Lathe swarf tray

[mklotz]

I've never liked the idea of swarf getting on the lathe ways in the working area between the chuck and carriage. My lathe came with threaded holes in the carriage to accept a traveling steady. I don't have such a steady so I made a fitting to carry an aluminum tray to catch swarf. The tray carrier is vertically adjustable to clear the bottoms of chucks.

In the background is a chip scoop I made. Its width is just slightly wider than the width of the chip tray. In use it's placed around the forward edge of the tray, swarf is swept in with a brush and the scoop dumped into the trash. A length of angle on the left edge of the tray helps to keep swarf from falling off that side when sweeping into the tray.

The tray is secured to the (hidden) adjustable support by the two large head screws. On the rare occasions when the tray becomes an obstruction it can be removed quickly.

[kbalch]

Thanks Marv! I've added your Lathe Swarf Tray to our Lathe Accessories category, as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Lathe Swarf Tray by mklotz

tags: lathe