Reply To: Sewing Machine’s motor to run my lathe?

[rkw]

Hi AC mains electric sewing machine motor will work ok .
The down side is at low speed the motor will not rotate smoothly and you will lose torque.
Use a 12v DC motor and a bidirectional speed controller, you can have a very smooth rpm from 1rpm to 3000 +rpm and very little loss of torque.
Both the DC motor and a bidirectional speed controller are on EBay, or you can salvage a 12v cordless hand drill everything you want is there.
bidirectional speed controller link.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-Reversible-CW-CCW-DC-Motor-Speed-Regulator-Controller-PWM-Signal-Control-/150782131727?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item231b50be0f
Motor example link http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/DAYTON-DC-Motor-1LWK8
To convert the mains AC voltage to 12vDC use a liner converter, (laptop power supply)
The above will give you a very versatile setup in forward and reverse motion, without the use of a complicated pulley system.
Hope this helps. Roger.