1/4 Scale 1895 St. Joseph Iron Works veneer lathe

[Mike N]

It all started last fall when I saw this old veneer lathe at LeSeur Pioneer Power show in Southern Minnesota. I wanted to add another implement for my 1/3rd Scale Case Steam Engine to demonstrate at Antique Tractor shows.

 

[Mike N]

Started the design work 11/11/23

 

[Mike N]

Gear blanks, 17 gears total
100 tooth 8dp large gears
12 tooth 8dp small gears
lots of in between sizes

 

[Mike N]

Repurposed a old antique flywheel

 

[Mike N]

Started to build the steel frame

 

[Mike N]

Sawed up a nice spruce log to build the stand

 

[Mike N]

Final assembly and paint job

 

[Mike N]

I will post a video once I get time to fire up the Steam Engine and make some veneer. I have change gears on the feed drive so I can make veneer from .057" - .085" thickness.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HMiXF3wZcqtnLEVk6

This video was taken early on just to see if it would work! The log was big tooth aspen. It can handle 13" diameter logs 18" long. This will yield approximately 250 lineal ft. of veneer.

 

[ShopShoe]

I am impressed with this project and your abilities to get it made. There definitely will be lots of things to watch when it is running.

Congratulations on accomplishing this and Thank You for posting it for us to see.

--ShopShoe

 

[GreenTwin]

That is a most impressive piece of equipment, and so well done !
Fantastic.
My family was in the hardwood lumber business for over 100 years, and they would be most impressed with that machine.
.

 

[Mike N]

First time running with the steam engine.
Worked great!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zZQXun5hZQ7cR5Bd7

 

[Richard Hed]

Whoa! So what are you going to do withthe veneer?

 

[timo_gross]

Whoa! So what are you going to do withthe veneer?

I would print some posters on the veneer with a vintage manual printing machine , if I had veneer or a printing machine.

 

[Richard Hed]

I would print some posters on the veneer with a vintage manual printing machine , if I had veneer or a printing machine.

There are lots of nifty uses for it. Just thimpfk of all the types of wood that could be shaved and used in various clever designs.

 

[ddmckee54]

I would imagine that some of the hardwoods will really make that steam engine do some serious work. That's got to take some power and a razor sharp blade to cut the veneer off the full width of the blank.

 

[Richard Hed]

I would imagine that some of the hardwoods will really make that steam engine do some serious work. That's got to take some power and a razor sharp blade to cut the veneer off the full width of the blank.

I workt at a plywood mill. The veneer making lathe had a 500 HP electric motor.

 

[GreenTwin]

Steam engines can produce 100% of their torque at zero rpm.
Steam engines are surprisingly strong and torquey for their size.
.

 

[Sprocket]

I guess you need to make a scale model of a steam powered plywood press. A 1/4 scale 4’x 8’ would be
2’x4’. Looks like your pieces would work.
Doug

 

[Mike N]

Whoa! So what are you going to do withthe veneer?

So, everyone asks me that question. My answer has been "I roll up the veneer and burn it in my firebox so I can make more veneer!" LOL! Actually I discovered that the 3" cores make great rolling pins.

 

[gbritnell]

I know it's a big ask, but do you have some drawings with dimensions? Wonderful build!