Philip Duffy
05-01-2008, 4:39 PM
Having a Delta midi-lathe that I enjoy very much, and having only one complaint, I decided to fix the complaint. The tailstock spindle locking bolt always seems to be out too far and never in far enough. It slips when it is not supposed to and lets the spindle turn so the extension indicator numbers have spun around. Putting up with this for just too long, I attached an 8mm nut, (course thread) to the inside of the handle by simply screwing on the nut. Then, with the spindle extended inward to a fixed distance, I tightened the locking bolt to hold the spindle in place, then spun the nut tight against the tailstock frame. Now, when I lock the spindle in place, the nut is the marker for absolute set/locking, and then, when I need to release the lock it is a simple matter of letting go the handle about 1/8th of a turn. The nose of the locking bolt never comes out of the little track and I am happy! Try it on a Jet mini, if you care. Philip