Does anyone use a Renzetti Lathe to dry? If so, how do you mount the drying motor and what motor do you use?

Is this realistic or should you use another lathe altogether?

Still trying to learn guys......

Bill

It's more than realistic - it's very practical. As a matter of fact, the new issue of RodMaker shows you how to adapt a drying motor to this very lathe. One two small flats of aluminum and a drying motor are required.

One thing that makes it so good for applying finish and drying, is that the rod supports are so quick and easy to adjust for height. You'll find very few drying set ups that allow you so easily set you rod's centerline on level.

Most rod builders work on one rod at a time and a drying unit right on the same lathe they wrap with allows them to build a rod, start to finish, without ever having to removed the rod blank once it's chucked into the headstock.

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A seperate drying unit is the best way to go no matter which lathe you use.Jesse

I use my Renzetti to dry finish. I brought a extra motor mount and motor pully and made mounts for my drying motor. Now once I set the rod in the lathe it never has to come out until it is dry

I would use a separate drying unit, unless you don't mind getting finish drips on your wrapping unit. Yes, they are easy to clean up, but inevitably you'll wind up with residue accumulation on the roller supports and lathe bed - residue which is harder to cleanup.

Just put wax on your lathe bed. The finish will not stick. There should be no reason to get it on your rod supports. They are located between and not underneath your guides. I've finished on a Renzetti for over 10 years and have yet to get any finish on my supports or roller wheels. I suppose if you're clumsy and careless enough you could do it, but it would take some effort.

Exactly. Any finish that drips on your lathe can be popped off the next day without leaving anything behind. I finished on all of my Renzetti lathes for 25 years and the lathes still look like new. None on my rod supports or roller wheels, yet.

Of course, I have no doubt that some guys could get the finish in places that most of us cannot imagine.

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Bill...everyone is correct on this matter...I use my Renzetti to dry any one piece rod over 12 foot as my four on the Flex Coat dryer only takes to 12 ft. and my other four unit only handles 8 ft. or less... I use a BBQ motor with a 1/4" square drive...I use a piece of solid blank that I filed down square on one end and epoxyed the round end into the head stock...this forms a link between the two for drive...I then pull off the belt, put a large rubberband between the motor and head to hold them together...very simple, just a little noodle work.
Fred

I once used the chuck on my Renzetti as a clamp to hold a cheap All-Electronics motor. The chuck itself doesn't open wide enough, but one wooden plug inserted into one the holes in each of the three clamping teeth worked just fine. You can then just clamp the motor as you would clamp down on a rod, and off you go.

Then I bought a really nice flex coat motor that allows me better control. I haven't looked back...

Wow, I can't tell you how much help this forum has been to me.

Thanks for sharing.

Bill

I say if you got a Renzetti you can afford a flexcoat dryer its just thw way to go.

The advantage to the Renzetti lathe as a drying bed, is that it is so easy to adjust and level the rod. You can't do it nearly as easily with any other drying unit - you don't have the fine degree or ease of adjustment, and having your rod's centerline level is very important if you want to obtain the best finish possible.

Andy needs to offer his lathe with a drying motor, but since he hasn't done that yet, RodMaker has shown you an easy way to professionaly mount a drying motor that will not interfere with your regular use of the lathe for wrapping or turning.

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Tom,

I ordered Rod Maker about a week ago, will I get this issue or will it be next months for my first magazine?

Bill

I can't wait to see this. I currently take my rod supports off my lathe and remove the black knob. Then I clamp the supports down to the front of my workbench with those quick grip clamps. I use one of the allelectonic motors to turn the rods. The renzetti supports are so much easier to work with than all the v blocks and rollers that I have made. 50# trolling rod or 3wt flyrod, the adjustment takes seconds.

You'll get the current issue, not the one that comes in out late February. Well, you'll get that one too, but the current issue is in the mail to you now.

I suspect that once Andy sees how I did this he'll add it as an option on his lathes next year.

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