What do I search for?

[Steve Maskery]

I have got a lathe again, whooppee!
I used to use my lathe as a sanding disk as much as a lathe, and I used to have a sanding table mounted in the tool banjo thingy. It was a bit like a plasterer's hawk, spigot underneath, round steel top with some holes in it (like faceplate but mounted flat), MDF board screwed to the top from below.
What is the metal thing called? I don't know what to search for.
Many thanks
Steve

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

One of these? Seems a bit spendy though. I should think it is easy for a man if your calibre to make their own. I did, though out of the machine spares box, as much as wood.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-su ... hes-502665

 

[Steve Maskery]

Perfect, thank you. Well, the price isn't perfect but at least it's a start!

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I would concur with making your own Steve, especially as you can measure the internal diameter of your toolpost and then turn the stem of the table...after all, you have got a lathe!!! Then just fix whatever you'll use for the table, MDF, ply etc (or a nice piece of Zebrano). Get it close to diameter and then sneak up on the fit either with 180 grit or if you're feeling cocky, fine planing cuts with a skew.

 

[lurker]

If the bed of the lathe is flat its pretty easy to make a "table" to slot over the bed.

Whats the o/d of your post?
I have some thick ss 25mm pipe

Slightly different subject; whats the thread on your new lathe Steve?

 

[Steve Maskery]

Yes, I think I will have a go. I'm a rubbish turner, really, but I should be able to manage that.
I'm just wondering how long it would be before the spiggot gets chewed up, though, if I make it out of wood.

 

[Doug B]

I just made mine from a piece of round steel bar, a hole taped in one end then a flat steel plate screwed to the bar.

If you haven't got anything suitable, tell me the size bar you need to fit in the banjo & roughly what size plate you want & I'll see what I've got. If I've anything suitable I'll bring it to the pub next week.

 

[Steve Maskery]

If the bed of the lathe is flat its pretty easy to make a "table" to slot over the bed.

Yes, it is flat, I'd not thought of that. My other one had round bars. I'll work on that idea. I certainly don't want to be forking out nearly £50.

Whats the o/d of your post?
I have some thick ss 25mm pipe

I'll check when I go down, but it may well be 25mm.

Slightly different subject; whats the thread on your new lathe Steve?

Not actually seen it. Only got it yesterday and it has a 4-jaw chuck on it. But if I understand the spec correctly, it's 3/4x16, which is excellent news as that is the same as my old one and I have a Craft Supplies chuck with quite a few extras and a chuck that was my dad's. I can't remember whether that is 3 or 4-jaw.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I just made mine from a piece of round steel bar, a hole taped in one end then a flat steel plate screwed to the bar.

If you haven't got anything suitable, tell me the size bar you need to fit in the banjo & roughly what size plate you want & I'll see what I've got. If I've anything suitable I'll bring it to the pub next week.

Thanks Doug. Have you got a metal-turning lathe? How did you get the hole central and straight?

 

[flh801978]

I have a spare sanding table off a graduate lathe its yours if you want it FOC
1" dia post
Ian

 

[Steve Maskery]

That's very kind of you Ian. Thank you very much. I'll check the post size.

 

[Doug B]

I just made mine from a piece of round steel bar, a hole taped in one end then a flat steel plate screwed to the bar.

If you haven't got anything suitable, tell me the size bar you need to fit in the banjo & roughly what size plate you want & I'll see what I've got. If I've anything suitable I'll bring it to the pub next week.

Thanks Doug. Have you got a metal-turning lathe? How did you get the hole central and straight?

I have access to a metal turning lathe, I don't own it yet :wink:

 

[CHJ]

For use with my first lathe before I had a disc sander I Just had a 'platform' mounted on a block of wood that rested on the Banjo and a turned Beachwood post to fit and clamp in the banjo. (it's still in the junk cupboard I think.) I made up several discs to fit the chuck jaws with different grade papers stuck on.

Edit:- Yep still there.

Crude but effective. Surprising how close the pre-set angles were when clamped to line up with the disc face.

 

[TFrench]

If Steve doesn't want the sanding table Ian, I'd be interested.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[Steve Maskery]

Well what a fantastic response. I start the thread at breakfast time and by teatime I've got a sanding table fully installed. Brilliant.
Very nice to meet you, Ian, and thank you very much indeed for your generosity.
I just need to find that flipping dovetail ring, I could have sworn I've seen it somewhere. No matter, if it has walked I'll do a Chas.
Thank you all.

 

[TFrench]

Can we have some pictures? (mainly so I can copy it!)

 

[Steve Maskery]

Your wish is my command

I've not measured it but it must be about 7" x 5". When we tried it out it wouldn't fit. The post was 1" and the hole was 25mm. But Ian just happened to have a powerfile in the car, as you do, and set to work making it fit. We did try to unscrew the post from the plate so that it could be turned down, but it wouldn't budge.

I haven't decided yet whether to leave it as it is or put a larger MDF on top of it.