Thread: Second hand Tough Lathe

"Problem with this one is that there are no cam locks on Tail stock or banjo."
"Gave him a call and he firm on the price, he couldn't understand why you would need cam locks?"

Begging your pardon, but what are the levers for on the banjo and tailstock? (Photo 2.) I can't see a nut on either of them.

"A".

Originally Posted by Big A

"Problem with this one is that there are no cam locks on Tail stock or banjo."
"Gave him a call and he firm on the price, he couldn't understand why you would need cam locks?"

Begging your pardon, but what are the levers for on the banjo and tailstock? (Photo 2.) I can't see a nut on either of them.

"A".

I think its a spanner sitting on the nut. We have a couple like that at Knox woodworkers. Quite a number of people prefer using them. They certainly don't sit idle.

Originally Posted by Big A

"Problem with this one is that there are no cam locks on Tail stock or banjo."
"Gave him a call and he firm on the price, he couldn't understand why you would need cam locks?"

Begging your pardon, but what are the levers for on the banjo and tailstock? (Photo 2.) I can't see a nut on either of them.

"A".

Camlock on the Banjo and spanner on the tailstock. All work fine

Aah so! One of one thing and one of the other. I am half correct, so I must be half smart. Seems about right.

"A".

Originally Posted by tea lady

I like the spanners holding the banjos and tail stock of my tough lathe. My little Jet cam locks are always letting go. Then when its undone you have to jiggle to move it. Spanners way easier I reckon. AND you have more leverage with the spanner to tighten things.

Further thoughts are that with the gap in the ways near the head stock you can turn quite large bowls and things.

Exactly what adjustments do you want?

I agree my Tough as most I imagine have nuts and a spanner they lock positive and release in a 1/4 turn the heavy cast spanner sits on the nut on the banjo or tailstock and does not move and again what adjustments do you want. Many of the lathes that have cam locks have to be wiggled back and forth to get movement and in my opinion don't offer a great advantage over a good nut spanner system. Far more important is the fit on the way and the tough has that in spades big wide bed and well fitted tail stock to the way. As with any method if it works as it should there won't be any serious issues with either.
Regards Rod.

There is a couple of these types of lathes around at the moment as well.... my first instinct is to stay away....lathe 001.JPGlathe 002.JPG

Gday Andrew,

For what its worth this is my take on the lathe in your last post and the old Tough lathe. Yes they are not the newest latest singingist all dancing lathe on the market but if they are set up level and run true then the worst you may find is that you need to replace some bearings or a pulley. No cam locks?, my last two lathes had a good old fashioned nut to hold the banjo, undo the nut and the banjo moves unlike my mini lathe that i'm forever fighting with its banjo and cam lock.

Not sure if you've seen this thread, https://www.woodworkforums.com/f8/identifying-lathe-177954 , but thats my latest lathe and I chose to keep that over a carbatec mc1100 with mechanical variable speed and cam locks to boot.

Anyway, good luck on your choice,

Ross.

Yep happy to get an older lathe, the Tough is too much for me though at the moment, would be $700+ all up.
The one I just posted though is only $300 but no idea if its any good as it is unbranded or home made-ish?
Yours looks good though, I'll have a bit of a read later : )

Well, that chuck alone is worth a couple of hundred dollars plus to buy brand new. Looking at it I'd say it may be home made but as I said before if it runs true its more than worth a look

After getting my mini lathe and then realising it wouldnt do everything I was after I went back and read every thread in this wood turning forum and from that and talking to club members and a very good friend I determined that a good big lathe is heavy, flex free, rigid, has a good motor size, good length of bed and able to turn reasonable diameter timber.

Both the tough and that $300.oo lathe pretty much meets those criteria and while not new with all the latest do dads should serve you well.

Originally Posted by andrew7

There is a couple of these types of lathes around at the moment as well.... my first instinct is to stay away....lathe 001.JPGlathe 002.JPG

My first instinct is to run over there, cash in hand.

Assuming everything works smoothly and spindle and tail center line up pretty well, that is a bargain. It is not cast iron but there seems to be enough meat in the bed that it will not flex. If you want / need that size lathe it merits a close look. If you have not used a lathe much, take an experienced turner with you to make a judgement.

Look at what you can buy new for $300 and compare.

I happily paid $850 for an 18 year old 20 inch swing short bed Woodfast that took quite a bit of persuasion with torch, oil, and brass hammer to get working.

Cool thanks for the advise, will see how i go : )

Hi Ross,
I also had trouble with the Banjo movement, & it was suggested to me to find a reasonably flat spring, about 3 or 4 rings?, & put it up under the nut. Mine wood be ¾ - & 7/8" in width across the bottom of the Spring.
Gee, what a difference. Never catches now. Got one under the Tail Stock as well.
A very older Turner told me about that, so, it is worth passing on.