Workshop Wednesday: Laguna 1836 Lathe Modification - Moving the Tailstock Lock Handle to the Front

Workshop Wednesday: Laguna 1836 Lathe Modification - Moving the Tailstock Lock Handle to the Front
I have a hard time locking and unlocking the tailstock on my Laguna 1836 lathe. I had several options to fix this:
1. Reposition where the handle locks by adjusting the nut underneath the tailstock so it didn’t lock underneath the bracket for the light
2. Remove the bracket for the light
3. Move the handle from the back of the lathe to the front
Several viewers mentioned moving the handle and reminded me that Shay from BB Turning did this, so I went and watched his video. I decided to make a video of me doing mine so there are several videos available on this process, with video taken from different angles, etc. Big thanks and shoutout to Shay ‪@BBTurning‬
See Shay’s video here:
• How to change the tail...
I do not expect the handle to be in my way on the front, since the handle from the banjo doesn’t interfere with turning, so I’m quite pleased to have been able to make this change - my hands and shoulders will be thankful!
#woodturning #lagunarevo1836

[@ronbeckhaus7326]

good job, Lisa. I can't understand why you removed all the lubrication grease, or rather, didn't put more on during reassembly. I would have thought it was necessary for smooth, non binding operation as well as corrosion inhibition. Just curious and no criticism is intended. cheers.

[@LisaRamlow]

Hey Ron! It didn’t really feel like grease as far as a lubricant goes and to be honest I didn’t think about it. Easy enough to take it apart and add some though. I cleaned it with the PB Blaster Teflon lube I use on the ways and stuff, but a thicker layer of something is probably a good idea 👍

[@Loan--Wolf]

@@LisaRamlow pb blaster and products like it arent good for machined surfaces (good for cleaning not for long term lubrcation it will cause rust ) you should take it back apart and a thin layer of grease me personly i would probly get marine grease and light real light coat i will takeing the quil out of my tail stock soon its got hard to turn im not looking forward to it lol

[@AndysCornishCreations]

Hi Lisa... Great job... so much better on the front... Take care...All the best.....Andy

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Andy, I’m thinking I’m gonna like it! 😁

[@chrisstearns10]

I didn't think about flipping it to the front🤦 awesome for the good people of KZbin land👍👍 I don't like reaching over my tailstock either at 6'4" with good shoulders, going to flip it around also. Thanks for posting Lisa😁

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Chris! Couple of guys have recommended I re-lubed the handle shaft so keep that in mind. I’ll take it apart and add some tomorrow-now that I know how it comes apart! 😁

[@mr.modern4419]

Interesting video Lisa! The Bailey Bits was just icing on the cake. What a cutie he is!!!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Bruce! He is pretty cute, and he’s (mostly) a pretty good boy ❤️

[@BBTurning]

Thanks for the mention Lisa, very much appreciated. It is a handy mod for the lathe and I can confirm the handle does not get in the way. Shay

[@LisaRamlow]

Hi Shay! Did you lube the handle shaft after you flipped it around?

[@BBTurning]

@@LisaRamlow I just gave it my normal service Lisa, a good clean with meths (de natured alcahol) and then a good coat of paste wax. Shay.

[@jackthompson5092]

Glad to see that you were able to solve your tail stock locking lever problem Lisa.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Jack, me too!

[@crystalswenson8844]

Way to go, Lisa! And Bailey!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Crystal! That deer carcass has been laying back in the property for almost a year and is totally clean and bleached. He walked past it every day on our walk forever, until Lori decided she wanted to take part of the spine home and then Bailey grabbed a hunk of femur and trotted off like it was the best prize ever. 😂 But it must not have been cuz he did drop it a while later and left it 🤷‍♀️Silly beagle!

[@crystalswenson8844]

I've had times where something looked much better than it tasted. Maybe that's what Bailey experienced. Stay well and keep turning!

[@laurieschroeder6041]

This is awesome! I am currently playing catch up with the Workshop Wednesdays....and what a great one to start off with! Now you got me thinking, what a great idea. I am always fighting with the tailstock lock and the arm on the back!! Thank you!

[@LisaRamlow]

I love it. I did have to adjust it so it locks a bit further back to be out of the way when I have the tailstock up and am taking a tenon off, but it was just loosening the nut a little and moving the handle a bit more toward back of the lathe and snugging the nut back up

[@hansolavpedersen5521]

You are good at the tachnical things to Lisa. Way better than me for sure. 10 - 15 years ago i could put together an V8 enginge for my car, today i could not do the same you did here in the video. I blame a couple of brainstrokes for that. When i bought my lathe about 6 - 7 months ago i had to call for help to put it together and also lifting it in right place. Remarkable how much a little bubble in the brain can set you back. And not remember the smallest things. But luckylily i now getting better and better to turn agaian. Thanks to you guys who put out videos i learning again. Good work Lisa and thansk to you and Mr Beagle for the video. Greetings Hans Olav

[@LisaRamlow]

Hello Hans Olav! I’m sorry to hear you had brain strokes - my stepmom had one (an aneurysm ruptured in her brain) that really changed things for her. She still doesn’t have much muscle control on her right side and can’t walk on her own, even with a walker. She used to crochet blankets and hats for the preemie babies at the hospital but she can’t crochet anymore. I’m glad you can use the lathe, even if it takes you longer than maybe it used to. 👍😊

[@thefreemathtutor]

Just a few crumbs of snow left. Springtime is lovely, innit?

