I noticed my Harbor Freight lathe (#34706) does not have a handwheel on
the headstock for manual turning (or braking) of the spindle. Their
customer service said there is no fix in that that part was never
designed into the lathe. They said the Delta and/or Jet model that the
HF lathe copied (which do have headstock handwheels) won't fit.

Any suggestions???

"stevek" wrote: (clip) They said the Delta and/or Jet model that the HF
lathe copied (which do have headstock handwheels) won't fit.

Any suggestions???
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
They are partially incorrect. Your lathe is a knockoff of the Jet 1236,
which does not have a handwheel. There are aftermarket handwheels
available, but I am not sure the outboard spindle thread is the same. The
Jet uses a left hand, 1/2" 12 TPI thread. Unfortunately, the NC standard
thread pitch is 13 TPI.

I solved the problem on my Jet by buying a length of 1/2" 13 pitch left hand
Allthread. This will screw into the outboard end of the spindle a couple of
turns and then it binds. I turned a wooden handwheel and epoxied it onto a
3" length of this Allthread. The fact that the thread does not screw in
fully turns out to be useful--you want the handwheel to tighten.

Caution: check your thread diameter and pitch--there are a few differences
between the Jet and the HF lathe--this could be one of them.

BTW, I was able to drill lengthwise through the Allthread so I could attach
a line for a vacuum chuck. It worked great!

Great suggestion Leo.

If I can't find an "off the slelf" solution, I will certainly follow
your advice.

It's good to find out that the more "respectable" (Jet/Delta) brands
have the same shortcuming as the Harbor Freight lathe. Now I don't
have to feel like a fool for going with the HF and saving significant
$$.

Steve

I've got the same lathe, and have found no such 'off the shelf'
handwheel that'll fit it. I've just gone without it since then, since
the motor slows down fast enough when the power is cut. If I need to
maually turn the piece (while the motor is off), I either grab and turn
the wood itself, or the faceplate/chuck. Although if you really wanted
such a handwheel, it could be build.

On a side note, something else you should be careful of with this
lathe. It happens on the Jet model as well. When using the tailstock
(with a live center) to support the wood, make sure not to jam the tip
of the center too tightly into the wood. If you do, it actually moves
the whole headstock upwards, slightly off center. When you remove the
tailstock (for finishing off bowls, for example), the headstock moves
back into proper position, and now the wood will be 'off center', which
makes it very frustrating. It took me a while to figure this out. I'm
supposing that since you can rotate the headstock for outboard
purposes, the clamp to hold it in place will come loose enough with
enough pressure from the tailstock. Otherwords, I've been happy with
this lathe.

Good to know.

There's always a trade off, right? A fixed headstock would not have
this problem.

Steve

"Brent" wrote: (clip) When you remove the tailstock (for finishing off
bowls, for example), the headstock moves back into proper position, and now
the wood will be 'off center',(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I don't think this is correct. If the tailstock pushes the headstock upward
and off center, the work will still be revolving around the spindle
centerline. Removing the tailstock pressure would allow the headstock to
settle back to its "relaxed" position, but the work would still be revolving
around the spindle axis.

I suspect that what is actually happening is that there is some deflection
of the wood within the chuck jaws (or wrt whatever you are using.) This
would make the wood revolve around a "false axis."

To follow my reasoning, imagine that you turned a piece with the chuck
revolved horizontally to an off-axis position. Can you see that you would
be able to return it to the on-axis setting without introducing any wobble?

I am learning to do pens and while sanding I turn off the lathe. How to
turn the spindle? I would grab the spindle and give a twist, but if
there was wax om my fingers everything slipped. My solution was to get
a piece of wood about 1" thick and drill and tap a 1x8 hole in it. I
then put a couple of washers on the spindle and screwed the wood onto
the spindle. Turned it round and put and edge on it that was
comfortable. Now with waxy fingers I can still turn the spindle. Lock
the spindle give a reverse twist and off it comes.

