Where can I buy a Banjo???

[Dennis Nagle]

Hi All. As you can see in the picture, my lathe has a machine lathe style carriage every though it is a wood lathe. It was used for making precise patterns. It is very cool to use, but I can hand turn faster. It can hold all sorts of tools, but for the most part it holds my tool rest.


The swing is 30" so it is 15" from the bed to the center of the headstock. I can't find anyone that sells a banjo for this size swing.


Any ideas?


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a60/djnagle/001-3_zps5deb40cb.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/djnagle/media/001-3_zps5deb40cb.jpg.html)






http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a60/djnagle/007-1_zpse1abacd9.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/djnagle/media/007-1_zpse1abacd9.jpg.html)


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a60/djnagle/008_zpsde420159.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/djnagle/media/008_zpsde420159.jpg.html)

[Michael Stafford]

I am going to resist the obvious question.....have you tried a music shop? :p ;)

I imagine you are going to have to have one constructed because it is unlikely that there an aftermarket item that will fit. Good luck!

[Richard Coers]

They aren't rocket science, find a local machine shop. Either have them make and adaptor for your cross slide, or have them go all the way to the lathe bed. It's one of the expenses you have for not getting a current production lathe.

[Jeffrey J Smith]

Dennis:
You might talk to Brent at Robust about one of their banjos - their biggest lathe is 25", but with the dogleg adapter you can add about 3 or 4 inches to the height, together with their long post tool rests I'm pretty sure you could get there. I'm guessing, but the biggest problem I can see is adapting to the configuration of your lathe's bed, but a custom clamping block should be the easiest part to figure out.

Good luck

[Jim Burr]

What have you done so far to find one Dennis?

[Hilel Salomon]

Dennis,

I was very unhappy with my DVR banjo and Jeff Nicol (wooden nichol) made one for me that is great. You can PM him on this website.

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Oneway has a banjo for the outboard setup, the swing on that is up to 48" IIRC, not sure if that only works with their riser block, anyway use their 1-800 number and you can get the answer from Oneway.

[Dennis Nagle]

I've talked to all but Robust. Finding one for 25" swing is not a problem, and the outboard one from Oneway is too high. I like the idea of the Robust with the dog leg. I hadn't thought of that. I like their hand-guard tool rest too.

The width of the bed and the gap don't seem to be a problem, it will just need a bigger underblock.

[Harry Robinette]

Dennis try Vega Lathe there in Decatur, Illinois I believe, The guy that runs it is a super nice guy he may build one the size you need.

[Steve Fulgoni]

Hi Dennis, I spoke to Brent about this and also I checked my AB25 banjo, even if you could get the height, the banjo for the 25" is not long enough (on the lathe bed) to work on a 30" lathe. That sure is a wonderful lathe you have!

[John Spitters]

The large Oneway banjo would be your best bet, all you would need to do is cut down the height of the tool post and drill and tap a new hole for the locking handle for the tool rest.

[Hayes Rutherford]

If you look around at the drawings of the old Wadkins lathes you will find a tool rest that mounts on the compound tool rest. Might give you some ideas.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/wadkin/index.html