When I first got the Jet Mini lathe, it was to replace the GMC that I had, and one thing that I wanted to do was add the extension bed to the Jet to get a full 1000mm capacity. At some stage I’d like a full sized lathe, but in the meantime, the Jet Mini will certainly suit my current requirements (and will still have a place even if I do end up with a larger one).
Jet Mini Lathe with Stand
I’ve been putting the extension in the too-hard basket for over a year – mainly because the extension cost $100, and I couldn’t see how it was possibly justified to ask another $100 for the couple of components to extend the lathe stand to take the extra extension.
I certainly didn’t subscribe to the suggestion from the retailer that it is generally left hanging in mid-air. Seemed a stupid proposal at best. It didn’t help that the extension I was sold turns out not to be for the model of Mini lathe they had sold me, so I had to work out my own way of joining the two beds together.
In the end, I opted for high tensile bolts and with a bit of fussing, got the two beds aligned nicely, and seemingly sufficiently joined that there won’t be any movement in the joint over time.
Next came the real problem – extending the stand to cope with the extra length of the new lathe bed. If I had some metal fabrication capacity that would have made life a lot easier, but I don’t have the essentials – primarily a welder. So the problem just sat there, waiting for a solution to turn up, and on Friday it did.
Lathe with Extension and Stand Extension
Work was about to throw out a stand that has clogged up a space for about 4 years, and I couldn’t bring myself to just allow the components to go without seeing if there was anything useful. It was as I was dismantling it that I suddenly twigged that one of the parts looked just like I would expect the genuine lathe stand extension component would look like. It even looked like it just might be long enough. When I meansured it up, it was close – very very close, and the 45mm it was short I decided I could adapt the existing stand layout enough to compensate, without compromising its integrity.
All that was needed were some new holes, and some more bolts to hold the extra parts.
Drilling Holes
The main idea that I had was to use the previous horizontal member, and turn it vertically to support the joint in the extended lathe bed. The fact that the new horizontal member was a substantial square RHS so could easily take the loading made it a no brainer.
Base Adapter
The one thing I did decide was to use the original horizontal member unaltered, and because it was not as wide as the base of the lathe, it made more sense to have its flange at 90 degrees to the base, and therefore the holes couldn’t be used to join them together. So what I did was fabricate this piece with two holes (top and bottom) for the lathe, and the other two for the flange.
Now this is where it all will make a bit more sense.
Extending the Lathe Stand
This is the interum step with everything in place, but resting – waiting for holes to be drilled for the bolts.
Extended Lathe and Stand
And finally (and it doesn’t look that different from the previous photo), this is the final result, all bolted together, and very stable (and rather heavy to boot).
Now I just have to find a new location for the grinder, and I need more of that rubber mat!
It’s a great feeling to finally finish off a job that has been hanging over my head for so long. Now I just have to get back to learning how to use the thing!! (Properly that is!!)
Filed under: Lathe, Tools Tagged: | Base, Bed, Extension, Jet, Mini, Modification
