for the longest time. I've looked and looked, and looked some more at the equipment needed to do such a thing. Always wanting to build my own equipment, as I can do it on the cheap, I was pondering how to do this one day when it hit me. I could make different size spheres really easily, by using socket wrenches from a tool set. The only obstacle was how will I turn it? Solution = use a 1/4" drive drill extension in my electric drill, and clamp the drill motor in the vise. Well, it turns out it works fantastically. By using tumbling grit in the successive stages with a little water, and a thorough cleaning between each, I got a pretty good shine on it after polishing on my leather polishing disk. The only hitch is by doing this all by hand, it's extremely taxing on the hand and arm. I think it was well worth it though. I will be giving this to my mother-in-law for her birthday. Her favorite color is blue, and she loves marbles. Sodalite sphere - 20mm  |
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Post by NatureNut on Jun 30, 2010 22:26:05 GMT -5
Pretty impressive Nate! That's using the ole noggin. You got a great shine there too. Jo
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jun 30, 2010 22:39:25 GMT -5
Thanks Jo! I'm really happy how it turned out.
You can see a few scratches in the photo, and there's 2 or 3 tiny (1/8" diameter) flat spots that didn't polish up too well, but for my first time I'm leaving it.
Nate
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Post by moondragon on Jun 30, 2010 22:47:14 GMT -5
Oh wow it is beautiful and what an unique way to create a sphere:)
Where this is a will, there will be a way:)
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Post by Woodyrock on Jul 1, 2010 1:02:00 GMT -5
Looks pretty good to me. Now, you just need to build that sphere machine.........much easier on the hands than your method. Even though we can see you did not need a sphere machine. You need to search the surplus houses for small gear motors...the rest you have already figured out. There are several designs floating around the web.
Woody
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Post by Tonyterner on Jul 1, 2010 5:32:24 GMT -5
Very cool Nate. Sounds like it was quite a lot of work but certainly worth it. I've made lots of wooden spheres but never even thought of trying a stone one without a sphere machine.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 1, 2010 7:58:15 GMT -5
Nice ! I'll see if I can find the pics of a 3 head machine a friend built, and post them for you to see. It's not fancy, but he makes up to 5" spheres on it.
Don
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 1, 2010 22:11:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words guys!
Woody - I don't know of any surplus houses around here, but I can talk to the electricians at work. They may know of where to get geared motors. The ones I've looked at on ebay are too pricey for me.
Tony - How do you make a wooden sphere? On the lathe with a jig? That must be tough too. I don't know if I'll make too many more of these without at least more mechanical assistance.
Don - I'd love to see the pics of that machine. I think about design of one of these occationally, and am trying to figure out if I can make one run off one motor.
Nate
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 1, 2010 22:50:57 GMT -5
The machine he built uses 3 - 1'3rd HP motors with pulleys to reduce the speed. He's set it up with water and grit drip, and uses iron plumbing fittings for cutter cups. It's sort of crude looking, but works great.
Don
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 1, 2010 23:07:57 GMT -5
Another friend of mine from years ago used an old flat lap that he'd adapted pipe fittings to. He just used one cup and a leather glove. Real old school sphere making. He made spheres that way from about 4" up to bowling ball size. Too labor intensive for me. Check the thread titled Finished Playing with my Balls. On the last page I posted a pic of a small sphere machine that I have. I hope to save enough nickles and dimes to buy the Covington sphere machine by the end of the year.
Don
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Post by christopherl1234 on Jul 1, 2010 23:57:02 GMT -5
Very impressive. How long did it take you to make it?
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 2, 2010 0:03:07 GMT -5
Thanks Don, I'll check out that thread.
Christopher, I don't keep track of time spent on these projects, and I worked on this on several different occations. If I had to estimate from the time I cut the cube from the rough to the finished sphere I'd guess I have about 4 or 5 hrs into it.
Nate
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Post by frane on Jul 2, 2010 9:27:13 GMT -5
Great job Nate! That is beautifully made!
Fran
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 2, 2010 20:41:42 GMT -5
Thank you Fran!
Nate
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