Does this look like it will work for me to be able to use my existing tool rests, which are mostly too short for the stock banjo?
It looks like it would work. As long as everything locks up firmly, you should have no trouble.
I was about to pull the trigger on the extension I referred to in my original post, and then I saw this. This would also obviously raise the banjo height (but maybe only an (1.5" or 2"?) and also allow more flexibility. Assuming that it holds solidly. Any opinions on this?
That banjo arm you spoke of in your last post will introduce vibration into the cut, as the downward pressure from the rotating wood will even make the cuts not be exactly concentric. [Think springy like a diving board] This type arm used to be available on some Grizzly lathes and Delta lathes, but engineers did away with them because of the issues mentioned.
Roger nailed it with his good explanation. I too wouldn't advise that cantilevered extension. A friend had a Harbor Fright 12 x 36 lathe and got a catch. It snapped the cast iron extension. I'd go with the first one you posted. My first lathe was a 9 x 36 Craftman. I made some specialty tool rests for it. One 2" wide, a couple of curved ones for bowls, etc. When I sold the little lathe, I wanted to keep my specialty tool rests. I made an adapter (out of materials on hand) essentially like the first one you posted. Except that mine also converted from 5/8" dia. to 1" dia. It consists of a 1" OD round bar and a collar that is 2" OD and 1" ID. I usually create ugly welds so I silver soldered it with some high silver content rod. The fit between the two pieces was fairly small, so the SS flowed like water and wicked up perfectly.
Thanks. I’ll get the first one.