Bruce

stevek wrote:
I noticed my Harbor Freight lathe (#34706) does not have a handwheel on
the headstock for manual turning (or braking) of the spindle. Their
customer service said there is no fix in that that part was never
designed into the lathe. They said the Delta and/or Jet model that the
HF lathe copied (which do have headstock handwheels) won't fit.

Any suggestions???

"Brent" wrote in message
oups.com...
Yes, this is correct Leo - It's still centered as far as the headstock
is concerned.

As the owner of a 3000 with the original infamous self-adjusting tailstock,
I know what Leo says to be true.



It happens whether I use a chuck or a faceplace. Something I didn't
mention earlier, but when I start adding pressure from the tailstock, I
notice the headstock actually moving, which is uncool. The wood in the
chuck/faceplate does not move indepedantly. Thankfully, I didn't cheap
up on my chuck (Nova Mini). No matter how much I clamp down the head
to the body, it'll still give some play with enough force. I suppose
that's the price one pays when getting a cheaper lathe. I've been able
to combat this by simply not adding too much pressure on the tailstock
- usually just enough to get the point to penatrate the wood. If I
wasn't concerned about performing outboard turning, then I would just
weld the headstock to the body, or some other extreme measure.


Have you tried increasing the pressure of the hold by adjusting the jam nut
or what ever they use to tighten the headstock?

Or the friction with a bit of pumice scattered between the ways and the
headstock?

In article , "George" George@least
wrote:

Or the friction with a bit of pumice scattered between the ways and the
headstock?

That seems a touch drastic. I do recall someone suggesting a bit of
deliberate corrosion for tailstock slide - ie, turn some oak, pack the
shavings on the bed (& perhaps the bottom of the headstock in this case,
or tailstock in the other) for a few hours, just enough to get a little
micro-roughness.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

"Ecnerwal" wrote in message
...
In article , "George" George@least
wrote:

Or the friction with a bit of pumice scattered between the ways and the
headstock?

That seems a touch drastic. I do recall someone suggesting a bit of
deliberate corrosion for tailstock slide - ie, turn some oak, pack the
shavings on the bed (& perhaps the bottom of the headstock in this case,
or tailstock in the other) for a few hours, just enough to get a little
micro-roughness.


Lemme see - scatter sand on the ice or use salt ... one is dirt, the other
kills vegetation.

I'll stick with a bit of loose grit.

I'm having a little truble visualizing what you did. Did you place the
wood "handle" on the outside or inside headstock spindle? Which lathe
do you have?

Steve

Stoutman, the lathe is a Jet 12X36 with 1X8 threads for the spindle. my
disk is screwed onto the spindle.(right side of the headstock) I put on
a couple of washers but you could turn a relief into the side that goes
to the headstock. I put in a morse taper so I don't have problems with
the threads. Also you can unscrew it and knock out a drive spur, but I
ususally put on a metal nut if I think I am going to need it. i got the
idea from Darrel Feltmates site. He uses the same thing to make glue
blocks and goes into detail on how to make them. Well worth the trip. I
thought I had a picture of it but can't seem to find it. If I find it I
will post it at a.b.p.woodworking.

Bruce

stevek wrote:
I'm having a little truble visualizing what you did. Did you place the
wood "handle" on the outside or inside headstock spindle? Which lathe
do you have?

Steve

I found the pictures I was looking for and put them on a.p.b.
woodworking. hope it helps.

Bruce

Bruce Ferguson wrote:
Stoutman, the lathe is a Jet 12X36 with 1X8 threads for the spindle. my
disk is screwed onto the spindle.(right side of the headstock) I put on
a couple of washers but you could turn a relief into the side that goes
to the headstock. I put in a morse taper so I don't have problems with
the threads. Also you can unscrew it and knock out a drive spur, but I
ususally put on a metal nut if I think I am going to need it. i got the
idea from Darrel Feltmates site. He uses the same thing to make glue
blocks and goes into detail on how to make them. Well worth the trip. I
thought I had a picture of it but can't seem to find it. If I find it I
will post it at a.b.p.woodworking.

Bruce

stevek wrote:
I'm having a little truble visualizing what you did. Did you place the
wood "handle" on the outside or inside headstock spindle? Which lathe
do you have?

Steve