James Combs
08-19-2016, 7:18 PM
This is mostly dress up but I received the star knobs today and installed them on the 3/8" all-thread clamping rods. The rods engage the existing holes in the end of the lathe bed to hold the swing-away(SA) in place while sliding the tail-stock(TS) onto it.
The overall length of the SA is about 7". I have also stained the plywood. The lighter spots on the wood is where I filled some gaps in the ply and the filler sealed the wood, should have stained first. :rolleyes: Even with the blotchy-ness it still looks decent I think. BTW the end cap is a piece of 1/2" Corian counter top. It is not notched so it acts as a stop as well as a clamping plate when sliding the TS onto the SA.
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I also add a retaining post to help keep it back out of the way. I coiled a springy hook out of an old cloths-hanger and shaped it so that it snaps in place over the post when the SA swings around into it. It is released by pushing the SA a little farther and lifting up the spring-clip by hand.
342595342596
These two pics show the clearance at the end of the lathe when the SA is stowed out of the way. The only thing still sticking out the back of the lathe is the lock-down handle and about 3/4" of the two all-thread rods. Both can be push and swung out of the way. I have my lathe with it's head-stock to a wall and the area behind the non-stowed TS is a walkway. Any thing that sticks out beyond the end of the lathe is a cloths catcher,:( including the hand crank on the TS. Because of the crank the TS may stay in the stowed position quite a bit especially when the lathe is not in use.:cool:
342597 342599 342598
Thanks for looking and I hope this gives more folks ideas on making their own.
As before, all comments are appreciated and will be acknowledged.
The overall length of the SA is about 7". I have also stained the plywood. The lighter spots on the wood is where I filled some gaps in the ply and the filler sealed the wood, should have stained first. :rolleyes: Even with the blotchy-ness it still looks decent I think. BTW the end cap is a piece of 1/2" Corian counter top. It is not notched so it acts as a stop as well as a clamping plate when sliding the TS onto the SA.
342592 342593 342594
I also add a retaining post to help keep it back out of the way. I coiled a springy hook out of an old cloths-hanger and shaped it so that it snaps in place over the post when the SA swings around into it. It is released by pushing the SA a little farther and lifting up the spring-clip by hand.
342595342596
These two pics show the clearance at the end of the lathe when the SA is stowed out of the way. The only thing still sticking out the back of the lathe is the lock-down handle and about 3/4" of the two all-thread rods. Both can be push and swung out of the way. I have my lathe with it's head-stock to a wall and the area behind the non-stowed TS is a walkway. Any thing that sticks out beyond the end of the lathe is a cloths catcher,:( including the hand crank on the TS. Because of the crank the TS may stay in the stowed position quite a bit especially when the lathe is not in use.:cool:
342597 342599 342598
Thanks for looking and I hope this gives more folks ideas on making their own.
As before, all comments are appreciated and will be acknowledged.