Where's your drum switch?

[just old al]

With my old 9C the position of the switch was simple - I had the SB cast-iron bracket that attached it to the front of the bed and it was tucked over on the side below the headstock.

With this 9a I am finding out that yes, I can mount the switch there, but the QCGB makes it quite crampes and I have to be careful not to run it over by jamming the apron into it when working.

However, other spots are either not available or not too great an idea in my opinion. I really dislike having the switch behind the machine - reaching over the headstock to turn the machine off seems like a really bad idea. Thefront of the cabinet it's sitting on has drawers and doors - no room for a switch.

Opinions? Suggestions?

Thanks - Al.

 

[Dave Paine]

This may not work for you, just showing what I did.

I mounted my drum switch for a Heavy 10 in the middle of my stand under the tray. The location where I mounted the drum switch had a small steel plate.



I replaced the steel plate with a piece of plywood to which I mounted the drum switch horizontally. I did this so that the lever on the drum switch would not be accidentally moved by my body.

In this closeup the lower panel beneath the switch was removed.

 

[woodtickgreg]

I did a quick google search in images and found a cover and bracket that mounts the switch on top of the head stock to the left cover. You could search ebay and try to find the bracket or just make your own. Just search south bend 9a drum switch and then click images.

 

[LucknowKen]

I did a quick google search in images and found a cover and bracket that mounts the switch on top of the head stock to the left cover. You could search ebay and try to find the bracket or just make your own. Just search south bend 9a drum switch and then click images.

Joe at Plaza sold NOS switch brackets for $4. I made the mistake of only getting one.

 

[Country_Bubba]

Like many, mine is mounted on the headstock. But that is about to change as I watched a video the other day where a gentleman had a birds nest of long stringy hot sharp chips. He reached past the chuck to shut off the machine and (you guessed it) his fingers were lacerated several times!
My switch will now be relocated toward the tail stock end of the machine.

 

[Technical Ted]

My 1930's vintage SB 15" has a factory mount arm that holds my drum switch next to my power on/off switch. It's behind the machine, but for me, is high enough and away from the headstock far enough that turning it on and off with my right hand is not an issue. If fact, I like it up there as it is handy for me. Maybe you could make an arm that holds the switch where it would be comfortable and safe for you. BTW, I never run my lathe in reverse.

YMMV,
Ted

 

[tq60]

Ours has factory arm up and behind chuck which could be issue if things get messy.

We added vfd and as part of that added a stop control foot bar that goes across front between base and foot.

Tap that to stop

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[RandyWilson]

I disabled the original switches to wire in a VFD. I put the box on a swinging wall mount. Nothing fancy, just a bit of 1/2" water pipe. Swing it out while operating the machine, then swing it back over the bed for storage.

 

[FOMOGO]

Here's mine on the Atlas, mounted on the drip pan I had made up. Seems to work out well. Mike

 

[Silverbullet]

With enough wire the switch can go anywhere you feel like having it . As for getting cut by long chips it should have not been aloud to get that way. A metal chip hook can move chips even super hot ones. I've had plenty of stringy long chips in shops , but your SAFTEY is still your responsibility. Use your head , I see these guys on YouTube doing all kinds of dangerous things I cringe at the thought of Keith fenner getting his rubber band wrapped goat tee getting wound up in a machine. Long sleeved shirts hanging on others , jaming there hands in near a cutter still spinning to feel the finish. If you going to operate machines look at yourself and think what you can go without because that machine don't care what it does.