Broke my Oliver, help?

[Steve Rozmiarek]

I broke my Oliver 159 lathe. The tool rest and an associated link broke, see the photos. I know pretty much zero about lathes (obviously or it probably wouldn't be broke), so can you guys point me in the right direction for some parts?

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Dc3GkhTexb8/UuGzAAVYsMI/AAAAAAAADjE/cnKU92LCLHM/w311-h553-no/20140123_172431.jpghttps://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4tI7vofhyLI/UuGzNXbzwZI/AAAAAAAADjQ/-5UJzvkQacA/w983-h553-no/20140123_172444.jpg

[curtis rosche]

buy an aftermarket tool rest, must stonger. Not sure on the banjo piece cause Idont know how it comes apart.

My first thought when I saw the thread title was "what the heck does it take a break an oliver and how?!?!?" but that's a relatively easy fix

[Geoff Gaudet]

Yup, aftermarket tool rest. What, exactly, broke on the banjo?

[Curt Fuller]

Just curious, how did you break the tool rest post? I'm an Oliver 2159 user too but I've never seen a break like that. As for the tool rest, any tool rest with a 1" post can be used to replace that. You might need to shorten the post if the rest came from a lathe with a larger swing though. But the broken bolt on the banjo clamp might be a little harder to fix. You can usually find Oliver parts on eBay, I think there's a few tool rests on there right now. The banjo from an old Powermatic pm 90 works on an Oliver so you could shop eBay for that too. There's also a website http://www.eaglemachinery-repair.com/ that may have the parts you need. And then there's always this place to go looking http://vintagemachinery.org/ Good luck!

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Thanks guys. I was just turning a 10" or so blank down, it wasn't vibrating or anything odd, and all of a sudden, bang, and I had parts. I think the banjo bolt broke first, and the rest dug into the stock, which now has a big gash in it. I was just goofing around, I haven't used the lathe much since I bought it. It actually could have been stressed or something from a while back, and I could have just noticed it.

The banjo comes apart with a set screw and a roll pin, no biggie. I'm hoping eagle has it.

You guy all said aftermarket rest, where is a good place to get one? (obvious noob question...)

[Richard Coers]

If that banjo bolt isn't hardened, you could thread it up further, add a coupling nut, then come back on with a piece of all thread rod or a bolt to pick up the plate from below. What diameter is the tool rest post?

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Yup, aftermarket tool rest. What, exactly, broke on the banjo?

The bolt link that the eccentric cams to tighten banjo down, broke right above the nut. On further inspection, I think a machine shop could build one easily if I can't find one.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

If that banjo bolt isn't hardened, you could thread it up further, add a coupling nut, then come back on with a piece of all thread rod or a bolt to pick up the plate from below. What diameter is the tool rest post?

Good idea Richard. The tool rest is 1".

[Harry Robinette]

That tool rest sure looks like a General and I've never seen a broken one,

[Geoff Gaudet]

The bolt link that the eccentric cams to tighten banjo down, broke right above the nut. On further inspection, I think a machine shop could build one easily if I can't find one.
Yeah, don't be afraid to contact a small local machine shop. They do this kind of stuff all the time. Just take in the broken parts.

1" is a very common size for tool rest posts, so you have lots of options. Just use Google. Or, ask the machine shop to make you a tool rest...I just picked up a length of 1" round bar to use as posts for some custom tool rests I'm going to build for my own lathe.

[Thom Sturgill]

Robust makes some of the best after-market tool rests (and some of the best american made lathes IMHO). Since you are new to turning, you may not be familiar with the vendors. Numerous vendors sell lathe accessories to the woodturning market.. CSUSA has some here (http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/search?term=tool+rest), Packard woodworks here (http://www.packardwoodworks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=packard&Category_Code=lathes-acc-toolrst), and Woodcraft here (http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2007361/43394/NOVA-TR3001-12-Tool-Rest-Lathe-Accessory.aspx) just to name a few.

