Drum switch moved

[roadie33]

I finally moved my drum switch to the front of my lathe because it was in the way when I mounted my Taper Attachment. Also didn't like the way I had to reach over the bed to turn it on or off.


BEFORE...


AFTER...

 

[wa5cab]

That's where I have the drum switch mounted on my 3996. Except that I have it mounted such that the lever is horizontal in OFF. Up is FWD, down is REV.

 

[The Liberal Arts Garage]

Nobody seems to have said it right out. Put all subsidiary controls on
Lower left panel at left hand height! BLJHB

 

[gi_984]

Good job, I'm going to do this in the future. Unfortunately mine has the cast iron legs instead of the cabinet. I'm going to have to do something creative to mount it toward the front.

 

[roadie33]

You can try making a bracket with a clamp that can clamp on the side of the chip tray.
Use some Flex conduit from the motor out to the new location.

 

[wa5cab]

Mount it underneath the wood top. Sandwich a hardwood spacer between the switch and wood top if you need it lower. Remove the actuating lever and reinstall it pointing towards the tailstock. If necessary, rewire the switch so than up is FWD and down is REV.

 

[pebbleworm]

Mine WAS mounted on the operators side of the headstock when I got my Craftsman 6". It was easy to bump, which bothered me so I moved it behind the bed on top of a candlestick. Very similar location the the first "before" picture here... The behind the bed location was popular enough some manufacturers made an optional bracket to put it there. Your mileage may vary writ large!

 

[wa5cab]

Reaching over a running lathe in order to turn the motor off is automatic qualification for a Darwin Award.

 

[roadie33]

That's why I moved mine to under the tray. Didn't want to get something important ripped off when reaching over to the switch.

The only thing I've found that if I am sitting on my bar stool when facing a long piece if I swivel, my knee will sometimes hit the switch.
Good thing it was already running FWD, cause that was the direction I hit it.

 

[wa5cab]

Heh heh. Raise your stool so that your knee hits the drip pan.