Small Lathe Tailstock Camlock

[rossbotics]

Got tired of tightening that single bolt that clamps the tailstock to the bed of the lathe so I decided to do something about it, nothing fancy or new, just a cam, shoulder bolt, lever, knob and a little machining on the tailstock housing, the photos below shows the general principle.

Thanks for looking
Doug

[marksbug]

instead of that I took a ratshit rench and fitted to mine,it cant come off.I slightly put a bend in the stud/bolt to hold tension on it, but a good wavy washer would also do just fine. most every asain lathe Ive seen get tight & loose and feel rough when sliding the tail stock.Ive found that making a scraper like a "T" slot scraper/cleaner you can clean all the bondo,grit,&paint from under the bed where the clamp slides and it's somuch smoother and eazyer. all of those lathes are full of bondo&dirt to fill voids left from the casting proses in the guys back yard.( you can pull up video's of them casting the cast parts in thier back yards/ empty lots) I wish they would add a little more iron and renenforsements and a little less bondo. but.....it is what it is and it aint gonna change. thesr small lathes are oh so flexable. well my 9x20 is about 4x as flexable as my 7x14.....I would be happy if the 9x20 was as ridged as the 7x14...oh so happy. but it is what it is.and...thats what it is.

[LMMasterMariner]

I know that your life is much easier now. No more wrench use. Nothing can't beat camlock.

[yves78]

Got tired of tightening that single bolt that clamps the tailstock to the bed of the lathe so I decided to do something about it, nothing fancy or new, just a cam, shoulder bolt, lever, knob and a little machining on the tailstock housing, the photos below shows the general principle.

Thanks for looking
Doug

Thanks Rossbotics !

I have a 9x20 lathe, and I found a similar tailstock modification for that lathe at Steve Bedair website.

No free plans, but some dimensions were provided, and a lot of pictures, for those who can be interested in such a building.

Regards.

[rossbotics]

instead of that I took a ratshit rench and fitted to mine,it cant come off.I slightly put a bend in the stud/bolt to hold tension on it, but a good wavy washer would also do just fine. most every asain lathe Ive seen get tight & loose and feel rough when sliding the tail stock.Ive found that making a scraper like a "T" slot scraper/cleaner you can clean all the bondo,grit,&paint from under the bed where the clamp slides and it's somuch smoother and eazyer. all of those lathes are full of bondo&dirt to fill voids left from the casting proses in the guys back yard.( you can pull up video's of them casting the cast parts in thier back yards/ empty lots) I wish they would add a little more iron and renenforsements and a little less bondo. but.....it is what it is and it aint gonna change. thesr small lathes are oh so flexable. well my 9x20 is about 4x as flexable as my 7x14.....I would be happy if the 9x20 was as ridged as the 7x14...oh so happy. but it is what it is.and...thats what it is.

A couple years ago I did something similar to what your talking about and it worked ok too, but I decided to make something a little more efficient, this cam also has a spring between the clamp plate and the tailstock housing keeping them separated, it slides very smoothly up and down the bed and doesn't hang anywhere.

Doug

[marksbug]

I agree your way is eazer/faster than fliping the lever&pulling or pushing the rench.but my way took less brains to build........ great work!!! ( i WAS GONNA DO IT YOUR WAY, BUT my way was fast& eazy witch I needed at the time) Ill probably change mine at some point, whoo knows how long threads will last....china cheep threads..

[rossbotics]

You're right Mariner, it sure made a big big difference

Doug

[rossbotics]

Your welcome Yves78
The cam lock isn't at all complicated, as you can see in the first photo i'm reaming and counterboring the hole for the cam, very simple design

Thanks Doug

[DIYer]

Thanks rossbotics! We've added your Tailstock Cam Lock to our Lathe Accessories category,
as well as to your builder page: rossbotics's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Tailstock Cam Lock by rossbotics

tags: locking, tailstock