Metal lathe compound slide adapted for the wood lathe

[Christophe Mineau]

Hi,
Here is something that can appear to be strange but which is actually very useful, it is a way to get, on the wood lathe, the facility of a sliding carriage and a tool holder in lieu of the tool rest.
This can be very useful in lots of situations, especially in combination with the high speed spindle I showed last time.

It's basically made of a platform, welded at the end of a 30mm diameter post that fits exactly in my tool rest on the wood lathe.
I added a stop ring, in order to keep the height setup.


The center hole fits the pin under the sole of my compound, and the other holes are for the bolts


Here the platform with the compound mounted on it :


And here the assembly installed in the tool rest on the lathe :


Next time, I will show a use case of this tool.

[Carlos B]

Not strange at all Christophe, good idea and nicely built. My Delta lathe came with one, though it clamps directly to the bed, the Reeves drive gets slow enough to turn metal on it and it works great for more precise work on wood especially faceplate work.

[Christophe Mineau]

Thanks Carlos, I didn't know there was some commercial version of such a slide. Do you have a picture ?
I found it easier and more versatile to fit it on the tool rest post, and installing it on the bed would be more difficult because of the difference of height.
The platform can be used as a tool rest also, for some end grain works with flat tools. People making Chinese balls use such platforms for instance :
http://www.channelislandswoodturners...se_ball_01.jpg

[Carlos B]

Yes back in the second half of the last century Rockwell/Delta had a lot of nice accessories for their machines I have the copy attachment too.and a three and four jaw chuck.I got the lathe at auction I had to rebuild the lathe but the compound is the way I got it just needs a good cleaning and some new handles. I used it a couple of years ago to do my tractor starter commutator, other wise it has just been sitting.Here's a couple of pictures.

[DIYer]

Thanks Christophe Mineau! We've added your Compound Slide Adaptor to our Lathe Accessories category,
as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Compound Slide Adaptor by Christophe Mineau

tags: adaptor

[Captainleeward]

Well as they say on the fishing boats "that's a Keeper" nice job Christophe.
good L@@KING LATHE there aswell. Cap.

[Toolmaker51]

Interesting, both versions! Thanks to Christophe Mineau and Carlos B...
I do little turning of wood on my Shopsmith [a genuine steal on Craigslist], mainly thermoset plastics, but a tool-holder with a self contained leadscrew advancing a cutter is a spiffy idea. Can fit to the standard rest spigot, or the tubular 'ways'. Either won't be as tedious as a conventional iron bed to build, fit and clamp.