Bill's Wood Creations, Building a Stabilizer

The Stabilizer is necessary when using the Laser Guided Lathe Tool. It provides a slot for the D-handle of the Laser Guided Lathe Tool to fit in with non-binding movement of the D-handle in every directions. The Center of the slot must be at the same height from the lathe bed as the center of the headstock shaft. The Torque Stabilizer prevents the tool from dangerous twisting and allows almost one handed deep hollowing of bowls and vases. The Stabilizer can be made of wood, however the following is the direction on how to make one with metal.

Materials:

2 each 30" long ½" water pipe with no pipe threads on the ends
2 each 3½" long 3/8" All Thread
4 each 3/8" nuts to fit the All Thread
1 each 5" wide flat iron vertical supports. The length will depend on the lathe bed to center of the headstock shaft height. Subtract the diameter of the ½" water pipe (7/8") and 3/8" for half of the slot space and ¼" for the horizontal lathe bed attachment.
1 each 3" x 5" x ¼" flat iron horizontal top lathe bed attachment
1 each 6" x 1" x ½" flat iron under lathe bed attachment
1 each 1½" long ½"-13 tpi hex head lathe bed attachment bolt

Clamp the 2 water pipes together (one on top of the other) in a drill press vise or with pieces of wood. Drill 3/8" holes about ½" in from each end of the pipes all the way through one pipe and only one side of the bottom pipe. Before removing the pipes from the vise or wood clamps, put the 3/8" All Threads in the holes at each end of the pipes. The All Threads must be parallel and at 90° to the pipes. Weld the All Threads inside the bottom pipe that has only one hole at each end. This pipe will end up being the top pipe of the Stabilizer. Once the welds are cool, remove the pipe with the 2 holes at each end and add one nut to each All thread. Replace the 2 hole pipe and put on the other nuts. The pipes can now be adjusted using the nuts to have a clearance of about ¾" between the pipes.

Drill a ½" hole through the horizontal top lathe bed attachment. This hole will be used for the ½" bolt to attach the Stabilizer to the lathe bed.

Butt weld the 5" wide vertical support to the 3" x 5" horizontal top lathe bed attachment. The vertical support should be welded on top of the horizontal to lathe bed attachment so that the two iron plates are at 90° to each other. Butt weld the vertical support to the bottom pipe and 9" from one end.

With some ingenuity one can make the Stabilizer (shown in the photo as set up on a 10" lathe) that will work on 10", 12", 14", 16" and 20" lathes. (The Powermatic 3520a is actually 20.5") Having the Stabilizer adjustable for these different lathes will allow it to be used on other lathes, at club meetings, demonstrations or when a lathe upgrade comes to your shop.

This stabilizer is set for a 10 inch lathe.

This stabilizer is set for a 20 inch lathe.

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Building A Stabilizer