3520b safety cage

[Cliff Holmes]

I'm finishing up assembling my wife's new 3520b. In looking at various people's shop shots lately, the only lathes I've seen with the safety cage are the Powermatic/Jet and even then most people don't seem to have them installed. Is it even worth installing? Or does it just get in the way?

[Tony De Masi]

Cliff, for me it got in the way. I put up with it for about a week then took it off.

Tony

[ROY DICK]

+1 on what Tony said..

Roy

[Robert McGowen]

Mine is still in the plastic wrap after 2 years..........

[Jim Slovik]

Cliff,
I never did mount the safety cage. I put this in it's place http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=111808.
This light set-up is a real joy to use. I didn't make the arms quite as long as Philip did but otherwise it's the same. Try it, you'll like it!!
Jim

[Gary Herrmann]

Never installed mine

[Ted Calver]

Cliff, I actually use mine when doing anything that might launch a piece of bark or wood through the window directly behind it :)

[Ryan Baker]

I never put mine on. Don't even remember where I put it.

[Mike Marmon]

I have mine installed, but I don't generally use it as a safety cage. I use it as a ready rack for tools and I attach my light to it.

Mike

[Jeff Nicol]

Mine is still in the wrapping and buried in the attic of the shop, might work as a gril on the firepit?

Have fun and a Merry Christmas,

Jeff

[Richard Madison]

+1 wrapped in original plastic on a shelf somewhere. Also the tool tray wire basket thingy.

[Bob Bergstrom]

Wish I could find something else to use it for. Mine is still wrapped. It just takes up space in the store room.

[gary Zimmel]

I put mine on for a couple of days.

Now it sits in the corner of my shop...

[Kirk Miller]

One of the more experienced turners with our local turning club was sporting a "badge of courage" from not having his installed. He said he will have no problem working around a saftey cage in the future.

[Tom Hintz]

I use the cage on my 3520B anytime I work with a larger piece, espeically anything with raw edges. With it tilted back when not in use it is not in the way. Plus, taking it off or re-installing it is not complicated.
One of the first things I did with my (then) new 3520B was turn a large hunk of oak log. Soon after starting a big piece fractured off and hit the cage right in front of me hard enough to rock it a bunch. I learned to work around the cage after that. It really isn't all that bad once you do it a little.

[alex carey]

never installed it, would just get in the way.

[charlie knighton]

safety cage for jet went out with neighborhood pickup

tool rest breakage goes sideways, very scary on different lathe

i have heard this repeated at more than one rotation

if you turn less than 1000 rpm's the form will eject downward

if you turn more than 1000 rpm's the form will eject upwards

take your choice, i always wear faceshield, watching for sale on cups :D

[Larry Marley]

Mine is still in the plastic wrap after 2 years..........

+1 after 5 years

[Montgomery Scott]

I have mine installed, though it's rotated away 90% of the time. The other 10% is when I have larger pieces for roughing that entice me to be safety conscious.

[Steve Schlumpf]

I have mine sitting on a shelf - out of the way - but do use it when roughing out large chunks with bark inclusions cause you just never know when they might let loose.