[Olaf Vogel]

you should be able to find a bolt here:
http://www.carrlane.com/catalog/index.cfm/27825071F0B221118070C1C513E111D081B0006280B1713050 245221E0107070F1A3C3B2853504A58
click on the second tab for sizes.

and ebay has lots of listings for Oliver tool rests

Olaf

[Brian Ashton]

I broke my Oliver 159 lathe. The tool rest and an associated link broke, see the photos. I know pretty much zero about lathes (obviously or it probably wouldn't be broke), so can you guys point me in the right direction for some parts?



I broke a tool rest like that over 30 years ago. I took it to a welder and they brazed it - worked well ever since (which was about 10 years till I sold it). The locking mechanism looks pretty easy to recreate if you have a metal lathe. Horizontal hole bored into a piece of round bar to match the cam bar and then mounted in the lathe and turned and threaded…

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Thanks guys. Wow, I had no idea there were so many tool rest options. I may try to braze it myself first, or ask the machine shop when I take them the link parts. It does look like a general rest, so I think I'll watch for old rests as well as buy a new one. I'd like to have all the original stuff with the lathe for some weird reason. Now I'm thinking about a new chuck... oh boy, here we go.

[Geoff Gaudet]

Now I'm thinking about a new chuck... oh boy, here we go.
IMO, a good chuck is the best investment you can make in your lathe. Check out Oneway (http://www.oneway.ca) (they sell great toolrests, too!)

[Dick Strauss]

I'm glad that you weren't hurt when things went wrong.

Based on how it broke, you may have had the toolrest rotate into the wood as you pushed your tool toward that side (which caused all of the damage). I would suggest a new aftermarket toolrest just for peace of mind (given the reasonable price of a new one). Any machine shop should be able to make a new banjo bolt in 30 minutes or so.

This may be a wake up call before you get hurt. If you have a turning club near you, I'd suggest you attend a few meetings. You will want to find a turning mentor to help show you what to do, and more importantly, what not to do.

Be safe,
Dick

[Dale Winburn]

Try an eye bolt from tractor supply. They have eye bolts with 1" inside diameter for the eye, be sure to get one with a solid eye.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Update, I was just at the machinist, new bolt will be done shortly. I've been researching rests more than I should on a day I'm supposed to be working, and will order one over the weekend.

Dale, I thought about the I bolt. and if the machinist gave me any grief, that was the backup plan.

Dick, I think what happened was the bolt broke first. That would have allowed the toolrest to drop under the blank at an angle, and break it because it bound between the bed and the blank. The marks on the blank back that up, they couldn't have been made unless the rest was still attached to the banjo for support, and the angle had to have the rest drop down under the blank to get the leverage to dig in. Looking at the bolt, its actually in rough shape to a degree. The threads above the nut show a bit of distortion, looks like wear almost. The machinist said its stainless, and I think it probably was overtightened at some point. The new one will be 4140, so it should be stronger.

Oddly enough, it really didn't seem very dramatic. I was using a small gouge, everything was running nice and smooth, and in one bang, the stock disengaged from the drive center because the blank had been pushed up off the dead center by the rest breaking. I don't even think the gouge moved in my hands. Off course it stopped fast. Wouldn't do it again if I had a choice, but the first thought was, "dangit, why isn't the wood turning". I thought I'd broke a belt or killed a motor. Pretty tame really. My wife came running out of the house to see if she needed to call the life insurance company (her words), so it must have been loud.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

IMO, a good chuck is the best investment you can make in your lathe. Check out Oneway (http://www.oneway.ca) (they sell great toolrests, too!)

Thanks Geoff, they sure do make some nice looking stuff. I think that's the lead contender.

[Roy Turbett]

Check out OWWM.org (old woodworking machines) and VINTAGEMACHINERY.ORG for information on your lathe. OWWM has a forum called BOYD (bring out your dead) where guys can post North American parts or machines they are looking for or want to sell.