any idea's

[caretaker]

I have a home made bench made with half inch ply top, maybe a bit thicker and have bolted my lathe to it.
I now get a build up off sawdust in the channel that the tool rest slides back and forth.
It is no problem to run the Hoover along the channel but some times my bango/tool rest needs the nut under it tightened.
This job is very difficult to do as I cannot get a spanner in the channel.
Sorry if I have not explained my self very well.
Have anyone any suggestions, clean one please as I have lead a very sheltered life.
Reg

 

[Gordon T]

hello Reg, without a photo I am guessing a bit, but could you mount the lathe on wooden blocks 3 or 4 inches high, and fasten the blocks to the bench top, giving you access to the banjo and making it easier to clear the dust etc??

GT

 

[CHJ]

Reg, your SIP machine is much the same as the Perform I had and the various clones.

As Gordon says, mount the bed on some wood blocks about 50-60 mm high, if you have difficulty getting bolts that long get hold of some 8mm studding and cut lengths to suit.

 

[Gordon T]

Hey guys,

as an afterthought, if mounting on blocks causes problems, would cutting a hole under the lathe bed to give access be easier??

GT

 

[PowerTool]

Have the same problem with the nut on the banjo/tool rest coming loose,and lathe being bench-mounted.
I can tighten it easily enough with middle fingers reaching in from each side;with it being on a cam,it doesn't need to be any more than finger tight.

Andrew

 

[david]

i also had the same problem on my clarke lathe
so i dismantled the banjo and drilled a hole in the threaded
part and fitted a split pin which stopped the nut working loose
hope this helps.
regards david.

 

[CHJ]

I turned up a wood disc just a shade narrower in diameter than the lower gap in the bed casting flanges.

I bored a central hole in this such that the nut was a press fit, that way it was much easier to adjust with finger tips.

On my cheap perform version the casting thickness varied along the length of the bed, not much, about a quarter turn on the nut but it was enough for the cam to not hold in some positions warranting adjustments.

 

[caretaker]

Thanks for some good idea's, I may go for cutting a largest hole in the bench and also to see if I can use a box spanner on the bango.
As for the sawdust, I may just use the Hoover.
I have got my bench sander from Machine Mart so will play with that first.
Wish the weather would worm up a bit as well, role on spring.
Thanks again for all the suggestions, what would I do with out you.
Reg