Powermatic 4224B Tailstock removal

[Ward Holdridge]

I love my Powermatic 4224B, but removing the tailstock threatens a hernia operation. Has anyone come up with a lift or other solution to avoid manually removing this tailstock?

 

[Tom Coghill]

There are a number of attachements for most lathes but all do something like this:

http://www.oneway.ca/index.php?page...category_id=25&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=2


They allow you to swing the tailstock out of the way, while not taking it off the lathe. Check with Powermatic.

Best of luck!

Tom

 

[hockenbery]

At the symposium Powermatic had a bed extension attachment that was a swinger too.
It could also be mounted as a lower bed to give a bigger turning radius

Found this
http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2083989/38704/20-extension-bed-kit-for-4224b-lathe.aspx

A bit pricey. The ONEWAY Swinger for a 24" lathe is around $250
Cheaper than back surgery!


Al

 

[Dwight R Rutherford]

Google " Mustard monster" Jerry Hall's site has a number of solutions for Powermatic's heavy tail stocks.

 

[nicktodd]

Robust make a nice swivel for the 3520. It would be worth your time to check with them?

 

[Mike Peace]

Use some of cart or tool stand on wheels and add a wood bed extension that you can slide the tailstock on and then roll it out of the way. Here is what I use for my 3520b.

 

[David Tackett]

http://blog.woodcraft.com/2012/05/swing-away-with-tom-vensels-tail-stock/

I saw where one guy made one of these and he even painted it mustard and it looked like it belonged there.

 

[Rob Wallace]

Try JT Turning Tools......

Apparently Tom Styer of JT Turning Tools LLC makes a tailstock swing-away for the Powematic 3520, and is considering making one for the 4224B. Have a look at this page, and give Tom a call to see where he is on developing his "Down and Out" for the bigger Powermatic:

http://www.jtturningtools.com/tailstockmanager

Also - Robust Tools MADE a tailstock tilt-away for the Powermatic 3520 (which is very similar to the tilt-away used on Robust lathes, but I do not think they offer this accessory any longer for the PM lathe. It is not currently on their web site.

Good luck with your solution to the tailstock removal vs. hernia conundrum...

Rob Wallace

 

[Bill Boehme]

I would think that the Robust tilt away accessory is easily adaptable to the Powermatic. The biggest difference is probably that the dimensions of the ways is different which might mean fabricating your own. I have the tilt-away on my Robust AB and it is really nice. Installing it on the PM would take some time to get the holes drilled in precisely the right place and then using washers of the right thickness so that it lines up properly with the lathe bed.

 

[hockenbery]

I would think that the Robust tilt away accessory is easily adaptable to the Powermatic. The biggest difference is probably that the dimensions of the ways is different which might mean fabricating your own. I have the tilt-away on my Robust AB and it is really nice. Installing it on the PM would take some time to get the holes drilled in precisely the right place and then using washers of the right thickness so that it lines up properly with the lathe bed.

The Robust tilt-away is definitely the best solution to get the tailstock completely out of the way.
And so easy to use! Remember to take the long way when walking around the tail stock end of the lathe.

Swingers can leave the tailstock in the way.
I do a lot of hollow forms using a jamieson handle with the tailstock on a swing away.
The handle doesn't hit the tailstock on forms 16" dia 10" high.

 

[john lucas]

I rigged up a system for a lady friend when she got a Powermatic 3520. I put a garage door slide on the ceiling and bought a rope deer hoist to hang from it. She just hooks it up to the tailstock lifts it slightly and slides it across the room to her workbench. This way it's completely out of the way.

 

[Sean Boyle]

dumb question what is the advantage of removing the tail stock. when slid all the way to the end it is never in my way

 

[Hu Lowery]

a similar assist I'm thinking about

I rigged up a system for a lady friend when she got a Powermatic 3520. I put a garage door slide on the ceiling and bought a rope deer hoist to hang from it. She just hooks it up to the tailstock lifts it slightly and slides it across the room to her workbench. This way it's completely out of the way.

I'm thinking I'll hang a bungie cord or three down to take about 75% of the weight I have to move all the time. The hoist is great because it lets us use our weight to pull down instead of the far more difficult lifting up. I think the deer hoist has a single sheave moving block too which reduces the force needed to lift the load by half.

The homemade swingaway is very nice. I think if I built one I would extend the joint about six inches behind the lathe and possibly angle it a little bit for more clearance. That would require a very strong hinge though.

Hu

 

[Hu Lowery]

totally different work position

dumb question what is the advantage of removing the tail stock. when slid all the way to the end it is never in my way

Sean,

The main reason is the sliding headstock and short bed lathes. With the tailstock out of the way so a person can stand at the foot of the lathe for hollowing it eliminates bending and twisting. Since my lower back doesn't bend or twist that is a major improvement. I have a pivoting headstock lathe now but I get flex when turning something heavy and the constant concern that it has pivoted slightly while turning between centers. No doubt there are better pivoting head lathes but after owning one I don't think I will ever own another unless it has a very precise alignment and locking mechanism.

Hu

 

[hockenbery]

dumb question what is the advantage of removing the tail stock. when slid all the way to the end it is never in my way

None! I know one woodturner who just put a 17" extension on the end the bed to give extra slide room.
I hollow with the jamieson handle. Folks with sliding headstock often turn off the end of the lathe when hollowing bowls.
Hollowing bowls with long handled tools can hit the tailstock.

For these things the tailstock has to go.

Al

 

[john lucas]

My tailstock doesn't get in the way real often but some tools on some projects are simply too long or I hit my elbow on it. Fortunately I'm still strong enough to lift my tailstock on my Powermatic 3520 but I've been watching all the various tailstock removal devices because I know my time will come.
I like the Robust a lot.

 

[Gretch Flo]

tail stock removal

dumb question what is the advantage of removing the tail stock. when slid all the way to the end it is never in my way

I think it was Bill Grumbine that used the term "turners elbow" (where you spear yourself from the tailstock revolving center.)
I haven't yet seen the need to remove my tailstock from my Oneway 1640. Gretch

 

[Bill Boehme]

dumb question what is the advantage of removing the tail stock. when slid all the way to the end it is never in my way

It's not a dumb question, but depending on what you are turning, you may run into situations where it is necessary. For example deep hollowing -- if I have a large hollowform that is two to three feet tall, I will have my headstock at one end of the lathe, a tool est for the hollowing bar near the opening of the hollowform, and the the trap either attached to the banjo sitting on the swing-away extension or if necessary, on the outboard toolrest support. The hollowing bar is over five feet long so in any event, the tailstock would be in the way.

The other situation is when you slide the headstock to the tailstock end of the lathe and use the outboard rest for turning. This can be done when the diameter of the piece is too large to turn over the bed or when it is more convenient to turn that way, because it eliminates the need for leaning over the lathe.

 

[DOCworks]

Unless Robust changed their minds, they no longer produce the Tilt away for the Powermatic. JT woodturning is a really good options. I have the Robust(no it's not sale) and used the JT solution up at John C Campbell and was very pleased with it. There is another one out there that rotate the tail stock on the same plane as the lathe bed. This looks good but I have found with use the tail stock is still in the way.