Accounts
Home Articles Forums Gallery Marketplace Videos
ADVERTISE HERE - FREE TRIAL
New here? How did you find us?

WoodCentral Forums

Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

Tool Rests, Adaptations, Hardware *PICS*

Posts

Tool Rests, Adaptations, Hardware *PICS*

#1

Tool Rests, Adaptations, Hardware *PICS*

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>Thanks for the help in my search for a banjo or tool rest base for a homemade bedpost lathe. I noted in that thread that I had an idea that might solve my problem quickly and cheaply. Today the hardware arrived, from McMaster-Carr, and I assembled it and tried it out.

Success!

So, in case anyone else has a similar problem in the future, I'm restating the original problem and my solution.

We have two lathes. One is a Jet 1236, which is equipped with accessories in configurations often found on midsized lathes. We use it to turn finials, bun feet, ballusters, newel posts, quarter columns, chair legs and stretchers, etc. The other is a homemade lathe specifically for turning bedposts. The ways are constructed from a pair of 3" x 9" cross section red oak beams with some mild steel flat stock screwed to the tops for stability and wear resistance. On this lathe, we have been using two old Delta banjos, secured with long bolts and large washers. We tighten and loosen them with a pair of wrenches, one on top and one underneath, and also use the wrenches to knock the large washers back and forth on the underside.


We would like to have more tool rests mounted at the same time, since moving these dinosaurs around is a problem that costs us a lot of time, especially since the ways aren't straight and square to each other. In particular, the bottom surfaces of the ways are not flat and parallel to the top surfaces, and they are just oak, not metal.

We also have two newer design cam locking banjos for the 1236, that are a lot more convenient to use, but they don't fit the bedpost lathe.


Here's how I solved the problem of adapting the JET banjos to Latheosaurus altus.


The threads on the JET banjo's post are 3/4" x 10 tpi. From McMaster-Carr, I ordered a 12" length of 3/4-10 NC all-thread and a matching threaded connector (a really long nut) for each JET banjo. Assembly, installation, and adjustment on the bedpost lathe are easy -- No tools required, and no machining of special components. The nut and washer shown on the threaded rod came with the banjo.


And now, to turn some 8' long 16/4 square mahogany into a four-poster.

Re: Tool Rests, Adaptations, Hardware *PICS*

#2

Where I came from originally...

Clem Wixted, Jonesboro, AR

>...Massachusetts - they call that Yankee Ingenuity.

Great way to solve a problem. Simple and cost efective. Congratulations!

Clem

Re: Tool Rests, Adaptations, Hardware *PICS*

#3

Re: Tool Rests, Adaptations, Hardware *PICS*

Doug Trembath

>William, I used the same approach a number of years ago when I wanted to turn larger items than my Delta would allow with a 12" swing. I struggled a while with the issue of what to use to make the risers out of, since I wanted to ensure the spindle centers would remain in alignment, and I didn't have access to metal machining tools. I bought some scraps of Lexan, (a type of plexiglass which is many times stronger than the regular stuff), believe it or not, and using the special adhesive glued up some blocks, machined them with woodworking tools, and installed them. I used the same approach to increase the length of the banjo bolts that you did, but was lucky enough to find the hardware in a local hardware store. It worked great for a while, but increasing the throw on a small lathe is definitely not the same as getting and using a large lathe, believe me.

It's great that you found an innovative solution to your dilemma!

If steel prices weren't going through the roof, I'd suggest that you put another layer of strap on the bottoms of the wooden ways. It would offer improved movement and facility, I think, but it seems you're already well on your way without it. Happy bedposting! Mahogany looks great as bedposts.

Doug Trembath

Studio in the Woods

Re: Tool Rests, Adaptations, Hardware *PICS*

#4

Re: Tool Rests, Adaptations, Hardware *PICS*

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>Surfacing the bottoms of the ways with steel would certainly be an improvement, and if we were making lots of bed posts, I would do it. However, we don't get a lot of customers who want these, in relation to the other things we build. Also, the bottom surfaces of the oak beams are far from flat and true, so the labor to make that enhancement, including disassembling the lathe, jointing the beds, finding and attaching the steel, and reassembling it, would be considerable, especially compared to the number of hours it would save us on the next job or two. Eventually, we'll get around to adding that enhancement, and a few other things it needs too.

I use half inch and smaller threaded rod and connectors for all kinds of shop projects, but the 3/4" size isn't stocked in the local hardware stores, or even the local Borgs.

× Share

Share on

X / Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
✉ Email this page