An old tip for new-ish 3520 owners

Re: An old tip for new-ish 3520 owners

John K Jordan

>It looks like the Jet 1642 is made the same way. I suspected it was made that way to prevent damage in the event that someone forgot to unlock before turning the lathe on. If so, defeating the button may require extra care. It might be possible to devise a holddown with an electrical interlock.

I personally have not yet found a case where I needed to lock the spindle and use both hands for something else. When is this useful?

JKJ in East TN

Re: An old tip for new-ish 3520 owners

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Really? I can't think of a situation where I need the spindle locked only momentarily! Very interesting. Perhaps it is the types of things we turn? I lock it for sanding - with every grit. I lock it for removal of the chuck, I lock it for carving, I lock it for setting up the vac chuck, I could go on, and on, and on.

Turning the motor on with the lock engaged does nothing other than spin the pulleys. The belt slips. It makes a weird noise till you remember what you did, but the startup power of the motor is not enough to defeat the spindle lock.

Re: An old tip for new-ish 3520 owners

John K Jordan

>>I lock it for sanding - with every grit.

>I lock it for removal of the chuck, I lock it

>for carving, I lock it for setting up the vac chuck,

Yes, probably just a difference in working styles. Are you left-handed? I do most power and hand sanding with the lathe off but I rotate the work back and forth as needed with my left hand while the right holds the angle drill or sandpaper. I use the chuck wrench in the right hand while the left holds the button.

I've not yet done any carving or routing on the lathe, but I figured I'd just use the built-in indexing lock. Maybe that would be less efficient.

JKJ in East TN

Re: An old tip for new-ish 3520 owners

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Built in indexing lock? Are you bragging about another brand of lathe? 3520s have no such beast.

Am I left handed? Sort of. I am truly ambidextrous. With one exception (writing) I can honestly do all things equally well with both hands.

For example, I use the mouse with the right hand at work, and it is set up left handed at home. Keeps my shoulders even. Absolutely no difference in mouse efficiency with either hand. But you already knew I was a bit odd. I can pretty much turn equally well with both hands, but since I learned with one in particular, I still favor that one.

Re: An old tip for new-ish 3520 owners

John K Jordan

>>Built in indexing lock? Are you bragging about

>another brand of lathe? 3520s have no such beast.

Oh, sorry. I use the Jet 1642 and since it appears to be the nearly-identical little brother to the 3520, I assumed they both had the indexing system. I called my dealer who confirmed that yes, for some reason he didn't understand Powermatic omitted the simple built-in indexing system from the 3520, instead offering an add-on indexer at extra cost.

No bragging intended, but he said he liked the one built into the the 1642 better and didn't understand why they left it off the 3520 - it would have cost very little to include. Bummer.

JKJ in East TN

Re: An old tip for new-ish 3520 owners

rprevett

>Mike, thanks for the great tip. For chucks and such, this is a real time saver. Though the 1642 does have the indexing system (spindle lock), you have to screw in a seperate 'locking' rod. This idea will be much quicker.

Re: An old tip for new-ish 3520 owners

George Van in WI

>Thanks for this tip Mike, it is the easiest method I have seen, therefore I WILL do it. The others I was waiting till I made time.

Re: An old tip for new-ish 3520 owners

Dick Hines

>I used to do the same thing mike. The only trouble I had with this was the top screw keep working loose and I did not get a good tight fit to the spindle lock.

What I did was take the little bracket off and drill a small hole through both sides. I put a piece of copper wire thorough the holes. When not in use the wire hangs from a piece of red string. The red string reminds me to pull the wire out before I turn the lathe on.

Re: An old tip for new-ish 3520 owners

Chris K. in MD

>Gerry from MD a memeber here and of our club BAT (Baltimore Area Turners), did just that (drill throught the sides of the button shield) but he used a 1/8" wire that goes through nicely attached to a lanyard that is tethered to the bottom mounting screw.

That aftermarket indexer is pricey at $180 has anyone bought one to comment?

Can anyone send a picture of one or the unit that comes on the JET ?