3520b swing away tail stock options

[jason lambert]

What are people using? What is available? I was going to build one but between time and acquiring materials it is not worth it so I want to buy one. Who makes the best one?

[Mike Peace]

There are some solutions here: http://mustardmonster.weebly.com/

[JerHall]

It tilts down and out of the way for working from the back of the lathe, which I find essential. It also tilts to the front and gives you complete unfettered access as you work from the end of the lathe. See http://www.turnrobust.com/Tilt-A-Matic_by_Robust.html

All that said my gate hinge solution is a one day project, is not fancy, but has held up nicely for three years. Maybe $25 in material if you have the 3/4 ply scraps on hand. See slide show at http://picasaweb.google.com/jerhall95945/SwingAwayAndDownTailstockForPM3520
I built this as a prototype for a welded one, and it has held up so well I quit there. If it wears out I will go with the Robust if I have the bucks then.

The most recent solution that I just added to the Mustard Monster site is neat, but depends on the 18" extension. The tails stock swings down underneath the extension. But it requires mounting the extension at the lathe bed height. See the "Tail Stock" page at http://mustardmonster.weebly.com/

In any case I would pick a solution that gets the tailstock down and well away. Even better lets it swing to either side of the lathe. Another consideration is a solution that does not interfere with adding the extension below the tail stock fixture or using it.

Whatever solution you pick, and I think I have seen them all as I maintain the MustardMonster site, you will be very happy. It is not just avoiding lifting, you will find yourself getting the tail stock out of the way for lots of reasons you would not have bothered with before. Like leaving the drill chuck and a long bit in when doing repetitive turning with out going thru the ejection process. And lots of other procedures where it is just nicer to have it swung out of the way, but that otherwise you would just work around.

But you can't leave your coffee in the recess. I know this for sure.....

[jason lambert]

Jerhall, Thanks for the indepth reply you gave me alot to think about maybe I will build one if I can get materals easly but I think the robest will be the way to go.

By the way thanks for maintaing the musterd site it has guided me through many decisions. Great job.

[Cyril Griesbach]

Jason,
I have the robust Tilt-A-Matic. In fact I have one of the two prototypes Brent English made. He asked me and another turner to test them and provide some input on improvements which we did and he included those suggestions into the production versions.

The Robust is the ONLY tail stock system I've seen thus far that actually gets the tail stock out of the way. I have seen some efforts by other turners that use a variety of table type set ups that slide it on to a table or cart of some style and roll the tail stock away but even that is not without other issues. There are a number of systems that swing the tail stock in a horizontal plane but they all leave it right up at the same level as the lathe bed and, in my opinion, still in the way. It's up to you...get the best or get the rest.

Disclosure: I have no personal or financial interest in Robust products.

[jason lambert]

Ordered the robust. I was thinking about making one but I rathor be turning and to many other projects.