reible
09-21-2009, 10:58 PM
I have a confession to make. I have never liked the levers on the upgraded lathe tool rest. Now I have those same levers on several other tools, even added them to certain tools but for the lathe rest well we have never made friends, well that is until today.
The problem I have had is that the levers work well when they are either tightening or loosening, they are not so great when you want to reposition them when they are loose. I have been grabbing the bit of shaft next to the lever and holding that while pulling out on the lever and reposition it.... sometime I don't get it far enough so I have to reposition my hands and go again.
I was about to make them history today while working on a project when I found a better way to work with them. I figure most of you already know this but for those that are slow like me.... The thing is the trusty 5/32 t-handle fits the levers, and if you pull out on the lever you can tighten or loosen the screw and leave the handle in a position where it can then be used to tighten or loosen with a simple twist. Think of sort of "centering" the handle. And for those of you like me who have to remove one of the levers for storage it is a lot easier to get the lever in and out with the t-handle.
OK now a few picture, one showing the handle where it ended up, if you pull out on the lever and turn lever the whole screw turns because it is not under pressure. Not very useful at that point. In this case I reach for the t-handle to do the "centering" I mention above.
6036
If you pull out on the lever then use the t-handle to tighten/loosen the whole thing then you can reposition the the lever so it tight at one end of the turn and loose at the other. In the case pictured the screw is loose as shown and as you turn the lever up it tightens but still stays out of the way.
6037
If I had gone back to the older style set screws I'd have to reach for the t-handle anytime I wanted to change positions. Now I use it to set up the lever positions, use the lever to do the adjustments and then use the t-handle to take the setup down. Works for me.
Ed
The problem I have had is that the levers work well when they are either tightening or loosening, they are not so great when you want to reposition them when they are loose. I have been grabbing the bit of shaft next to the lever and holding that while pulling out on the lever and reposition it.... sometime I don't get it far enough so I have to reposition my hands and go again.
I was about to make them history today while working on a project when I found a better way to work with them. I figure most of you already know this but for those that are slow like me.... The thing is the trusty 5/32 t-handle fits the levers, and if you pull out on the lever you can tighten or loosen the screw and leave the handle in a position where it can then be used to tighten or loosen with a simple twist. Think of sort of "centering" the handle. And for those of you like me who have to remove one of the levers for storage it is a lot easier to get the lever in and out with the t-handle.
OK now a few picture, one showing the handle where it ended up, if you pull out on the lever and turn lever the whole screw turns because it is not under pressure. Not very useful at that point. In this case I reach for the t-handle to do the "centering" I mention above.
6036
If you pull out on the lever then use the t-handle to tighten/loosen the whole thing then you can reposition the the lever so it tight at one end of the turn and loose at the other. In the case pictured the screw is loose as shown and as you turn the lever up it tightens but still stays out of the way.
6037
If I had gone back to the older style set screws I'd have to reach for the t-handle anytime I wanted to change positions. Now I use it to set up the lever positions, use the lever to do the adjustments and then use the t-handle to take the setup down. Works for me.
Ed