Powermatic 3520 Guard

[Steven Humphrey]

Hello.

I'm new to this group so pardon me if this question has been asked before.

I recently purchased a Powermatic 3520b and for the most part I'm really loving it. Initially, I thought that the guard was a pretty good idea until I tried to use the lathe for the first time. I found myself trying to focus through wires of the guard but had a difficult time. But I'm a stubborn cuss and figured it would take a few weeks to get used to it. No luck. I finally took it off and put it in a corner. Now I can see what I'm doing again, and can move my dust collection right up to my work.

I've noticed that none of the YouTube videos I've watched have the guard in place either. So, are there times that I really should use it?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Steve

[Steve Mawson]

When I saw Jimmy Clews demo he said take it off and use it for the barby. Mine is not attached to the lathe.

[Thom Sturgill]

Manufacturers provide them so that when something flies off and hits you, you can not sue them because you removed the safety device they provided.

[John Grace]

Agreed with what others have already posted...the guard is more a protection to Powermatic from being sued. You'd be far better off paying attention to good safety practices. Robo Hippy has an excellent video on YouTube about staying out the 'line of fire'.

[ELY WALTON]

I assume some educational institutions may require guards... along with other useless features such as, automatic shutoff for long idle periods or catch detection. A few manufacturers seem to provide guards whether wanted or not... Kind of like getting grits with your breakfast in the south...

Ely :D

[Steven Humphrey]

Thank you, everyone. You have confirmed what I suspected. I will check out the 'line of fire' vid.

sh

[David Gilbert]

I thought the guard was to protect you from lawyers! Using it is supposed to keep the lawyers away from you. I don't know anyone who uses it.

Cheers,
David

[Harold Balzonia]

Keep it around - don't throw it out unless you are only going to turn "good" wood. If you ever decide to turn large, wonky, punky, worm eaten, firewood, you might find you'd like to have it on there during the roughing out portion of the process...

I mostly turn junk wood so I keep it around. If you turn 10000 bowls, you will never use it on good wood or during the finishing or shaping cuts of a project but when hogging out the gross stuff, it might save your bacon.

[Robert Hayward]

The wire guard for my 3520b is up in the attic of my little barn still in the cardboard sleeve it was shipped in. How long have I had the lathe, 4 ~ 5 years ?

[Steven Humphrey]

Thank you, Harold. I plan to keep it around. In fact, it had occurred to me that it would be useful when roughing larger work pieces.

[Fred Belknap]

I find it to be rather handy. I keep it on the lathe but open and hang my dust collector, light and a extension cord with multiple plugs on it. It works pretty good as a speed control when turning out of balance pieces. When it starts shaking I turn the speed down a bit.

[Sam Beagle]

Guys. I love my guard. I won't even turn without it

[Kyle Iwamoto]

You do know that you can lift it out of the way, right?
Personally I use it all the time when roughing. Most times thereafter. It certainly has saved me from bark shards, large chunks flying and a host of other things that would have certainly hurt a lot. PROBABLY not requiring a trip to the ER. When the wood hits the guard, BAM! holy cow! I smile, and I can keep on turning happy as a clam.
Now I know 3 people that use their guard. Thanks, Sam! Good luck to the rest of you.
Oh yeah. AAW had posted an article that says if you paint your guard flat black, it helps to see through it. I painted mine. I have to agree.

[Brian Brown]

Kyle beat me to the flat black trick. Works great. Think of it like the backstop at a baseball field. Silver chain link…very hard to look through, but black chain link, much easier.

[Robert Edington]

I use mine all the time. I don't understand why people think it's a conspiracy for it to be supplied, or their bragging about not using it. It's a safety device. It's like wearing a helmet on a motorcycle. You can choose to not use one and get by without it....most if the time.

RP

[Geoff Crimmins]

I have a Jet 1642 which uses a similar guard. I find it too distracting for finishing cuts, but I do use it for roughing blanks that are larger, off balance, or suspect in any way. I didn't use the guard at all when I first bought the lathe, but started using it after reading a couple of stories about very-experienced turners getting their faces smashed up in turning accidents. It's a small inconvenience for the protection it provides.

--Geoff

[Richard Dooling]

Ant thoughts for those of us with lathes that don't come with a guard or even a mount to attach one? I've seen a couple online but $$$$ for what they seem to be.

NOVA DVR XP (16" swing)

[John K Jordan]

Ant thoughts for those of us with lathes that don't come with a guard or even a mount to attach one? I've seen a couple online but $$$$ for what they seem to be.

NOVA DVR XP (16" swing)

Richard, I may have an extra cage for a Jet 1642 if you ever get down toward Knoxville. (I know, it's a long drive!) I'd have to look to remember how it attaches but I think the mount is a cast iron bracket held with screws into the headstock casting, with a hole for the pivot shaft on the cage.

JKJ

[Jim Coffey]

I am a relatively new turner when it comes to green wood and bowls. I try to follow all safety procedures but like to have additional barrier when rough turning heavy blanks. I also use it to support the dust collecting flex hose.

[Steven Humphrey]

Interesting. Thanks, Kyle.

[Richard Dooling]

That's very kind of you John but I can't see that I'll be able to swing a trip like that very soon.

Do you think you could slip that in a flat rate envelope for me?:rolleyes:


Richard, I may have an extra cage for a Jet 1642 if you ever get down toward Knoxville. (I know, it's a long drive!) I'd have to look to remember how it attaches but I think the mount is a cast iron bracket held with screws into the headstock casting, with a hole for the pivot shaft on the cage.

JKJ

[John K Jordan]

That's very kind of you John but I can't see that I'll be able to swing a trip like that very soon.

Do you think you could slip that in a flat rate envelope for me?:rolleyes:

I might well be able to. However it may require some assembly when you get it. With a welding machine. :)

JKJ