Lathe Bed Attachment

I made a lathe bed lock to attach a tool to the lathe bed which works really well.   If you need to make a custom tool to be used in conjunction with your lathe, here is a simple way to attach someting to your lathe bed.  

Now I have built a Cylender Maker Project using a Lathe Bed Attachment.

Lathe Bed Lock Diagram

Bottom of the tool's base with a center guide bar glued to insert into the center slot in the lathe bed.   The center guide strip is a snug fit into the lathe bed's slot and will kepp the tool aligned with the headstock.

Top of the tool base with tee knobs that tighten the lock buttons.

Here is one of the lock buttons with the peg, slot and center hole in the guide bar.   Note the perfect semicircular slot.

Wondering how I cut a perfect semicircle slot? I made this jig, 3/16" plywood strip (long enough to be clamped at the other end),with a 1/4" hole and peg on this end.   I fitted the 1/4" straight router bit through the hole and clamped the bar, turned the center guide upside down and placed it's hole over the peg, and rotated it side to side matching the 45° diagonal marks.   On a later version of this I added a limiter block in the 'V' shaped area.

Heres the jig fitted over the router bit, the height set to just route a 1/4" deep slot.

Bottom of tool base showing button locks (shown unlocked) used to lock tool base to slot in lathe bed.   A 1/4-20 carriage bolt goes through the locking button, guide bar and tool base to a knob on top for tightening.   The small peg (1/8") on the bottom of the button and a semi-circular slot on the center guide for the peg.   The peg and slot limit the button's rotation to 90°.   The peg should be positioned so a clockwise (from top) turn of the bolt (Tightening) locks and a counter clockwise turn unlocks (Loosen the knob on top).   The guide bar thickness should be less than the depth of the lathe bed slot so a gap will be left above the button for tightening.   These button locks work great holding the base down on the lathe bed.

Top of tool base attached to the lathe bed.

Closer look.

Close up of center guide inserted into lathe bed slot.