Power tail stock adapter?

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Parson

Parson

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Joined
Jun 10, 2009
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Location
Houston, Texas
When I was with Timebandit for the day watching him make a kitless pen he was cranking that tailstock something fierce to drill on the lathe. Reminded me of the time I made 30 Sierras for a customer when I didn't own a drill press and had to do all my drilling on my lathe. Now though, I use it for nailing the dead center on intricate laminated/segmented blanks.

All this drilling on the lathe got me to thinking that having a powered tail stock with a rocker switch that would provide forward and reverse of the shaft would be really helpful.

Anyone seen anything like this?
 
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Interesting thought.
I picture a small metal bar across the knob hooked up to a battery powered screwdriver.
Small hex shaft welded to the bar so the screwdriver is not in the way when not in use.

Lee
 
This probably won't help if you don't have a metal lathe but... They make morse taper toolholders for quick change toolposts. Then you use the powerfeed on the lathe to power the drilling setup.
 
A linear accuator from a treadmill would work if you could mount it to the tailstock and a collar on the tailstock spindle. A very low speed drill with an adaptor to fit the spokes on the feed wheel would also work.
Dan
 
Hmmm....

I could picture a way to do this :)

A dowel and a disk. Drill a hole through the disk to put the dowel through. (One part goes into the tailstock through hole for support. The other side sticks out the back.

Drill a hole in the disk where the crank is on your tailstock.

That little device and a drill (cordless or corded) and your good to go :)
 
I just drilled a hole in the side of the handle and tapped it for a 1/4x20 bolt. 1" piece of SS tubing and I had a tailstock with a handle.

Not mechanical but faster than hand twisting the tailstock handle.

I've seen some Jets with that as a standard device.

Lee
 
Hold the bit in your hand.....

Ummm, you're doing it the hard way. No need to even put the bit in the tailstock. Just turn a handle, use the bit to drill a hole in the handle, and epoxy the bit into the handle. Remove the tailstock, to get it out of the way, and hold the drill bit/handle in your hand to drill with it. Advance or retract as fast/slow as you wish. It helps to make a small dimple in the end of the blank with a skew or parting tool, to get the bit started on dead center. Yes, it still drills a straight hole that's centered in the blank. If the bit catches in the blank, just let it spin in your hand while you turn off the lathe. You'll be surprised at how little torque is needed by a sharp drill bit.

txbob
 
when I was a tool and die maker we set up a tail stock for speed drilling by removing the screw from the tail stock and set up a handle that would push the tail stock forward and reverse.

Worked out great.
 
Kinda reminds me of the "suicide knob" we used to have back in the 50's on our cars to let us steer one handed with the other arm around the chick!!! :biggrin:
Oh, I guess there is kinda one already on most tailstock wheels.........:confused:
gordon
 
I initially turn the handle to advance the bit for starting. After about 1/2", I loosen the lockdown and simply push the tailstock into the blank. Pull out as needed.
 
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