Today in my shop (tool rest levers)

reible · Post by **reible** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:58 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.
[ATTACH]6036[/ATTACH]

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.
[ATTACH]6037[/ATTACH]

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

enyoc · Post by **enyoc** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:44 am

Agreed> Those levers are always in the wrong spot and the "flow" of working is always interrupted by finding them, bumping into them, repositioning them, etc. I look forward to trying out your method this weekend.

P.S. that is the "happiest" 4 jaw chuck I have ever seen!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:09 am

affyx wrote:Agreed> Those levers are always in the wrong spot and the "flow" of working is always interrupted by finding them, bumping into them, repositioning them, etc. I look forward to trying out your method this weekend.

P.S. that is the "happiest" 4 jaw chuck I have ever seen!

COLORFUL ALSO!

rkh2 · Post by **rkh2** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:42 am

Ed

Now that's thinking outside the box!! I have the universal tool rest system that I always use and it also has the "quick release type of handles" and every time I have had to loosen two or three to get one repositioned to where I need it to be I grumble to myself about having to do that. Your method definitely will make it possible for me to make a single adjustment without having to move the other handles in the situations where they restrict movement necessary to make adjustments. Curious as to what the purpose of the colorful material on you chuck is for - safety so you can see it better when turning or protection of the chuck or other?? I tell you, the joy of this forum is all the information folks are willing to share that makes for more enjoyment in using our SS. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:09 pm

Wouldn't it just be simpler to go back to set screws that the original rest came with?

wildcard · Post by **wildcard** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:35 pm

I have the original and replaced the screws it came with, with some thumb screws from HD, they work pretty well, i would like them to have a longer handle though, but for $.50 i am not complaining

vjgrevem · Post by **vjgrevem** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 3:46 pm

Are the quick release levers available from SS? I don't see them listed as a separate item. If not, the thumbscrews seem like a good option.

reible · Post by **reible** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 7:53 pm

Hi,

The quick release levers came with my upgrade from 500 to 520. You can buy a kit that includes them or you can just get them as replacement parts.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/item ... =Find+Item

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/item ... =Find+Item

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/item ... =Find+Item

Ed

vjgrevem wrote:Are the quick release levers available from SS? I don't see them listed as a separate item. If not, the thumbscrews seem like a good option.

vjgrevem · Post by **vjgrevem** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 11:58 pm

Thanks, Ed. I assume that the levers simply replace the allen screws, so there is no need to get the tool rest. Is that correct?

reible · Post by **reible** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:19 am

Hi,

The arm of the tool rest is a little different between the 500 and the 505-510-520 due to the change of the carriage (which changed the distance between the mounting position of the tool rest). The 500 arm is shorter then the newer versions and if you have the 500 then just the handles is all that is needed. If you have the 500 arm and the 505-510-520 then the new arm should also be added to get the correct positioning of the tool rest.

Ed

vjgrevem wrote:Thanks, Ed. I assume that the levers simply replace the allen screws, so there is no need to get the tool rest. Is that correct?