Converting lathe to carving station

[Prashun Patel]

Hear me out...

I have a foredom carving tool that I use for inlay work, etc. The lighting and dust control is set up pretty well on my lathe , but I'd like to convert the ways to a better, clampable platform. Or, I'd love to mount a drill vise there to hold, say, a guitar neck.

My question is: Has anyone out there made a 'workstation' platform for their lathe ways? I've searched for a solution but find nothing.

[Richard Coers]

Shouldn't need any solution, just add a sheet of plywood. I have a friend that uses a large H beam for a clamping and work station. He sits it on sawhorses. Almost the same thing. The Japanese work bench is just a heavy beam of wood with a flat head screw to plane against. So also just a beam.

[Kevin Jenness]

Trent Bosch sells a carving stand with a 1" post that fits in a banjo and a threaded post to mount chucks and faceplates. Perhaps not as versatile as you want, but you could mount any kind of platform to a faceplate and add a vise. https://trentboschtools.com/product/trent-bosch-versatile-carving-stand/

Securing a platform to the ways is easy, just get or make a clamp block to fit your ways and bolt through your fixture, then add whatever workholding device you want. I use a Lee Valley carver's vise, and you can bolt pretty much anything to the standard mounting plate. https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/workshop/workbenches/vises/31172-veritas-carvers-vise?item=05G2001 They also offer a threaded post adapter for mounting faceplates. https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/power-tool-accessories/chucks/58760-veritas-lathe-chuck-face-plate-adapters

[Peter Blair]

All good suggestions, I prefer a dedicated carving station where I can sit. My lathe bed is a little to high for me.

[Jim Morgan]

Trent Bosch sells a carving stand with a 1" post that fits in a banjo and a threaded post to mount chucks and faceplates. Perhaps not as versatile as you want, but you could mount any kind of platform to a faceplate and add a vise. https://trentboschtools.com/product/trent-bosch-versatile-carving-stand/

Securing a platform to the ways is easy, just get or make a clamp block to fit your ways and bolt through your fixture, then add whatever workholding device you want. I use a Lee Valley carver's vise, and you can bolt pretty much anything to the standard mounting plate. https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/workshop/workbenches/vises/31172-veritas-carvers-vise?item=05G2001 They also offer a threaded post adapter for mounting faceplates. https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/power-tool-accessories/chucks/58760-veritas-lathe-chuck-face-plate-adapters


Best Wood Tools also offers a carving post, a bit more economical than the Trent Bosch version https://bestwoodtools.store.turbify.net/arcaandfipow.html Arm angle and chuck rotation are secured separately in the BWT version but by a single screw in the TB version. YMMV.

[Mike Peace]

I made one but I have not used it much. Here is video I did on it. https://youtu.be/yh9fadHVcNE

[Prashun Patel]

Thank you for the great suggestions and Mile for your detailed video. I have the Trent Bosch chuck mount . I’m looking to mount a conventional vise. I’ve got some great ideas to try here. Thank you.

[Prashun Patel]

Thank you for the great suggestions and Mile for your detailed video. I have the Trent Bosch chuck mount . I’m looking to mount a conventional vise. I’ve got some great ideas to try here. Thank you.