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[Robert Yarger]

Everything here is attached to the old aluminum sliding grid system that I never used for my last table saw (because it got in the way of my sled).  The moving bar slides like butter as it moves on its bearing wheels along its tracks, allowing me to do exact measured cuts with ease.  There are two small micro-movement wheels on the bar that allow me to move it very slowly when I want to.  I can pull the lever and lock the bar down at any point to focus on detailed cuts on a particular area.   

In the back, I have attached to the sliding arm my table saw's miter gauge (also not used on my table saw because it got in the way) .  Currently, I have a simple chisel from an old hand planer clamped onto it, but most any lathe tool can be clamped on as well, but I first have to remove it from the handle to get it to lay flat.  The fact that the miter gage is adjustable means that I can use tools with different angled cutting tips.  Once clamped on, I can just slide the main bar slowly across its tracks and give the project a perfectly even radius all the way down.

In the front, I have attached a drimmel press to a swivel base.  The drimmel can move forward and back on the bar, angle left and right on its base, and pan almost 180 degrees in respect to the horizon of the project.  With this setup, I can approach the project from most any angle with varous carving bits.  The plunge press on this system has a setable stop block so that once I get the proper anglel, I can slowly plunge into the project to the exact depth that I want, and then let it spring back so that I can move the main bar and do a duplicate cut a few inches down without marring any of the project in between or turning the lathe off.

[Robert Yarger]

More Pics

[Robert Yarger]

Yet more pics

[Stephen Chin]

Well,O Master,

I'm speachless, and I think everyone in the Forum is speachless too.

You have single handedly move woodturning into another level.

All those gadgets,,,,,, its almost like a Stickman Factory!

In my dreams I can also see a thread making attachment and router placement in there

Its incredible, in 31 years of turning, I have not seen such purposely built gadgets to make turned pieces precise. You are truely gifted

Once you add the kiddy pool in, Paradise awaits

I'm so excited, and I am looking forward to your next turned Stickman Puzzle box

[Scott Peterson]

Stephen - please post a photo of lathing while standing in the kiddie pool.  It has been hot here in the SF Bay Area this week, and even a photo would make me feel better!

I would need to move the tools to the kiddie pool at our house.  The kids would never stop complaining if it were the other way around.  I'll just keep the RPMs down while the baby is near - no worries!

[Stephen Chin]

Dear Scott,

What is a lathe without a kiddie pool?

Just make sure your feet is well earthed in the water

The occational zap will give inspirational spiritual insight into your next puzzle design

100 degree heat, Ah! Heavenly

[Robert Yarger]

Now you guys see why we nickname him the "playtpus". 

Here are some pics of the lathe updated with a moving track to produce threads on projects.