On Wed, 23 Mar 2016 01:22:06 -0700, Gunner Asch
wrote:

Or modify the machine
and put a shear pin in the powerfeed rod. Which..may be the smart
thing to do.

A way smarter thing to do: even when you're only working up near the
chuck, roll the blanket all the way off the machine instead of leaving
it draped over the tailstock. Sure, this time your little lathe tent
only screwed up your life for a few weeks. But next time there may be
a garter snake inside that tent, and when he sticks his head out
you're going to fall backwards over whatever crap is laying behind
you, and impale yourself on whatever other crap is piled on top.