Does anyone slide the headstock to the opposite end to turn bowls? If so what do you do with the tailstock? Just take it off? I probably won't do it but I was reading on another site where the guy was turning on the backside of a headstock (general lathe) and was getting good flow and results with his cuts. The general lathe had an extension to hold the tool rest, the head stock didn't move on it. I was just curious. I'd have to move the lathe if I wanted to try that. I'm too close to a wall on that end.
Taking the tailstock off if sliding the headstock to turn off the end is about the only thing you can do, unless you fabricate some sort of swing away device to attach to your lathe and tailstock. The G0766 tailstock is not too heavy to manage for most turners.
A few times I have turned bowls from the end by sliding the headstock. Also, when I'm doing some hollow forms or pieces where I am turning an undercut, I turn from the backside of the lathe. I positioned my lathe so that I can walk around it. When turning from the backside, I can get better control of the tool because my arms aren't straight out.
Wouldn't reverse do the same thing?
Sam, I suppose that going in reverse would be similar. My 2" Super Nova chuck has a grub screw so that would keep it from unscrewing. My Grizzly chucks and all of my faceplates don't have grub screws. Also, based on some recent posts here, I put together a draw bar that would - - in theory - - do the same thing.
