Looking for a helpful tool

[Sam Anderson]

OK, I know I can't be the first person who needs one of these tools. I have screwed on my faceplate and turned a pretty nice bowl. Now I can't get the faceplate to unscrew from the lathe. The punch that is susposed to fit in the holes has slipped and will not get a good enough grip to allow me to unscrew the face plate. Does anyone make a tool that will if in to a couple of the holes, where I could remove the face plate I don't know what to.

[Richard Allen]

A pipe wrench or a strap wrench. might do the trick.

<img src="http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/39/31/3f741992f6fc26d37e2cebae56fbe0fc1-resized200.jpg">

is the one sold by sears. You can make one with scrap leathe and a "stick".

Another chance. Unscrew the bowl from the facepalte using an offset screwdriver:

<img src="http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pACE-993647dt.jpg">

Once the pretty nice bowl is free bolt a "stick" to the faceplate and use that leverage to free the faceplate.

Or how about drilling the hole deeper so the "punch" (also called a tommy bar) sits deeper providing a more secure lever.

Good Luck

[Michael Stafford]

I don't fully understand why you are unable to free your faceplate. But if you ever get it unstuck I can tell you what to do to keep it from happening again. Several of the turning catalogs sell thin teflon washers of various sizes to accommodate the spindle on your lathe. Place one of these on first and removing your attachments becomes much easier. Now to the problem at hand...

[John Shuk]

My lathe has a washer made from some plastic milk carton to stop this from happening. Maybe the starp wrench will work.

[Gary Max]

I used a Big pair of Channel locks and a pipe wrench.
First thing see if you can get the bowl off the face plate.---stubby screwdriver or a screwdriver tip and a set of vise grips.
Save the bowl before you start looking for a hammer--Oh --maybe that was me.
After you fight with it and get the faceplate off the lathe.
Get--make-- a washer on the lathe---shot I even wraped some electrial tape over the top of the washer.

[Sam Anderson]

I can't get a pipe wrench in that small space, I guess I will have to get a of set screw driver and take the bowl off. Maybe if I get a friend to come over and hold one end after I get the bowl off might help too. I had already said I was going to get a washer and put on there, I didn't think about a plastic one, That sounds like a good Ideal. I believe if I get it off I am going to drill the holes deeper too. I thought of something else If I get it off, I should cut some flat sides into the piece too, so I could put a wrench on that part instead of the punch.
Thanks for the hursday night to work on it, so if you all have any more ideals I am all ears. BWT, I have the Wilton Mini lathe.

[Sam Anderson]

Gary, Where are you from in Southern Kentucky? I live in McCreary County. I am in the Navy, that's why I have Norfolk listed in my profile. 8 more months until I retire and get back home for good.

[Gary Max]

I am about 15 Miles from Campbellsville Ky or the north end of Adair county on the north end of Green River Lake.
If you ever get out running around stop in the coffee is always on.

[John Szarek]

Sam,
Have you tried to impact wrench it off? I know it is not the best for the lathe, but if you have a shaft lock, push it in and lock it in. The shaft should still "rock back and forth. Use short quick twist and let the recoil bring you back. It has worked for me. another thing is those compressed "computer" air cans. Flip it upsidedown and spray in the end of the shaft. THe cold will shrink the shaft and help to loosen it up. Hope one of these ideas help.

[Sam Anderson]

Compressed air, another good Ideal. Maybe a CO2 fire bottle would do the trick to. hmmm, Keep them coming, I don't get to go home until Thursday :0)