Longer Lathe Setup

[Steamdragon]

I haven't even started turning yet and I had a question about a longer lathe setup. Has anyone ever tried setting two units end to end and fashioning a jig to hold them together so they could turn longer pieces. It seems like it would work but I am pretty sure there is a reason it wouldn't work.

[charlese]

There have been quite a few methods of extension mentioned and/or shown in this forum. One of them extremely long and turning a very large piece. A tree trunk as I remember.

Once Nick Engler said any length that can be set up between the Shopsmith and a barn wall will work.

[everettdavis]

Indeed there have been.

My personal favorite for curiosity was in:
http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewt ... 76#p136739

Worlds Longest Shopsmith Post.jpg (65.03 KiB) Viewed 4434 times

It's the longest I've seen for certain.

Everett

[BuckeyeDennis]

There have been quite a few methods of extension mentioned and/or shown in this forum. One of them extremely long and turning a very large piece. A tree trunk as I remember.

Once Nick Engler said any length that can be set up between the Shopsmith and a barn wall will work.

Oh yea, that one is a classic.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQbzEz0-7X0[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dewl3w7X9kc[/youtube]

[charlese]

Thanks for that, Dennis! I couldn't find that post. A log, not a tree (but close).

[JPG]

Thanks for that, Dennis! I couldn't find that post. A log, not a tree (but close).

What pray tell is the difference between a log and a tree trunk?

[thunderbirdbat]

Removing the bark and branches? It is the only difference I can see.

[charlese]

Thanks for that, Dennis! I couldn't find that post. A log, not a tree (but close).

What pray tell is the difference between a log and a tree trunk?

Not very much, silly! Unless, of course you are a logger. A log is the result of a tree being felled, the trunk (or bole or stem) limbed and bucked into log lengths. Then it is no longer a tree. It is a product or products named a log and the logger gets paid for it.