When small changes become the best!

A short time ago, I had posted a small modification on this forum that I made for my mini lathe. It was a simple carriage lock, without drilling holes in the lathe structure, a little different from what some of our internet colleagues invented. Today I found a new application for it, when I was drilling with the tailstock. Larger diameter drills usually make the head move, even when we tighten the key firmly, due to the great effort during the cut. So, I just turned around the carriage lock (see photo) and it also served to lock the tailstock.

Attachment 35318

Another very simple modification, which has helped a lot in the operation of the mini lathe, is a protection that does not let the chip come into contact with the gears that move the machine carriages (see photo). Using a cut piece of aluminum, it becomes much easier to clean the equipment at the end of the work, in addition to preventing premature wear of the gears.

Attachment 35319

We often think of doing well-designed projects that fill our eyes. However, sometimes minor modifications are those that end up becoming the best!

M4ALL.