Router Platform For Lathe

[Peter Raeburn]

I saw something like this in a pen turning book and decided to build one. The jig mounts between the rails of the lathe. You mount the blanks on a mandrel as usual. I used a plunge router and a dish cutting bit. Once I had the turret debth stops set up, I could bring a blank down to sanding size in 3 passes. It is only good for cutting straight blanks, bushing to bushing(slimlines and zen pens for example) I will probably never use it again unless I had to make a lot of slimlines at one time.
http://penturnersparadise.ca/gallery/files/3/6/8/im002105.jpg

[gwilki]

Peter: You may have already thought of this, but you can use your setup to cut flutes or spirals in blanks. Leave the lathe turned off and just use a small cove bit. I've had pretty good luck doing this on a Jet mini with an indexing plate on the head stock.

[Peter Raeburn]

Hi Grant. I had thought of using it that way but I'm still trying to figure out a way to keep the headstock motionless while cutting with the router. Did you buy or make the indexing plate?

[gwilki]

Peter: I bought mine here:

http://alisam.com/

Works like a charm.

[Peter Raeburn]

Thanks for the link. Looks like it does the job and at a reasonable price.