How to fix the Laugna Banjo problem

A quick and simple fix to the problem of a loose tool post on a Laguna wood lathe

[@SethDowns]

For those of you without a spare foot laying around, it feels like a M10-1.5 bolt according to my tap and die set

[@BBTurning]

Nice one Seth, I had no idea of the size. I have pinned this comment to the top. Shay

[@tonyklepic5053]

What thread size? I tried an M10 bolt and it did not work.

[@BBTurning]

Are you in the States Tony?

[@tonyklepic5053]

@@BBTurning Yes. As it turns out that bottom hole thread is the same size as the knob for the tool rest. 3/8 - 16. I tried it and it threads right in.

[@BBTurning]

Ahh that could explain it, I am in Ireland so using the metric system for bolt sizes. Glad you got it sorted. Shay

[@hankcrismore2872]

Thank you for the tip! We have a Laguna 18-36 and have struggled with the tool rest for a long time. I tried your tip and it works perfectly! My wife thanks you also!

[@BBTurning]

I am glad it helped Hank. Shay

[@steveestabrooks941]

I have the problem as you described, also have a hard time moving the entire banjo assembly. Finally i took it off the machine and ran a file down the outside bottom edge of the banjo assembly to slightly break the corner so it does not dig into the machine bed. That helped make moving the banjo smoother.

[@BBTurning]

That will fix it for you and not a bad idea at all. I will keep it in mind if my banjo gets hard to move. Shay

[@mcooper320]

Brilliant. My Laguna will be wearing this bolt today.

[@BBTurning]

It works well Michael, just make sure not to go too tight. Shay

[@mattmurray5341]

I had the same issue but called Laguna and they replaced my banjo free of charge. Said it was a problem with their casting or some crap but they fixed it. Great customer service

[@BBTurning]

Great to hear Matt. Shay

[@TimRobertsonWoodturning]

I’ve never had issues with mine but I will keep this in mind in case it loosens up. Thanks for sharing and I will pass it on when I hear of others having issues because there have been a lot of complaints about that problem.

[@BBTurning]

I didn't until a few months ago either then one day it just started. Shay

[@bobpede4647]

Great tip.Love the Laguna lathe,but no machine is perfect.

[@BBTurning]

Thanks Bob. Shay.

[@josephwise485]

Shay, I don't have a Laguna, but what a neat fix. Thanks for sharing.

[@BBTurning]

Cheers Joseph. Shay

[@scottstubberud1137]

Thanks buddy. That was very helpful!!

[@BBTurning]

You are welcome Scott, glad it helped. Shay

[@therelaxingwoodshop7495]

Fantastic. Had the same problem on my Laguna lathe

[@BBTurning]

It's a known problem Dave but the fix is very simple and works well. Shay

[@therelaxingwoodshop7495]

@@BBTurning thank you so much. Have a good one

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Shay - my issue with mine is that chips get into the channel and it won’t stay tight - if I blow them out with the air gun and retighten I’m back in business but it’s annoying when it starts to loosen up while I’m turning. RoboHippy says your tool test makes a terrible scraper and I agree. Wonder if this might help with that issue too - have to give it a shot

[@BBTurning]

I have that same problem Lisa, like yourself I keep cleaning it out. Shay

[@BrickhouseCraftWorks]

Thanks for sharing this Shay! Mine isn’t too bad, but it can be annoying sometimes! I’ll definitely be making this improvement!

[@BBTurning]

Not a problem Seth. The normal video will be up on Thursday as usual. Shay

[@RichardBrowne-tr1vl]

Thank you!

[@BBTurning]

You are welcome Richard, hopefully it helped. Shay.

[@richardschaffling9882]

Thank you I bought a laguna 1216 about two months ago and love the lathe but the I am tired of the tool rest slipping down

[@BBTurning]

You are welcome Richard, glad it helped. Shay

[@richardschaffling9882]

@@BBTurning they changed the design mine don’t have that second hole and the tail stock is the pitts the quail is extremely hard to turn my first and last laguna lathe it’s only five weeks old

[@BBTurning]

I don't know if the 12 16 has the same design banjo. There is a 12 16 owners group on Facebook that may be able to help Richard. Shay

[@richardschaffling9882]

@@BBTurning thank you I will look it up when I’m out of FB jail

[@richardschaffling9882]

@@BBTurning just talked to the people at laguna and they are sending me a new banjo and a new tailstock because it Quail won’t go in or out

[@bradwiebelhaus7065]

Good idea

[@BBTurning]

Cheers Brad. Shay

[@davidgraham2673]

Nice solution.

[@BBTurning]

It works well David, a lot of people have done it since I released the video and all seem happy with the result, apparantly it works on the 24/36 as well. Shay

[@Kevrock900]

This is great, thanks

[@BBTurning]

You are welcome Kevin. Shay

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

I have used this tip, but the real question is why won't Laguna address this issue. The banjo also does not accommodate other posts which is a real pain since they do not offer other style posts themselves. Seems like they really don't want to support the lathe much compared to their other tools.

[@BBTurning]

You know the old saying Jeff, an engineer will never admit they are wrong, well here we can see that in practice. Someone basically redesigned the wheel when there was no need and is going to stick with the redesign no matter what. Shay.

[@calebwilliams9532]

Interesting video and ingenious idea but I don’t have that problem with my 18/36. But I also cut off that annoying extra material on the other side of where you added the extra thread and nut.

[@BBTurning]

Hi Caleb, it seems there are a few that don't have it for some reason, I didn't for a long time then it started. I don't get what you mean by extra material? Shay

[@calebwilliams9532]

@@BBTurning I had a machinist friend take off about an inch of material on the opposite side of the banjo from where you lock in a tool rest. This allows me to get the banjo closer to bowls.

