Dust Collector and Work Light Supports

[Hartwell85]

After watching one of the workshops at the 2021 AAW Virtual Symposium, I adopted the devices that other wood turners used for supporting a work light and dust collector to my mini-lathe. The dust collector arm consists of three pieces of wood 3/4" thick by 1.5" wide. The assembly is mounted to a 1" diameter dowel and clamped in place with a split joint on one of the arms. The hinge joints on the middle piece are joined by a 1/4"-20 carriage bolt, rubber washer between the pieces, and a 1/4"-20 lock nut on top. The lock nut keeps the joint from loosening when I adjust the dust collector. The lock nut is tightened just enough the allow the joint to flex but still remain where set. The rubber washer provides resistance to help the joints stay where set. The dust collector attachment is held in place by a 2x4 with a cut-out that clamps over the hose fitting. This design is a significant improvement over the cumbersome dust collector I was using.

The work light bracket is made from a piece of of wood 3/4" thick by 1.5" wide. A fender washer matching the magnetic base of the work light is attached at one end with a screw through a counter sunk hole in the washer. The bracket attaches to the lathe ways using 1/4"-20 carriage bolt, a thick fender washer, wood spacer to center the bolt, and 1/4"-20 finger knob. The only drawback is that the knob and bolt interfere with installation of my Nova chuck.

 

[leehljp]

I have long used a dust collector at the lathe and many here have also. Very helpful.

You have an excellent setup!

As to the light, I used to have florescent "daylight" bulbs but moved to 5000K LED bulbs once LED bulbs became readily available. The correct light color is very important in inspecting the colors on pens. Without the correct color of bulbs, it is sometimes hard to notice tints, shades, hues, tones etc. A good white holly may look fine until it is outside in daylight and even cloudy conditions when suddenly there it looks a little like ivory color. BLO and an oil based urethane will do that to holly, and it is not noticeable with 3500K and even 4000K LED Bulbs, or the vast majority of incandescent bulbs.

Lights over the lathe are very helpful, but the correct color of light helps tremendously.

This is not for you per se, but for anyone looking to add LED tubes over the lathe. The 4ft long LED bulbs that have square LED "bulbs" spaced 1/4" apart in clear tubes are not as good as those with frosted covering. The reason is that with a good finish, there will be a multiplicity of reflection points from those in clear tubes - which will diminish the ability to spot flaws in the finish until one is (again) outside, where the flaw(s) becomes obvious.

 

[PatrickR]

Your whole set up looks great. Very functional and efficient!

 

[mikespenturningz]

This is what I do for dust collection at the lathe.. I put wheels on it so I can easily get this where I want them.

 

[mikespenturningz]

This is what I do for dust collection at the lathe.. I put wheels on it so I can easily get this where I want them.
View attachment 314197

Did you notice the original first ever blank trueing jig made by Rick Herrill? Hope I spelled his last name right? I use this jig for every pen I make..