What is a banjo on a lathe?

May-Brith · 27 Mar 2007

Is banjo the same as a tool rest stem? My English to Norwegian dictionary, tells me it's a musical instrument. Both words in the manual seems to describe the "thing" between the bed bars and tool rest.

The lathe also have a handle called "handwell" Is there another word for that? I'm guessing it is the cain of handle that when lifted up you can turn the direction of the handle but the screw doesn't follow.

I'm trying to find norwegian words for those two words, but first I have to understand what it is. Then I can explain my friend the meaning...

May-Brith from Norway

duncanh · 27 Mar 2007

you're correct about 'banjo'. You can find a definition here

I'm not sure about 'handwell'. Could you mean handwheel? If so then it's a wheel at the end of the headstock which you can turn to rotate the spindle.

Duncan

bobham · 27 Mar 2007

The banjo is the tool rest base. It is the part that rests on the lathe bed and has a mechanism that allows it to be loosened and slid along the bed and then locked in place. The actual tool rest, or "T" rest, fits into the top of the banjo and can be locked at different heights and angles.

The handwheel could be on the outboard end of the headstock spindle or it could be the wheel that advances the tailstock ram for between centres turning.

Bob

May-Brith · 28 Mar 2007

Thanks, Bob and Duncan.

When I converted the PDF file to Doc, the image fall apart. It was of one big picture, where new small images of arrows turned up. And text belonging the illustration outside the image. Then I understod, the arrow should have pointet to the handwheel, and the word "handwell" was a miss spelling. On top of that, the main picture had some hidden measurement who seems to belong an earlier modell. (Shame on you, translater of the manual).

Now I understand the banjo word, so when my friend asks a experienced woodworker, he can explain what he want help with.

May-Brith from Norway