[@BBTurning]

@@calebwilliams9532 ahh now that I completely understand and agree with, it can be very awkward to get close enough when doing large bowls. Shay

[@michaelogden5958]

Brilliant!

[@BBTurning]

Thanks Michael, it just popped into my head one day. Shay

[@SethDowns]

I hope you don't mind if I share this to the Laguna facebook site--this could solve a lot of gripes for almost free!

[@BBTurning]

Fire away Seth. Shay

[@SethDowns]

@@BBTurning You're bloody nuts. This didn't work for shit--I thought you said it was a good solution. It's not black like the rest of the lathe.

[@SethDowns]

@@BBTurning I suppose sarcasm doesn't work over the internet. That worked awesome--so simple and they already have the hole there--why don't they do something with it. Now for some black lacquer! You're officially Laguna service person of the month--they owe you a new lathe or bandsaw or CNC!

[@BBTurning]

@@SethDowns lol

[@BBTurning]

@@SethDowns I would settle for the outboard extension kit 😁

[@tielkgate]

Thanks Mate! Lowell

[@BBTurning]

You are welcome Lowell. Hopefully it helps. Shay.

[@tielkgate]

@@BBTurning Shay - stay safe out there and have a super day!

[@BBTurning]

You too Lowell. Shay

[@archiehebron8944]

Can anyone tell me if this banjo is an appropriate replacement for my lathe? I have an old Rockwell 12x40 lathe that I bought cheap but it didn't come with a banjo. The distance between the ways is 1 1/4 inches and the swing is about 6" . If I buy one will I be able to get turning?🙏🤞

[@BBTurning]

No Archie, it won't fit. The distance between the ways on the 1836 is two inches and it has a 9 inch swing. Shay.

[@archiehebron8944]

@@BBTurning do you know they make a replacement that does fit ? I have sent email to their customer support but I haven't heard back yet. That was just this morning however. Thanks for the reply 👍

[@archiehebron8944]

*if Sorry 😖 I can just call them during business hours 😅

[@BBTurning]

@@archiehebron8944 I just went through the specs sheet for the Laguna 1216 Archie but the dimensions are not in it. I would say your best bet is what you are intending and phone them. Sorry I couldn't be more help. Shay

[@artr8285]

I just purchased an 1824 and unfortunately does not have the lower hole, but was so difficult to tighten my arthritic wrist constantly had trouble with it. I have to almost put my full weight on it to tighten it. As is it's a very poor design and I feel it's a safety matter, if you can't safely tighten all the parts near the revolving piece to be turned. There should be a recall on these. The way it comes you are only tightening the very top of the cylinder around the inserted tool post, the bottom is fixed and can't squeeze so even when tight only a thousandth or two at the top are holding the tool post. The fix? Simple, just cut a new slot at the bottom of the banjo slot freeing the entire cylinder to squeeze tight onto the post. I did it with a cut-off wheel in just a few minutes. This fix is so obvious I wonder if some bean counter deleted this machining step to save a little money negating the original designs efficiency?

[@BBTurning]

I have to agree Art, it could have been designed a bit better, it is a pity as the rest of the lathe is bang on perfect in my opinion. Shay

[@artr8285]

@@BBTurning I discovered the shortcoming last night. There was an existing horizontal notch partway through about 1/8 wide towards the bottom of the tool post that I thought was there to scrape off sawdust. After a studying it for a few minutes the light came on, this notch was supposed to be machined all the way through, releasing the bottom of section of the tool rest so it can clamp. 60 seconds with a cut-off wheel did the trick and now the post works as it should. Poor QC for someone not to notice this. Too bad we can't post photos here.

[@artr8285]

P.S. I was just watching a Laguna video on using the 1524 bed extension and the tool rest in the video clearly had that slot cut through!

[@BBTurning]

Very nicely spotted Art. Shay

[@BBTurning]

Very nicely spotted Art. Shay

[@jeantanguy5535]

Good appreciate

[@BBTurning]

You are welcome Jean. Shay

[@milltek2]

Is the bolt you used actually an M10-1.5 Shay??

[@BBTurning]

I honestly have no idea Jim, it was one of the levellers that came with the lathe that I didn't need. Seth in the pinned comment sized it and said that was the size. Shay

[@milltek2]

@@BBTurning Got it - thanks. A non-metric 5/16" bolt will go right through. With all the care Laguna gave the design I'm really surprised that they let this fault slip through.

[@BBTurning]

@@milltek2 so am I Jim and what really surprises me is that they didn't spot such an easy fix and include the extra bolt with the lathe. I heard that the may have redesigned the banjo. Shay

[@pjenslin1]

Damn! I measured the bolt size and according to my measurements it uses a 9mm width bolt. I can find 8mm and 10mm, no 9mm! ((

[@BBTurning]

If you have not used the levellers they fit Philip. Shay

[@markr3547]

the 15/24 has no second hole in banjo

[@BBTurning]

Thats a pity Mark, some of the really early 18/36s dont have one either. Shay.

[@tonyklepic5053]

It may be time to just give in and buy the OneWay banjo. I'd have to say the most enjoyable banjo I've used on a lathe.

[@BBTurning]

I have not had a problem since i did this fix Tony, it seems to be fine now. A oneway banjo is an expensive item that not everyone can afford I am afraid especially if you do not live in the States, and this fix is basically free. Anyone who can afford one this I say go right ahead as it is a superior banjo just remember when ordering that you have to say it is for a Laguna so they can mill is correctly. Shay