New Lathe for Handicapped Access and Seated Turning for Whatever Reason

Bob, I'm not following you. The picture is the pivoting head stock. Does a rotating head stock move with the ways? I'm lost. Would that be to allow for some hollowing while faceplate is still installed after doing some bottom work? Still lost.

markrules: if it's as described in Bob's link, the headstock turning like that allows for faceplate work beyond the capacity of the lathe. Also, by rotating 22.5 degrees, you can do more hollowing without reaching so much over the bed to present the gouge at an affective angle of attack.



However, Bob may be speaking of something different.

"I'm not even a beginner with a lathe…What good would a rotating head be? What applications or limitations?
Doesn't seem to make any sense to me."

Hi Mark:

The largest advantage of a pivoting head is to present the inside surface of a vessel more directly to the operator. Without this swivel the operator must either lean into and over the ways or in some cases actually straddle them to get both acess and purchase on the hollowing tools.
Some lathes provide for an out rigging on the opposite end of the head to accomodate some hollowing or over sized turnings but a swivel head is by far the best.

I am over 6 feet and find that most lathes are about 4-5 inches too low for comfort for me so that lower position would only be an advantage if I were to sit for part of the shaping.

I hope this gives you some more insight into the situation Mark.

Bob

Hi Mot.
Pivoting should have been the operative word as it best defines the actual movement.

In many cases the rest must be accomodated by a separate station that moves around to follow the head and is mounted on the floor.

The pic is ancient but shows how it is used.

Bob