Followup to Jet Mini Tailstock Problem

[David Little]

A couple of weeks ago I posted a message regarding stripping the threads on the bolt holding down the tailstock on my Jet mini 1014. Jet is seriously backordered on these bolts but, thanks to several of you who responded with good suggestions, I am back up and turning again. I thought I would post a followup message that might be helpful to those may also be waiting for the Jet part.

One suggestion I received was to take the bolt to a welder to see if he could weld new threads onto the bolt. I went to a shop that also did metal lathe work and their recommendation was to cut off the old threads, drill out the top section, tap in threads and thread in a new bolt. So that is what we did and it worked beautifully. A added advantage was that the new threaded portion is from stock that is harder steel than the Jet bolt.

The second helpful suggestion I received was to order a replacement for the round piece that contacts the bottom of the lathe bed to hold the tailstock in place. The reason I stripped the threads on the bolt probably was because the tailstock was slipping and I put too much pressure on the tightening lever trying to keep it in place. The new peice is a machined metal rectangle about two inches long that is designed to put more metal against the bottom of the bed. I got the new part today and it seems to work great. It seems to take very little pressure on the tailstock lever to keep the tailstock in place.. The part came from fred@turningstuff.com. The banjo uses the same part on the bottom, so I ordered a second piece and installed it there. It seems to allow the banjo to slide more freely on the bed than the round piece provided by Jet.

Again, thanks to those of you who jumped in with good, positive suggestions.

[Randy Meijer]

.....One suggestion I received was to take the bolt to a welder to see if he could weld new threads onto the bolt. I went to a shop that also did metal lathe work and their recommendation was to cut off the old threads, drill out the top section, tap in threads and thread in a new bolt. So that is what we did and it worked beautifully. A added advantage was that the new threaded portion is from stock that is harder steel than the Jet bolt......

What did they charge you to make that repair??

[Larry Rupert]

Randy, I think he is saying that he bought a new part (tailstock nut) from Fred. I bought a couple of them from him (Fred) as well. They have more surface contact, and make better contact. Makes the tailstock on the mini lathe rock solid!! Larry

What did they charge you to make that repair??

[David Little]

Randy, Larry is correct on the tailstock nut. It cost me $10 for the machine shop to redo the bolt.

[Randy Meijer]

Randy, I think he is saying that he bought a new part (tailstock nut) from Fred. I bought a couple of them from him (Fred) as well. They have more surface contact, and make better contact. Makes the tailstock on the mini lathe rock solid!! Larry

I undertsand that part; but there was also the matter of the repair of the stripped threads and that was what I was inquiring about.

I am familiar with Fred's clamp nut. In fact, I was the one who suggested that he start making them when previous makers quit doing so. I made my own clamp from some scrap steel i had laying around the shop. It is not quite so pretty as Fred's; but it works just fine!!

BTW, Fred sells those things for $14 plus $3 for shipping....at least until the USPS rates go up in May. A very good deal for those who need one. Previous makers were charging $20-$25 + shipping!!

And another BTW....the nut only fits the JET mini. Other Jet models have the same clamping mechanism; but they are scaled up in size so Fred's nut won't fit.