Cross slide handle extension...

TerryH

I have no clue what I'm doing...
H-M Supporter Gold Member
Joined
May 8, 2018
Messages
336
Morning all. First let me say thanks to @mikey and @ttabbal for their help as I try to learn. @ttabbal sent me a square tool that he ground to get me started down the HSS grinding rabbit cavern. I can see already that rabbit hole does not do justice to this deal. lol... Anyway, I got the tool yesterday and put it right to work.

One thing that I did not like about the little lathe is the relationship of the carriage hand wheel to the cross slide handle. When I'm using the carriage wheel I'm constantly bashing my fingers into the cross slide wheel or actually hitting my hands together if I'm using both at the same time. I searched for extensions and found very little. Perhaps it's just me but I wanted to make something to try and solve the issue. I decided a 50mm extension would be a good distance. I turned a 8mm shoulder to fit inside the original crank handle. The extension has a 6mm through hole with a 8mm relief hole to fit the shaft on the cross slide. Turned out pretty decent and works well. I'm learning more every time I turn on the lathe.

I started with a trip to my local bolt and screw supple for a 6mm x 6mm button head SS bolt. Problem is, they have no such thing so even the bolt turned out to be a project. lol... I ended up having to settle for a 65mm cap screw that I modded the head to save the knuckles and shortened it to 60mm.



And the rest was just normal facing, turning, chamfering and drilling.







No more finger bashing.
 
Last edited:
Nice job, Terry. Right about now, some other guy with bashed up knuckles is saying to himself, "Why didn't I think of that?"
 
Nice job, Terry. Right about now, some other guy with bashed up knuckles is saying to himself, "Why didn't I think of that?"

Hahaha... that would be cool.
 
Thanks! This was the "I need it today and I'm going to make something work" kind of deal. :)
McMaster-Carr ships most things overnight (sometimes even the same day depending on your location).
 
Back
Top