minilathe controller

I also bought a 7X10 mini lathe from a liquidator. It was a damaged return and I thought probably the controller was kaput. Turned out to be right on. Before delving into controller repair (probably a pair of Mosfets with a bit higher amperage (and voltage rating) i decided to go low tech to get it useable. I purchased a hardware store ceiling fan contoller costing 7 bucks Canadian then bought 4 diodes 3 amp 400PIV from The Source (aka radio shack) . I trimmed and ground the new control plate housing till the control would fit in the same hole the old pot did that the lathe came with. I shifted the fuse holder west in line with the rocker switch using my dremel as i went to open holes slightly till all was well. I hooked it up to the original fuse holder and soldered the diodes two each in parrallel (I dont want to find I underdesigned so i was in overkill mode and at $1.99 a pair for the diodes who cares) I soldered them to the same end of the reversing switch the stock wires cam out of. Two in parrellel. One set with neg(cathode) to the switch and one set with pos (anode) to the switch. One set was soldered to the controller output, the other to the centre of rocker switch. I soldered a ground eyelet to the green ground wire of the ceiling fan controller and fastened it under the same ground screw as the green motor ground. I plugged all the wires back in their original locations . (white and black power wires to the lighted rocker switch in their original positions and the white and black motor wires to their original positions on the reversing switch. I crossed my fingers and turned it on. It worked!!! Perfectly! Smooth control! Needed a bigger fuse probably because now using proper full wave rectification. I let it run for a half hour . Motor was still cool. Tried to stall it a lowest speed forcing a dull tool bit.. cant. $20 (Can) later I am happy. Time will tell.