[@LisaRamlow]

This was about a week and a half ago. We did get some more snow earlier this week but then it rained and the snow is finally gone. But it’s still gonna be in the 30s the next few days so I’m not quite done with the wood stove 🥶

[@kathleenb.2236]

Great video Lisa. Thanks for sharing. I will definitely be doing this tomorrow.

[@LisaRamlow]

Hey Kathleen! Couple of guys have said I should’ve re-lubricated the handle shaft before I reinstalled it, maybe some white lithium grease or something so keep that in mind. You may need to reposition where the handle locks in the front to make sure it isn’t in the way when you’re turning but I think it’s gonna work!

[@davidmorgan7522]

AhHa! Problem solved and no parts left over! Good job! Take care, Dave

[@LisaRamlow]

It’s always a good day when there are no mysterious part left 👍

[@charitybrown4274]

Great Video Ms. Lisa!! I love the Bailey Bits!! 👍😁

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you Charity, I’m glad you enjoyed Bailey’s new segment 😁

[@cookiescoop6065]

Very nice u got it fixed 👍

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks!

[@JohnWilliams-iw6oq]

Well done, I wish more women would take a leaf from your book. Over the years I've taught my wife to change tap washers and fuses and to tackle many small projects. She has now equipped her kitchen with slide out shelves, repaired her sewing cabinet and completed many other projects. The only thing she can't do is teach me to cook a decent meal lol.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks John. We are pretty handy girls around here. Do most everything ourselves and better than most “professionals” around here. Roofing, basic electrical, plumbing, construction, flooring…almost all DIY stuff. Getting ready to do a pretty big kitchen remodel when $ permits. And don’t underestimate your ability to learn to cook. My dad would eat toast or get take out of my stepmom wasn’t home to make dinner. She had an aneurysm rupture in October 2020 and still can’t so much on her own so my dad has had to take on all she did plus his stuff. He says the wife job sucks 😂. But with direction and a little encouragement he has become a pretty good cook and is even baking pies. Never in a million years did I think I’d see that, but sometimes necessity is the mother of forcing you into things you don’t really want to do 🤣

[@robnhannon]

Like the thorough video. Tip on C and E clips. Put a strong magnet on the side you are not prying against to make it a little less likely to shoot off into orbit and never be seen again.

[@LisaRamlow]

Hi Rob, that seems like a great idea. I always have magnets around so I’ll give it a shot next time I have to remove a clip. I got lucky and dug this out of the sawdust without having to get the big magnet out to find it 😂

[@carolriley8472]

Nice job moving the handle!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Carol!

[@ThePapa1947]

Nice job Lisa. Jury is still out on grease. The reason the handle on the banjo would spring back up from being locked was it was too smooth. I cleaned the shaft on it and hit the paint with 220 grit. The tailstock lever did the same. I think grease will make it worse.

[@LisaRamlow]

Hey Gary! I didn’t really think about grease when I flipped this around - I guess what was on the shaft was probably old grease but I cleaned the parts with Teflon lubricant so it has at least something. I’ll probably check the manual and see what Laguna says - I know Shay said he found this fix on a Laguna forum and if I recall he didn’t grease the shaft. But he may not have cleaned it either. Im not quite sure I understand the problem you had with yours - is it just not smooth, like at the end of this where I’m messing around and it almost sticks a little and then lets go? Also, I just finished a pretty punky piece of spalted maple that I used your poly-crylic method on. Looks great. Should be the next video I get published!

[@ThePapa1947]

@@LisaRamlow Laguna was having issues with the levers slowly springing loose. They even sent me a new banjo. But by then I fixed mine. The surface that created the cam action were almost like Teflon so it did not grip. I let Laguna know the issue and sent the new banjo back. There was no grease on mine.

[@smok3yp]

my 24/36 arrived monday, this was the first thing i did on tuesday, after i made the comment suggesting it to you, i hope you find it better, i have, actually wish i came like that

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Neal! I honestly haven’t had time to use it much yet but I’m sure it’s gonna be lovely 😁

[@johnreedy7037]

Thanks Lisa, I hope Workshop Wednesdays can become a little more frequent! 😉 Take Care

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks John! It seems like they are useful enough for a reasonable number of people to watch so that definitely increases the likelihood of them being more frequent 😁

[@billm4560]

Hi Lisa… I just found your channel and boy glad I did! Some really good stuff on it! 🤩I’m just getting into wood tuning if my lathe ever comes in! 😠I do wood working like furniture and stuff! So, thought I would give wood tuning a try! Thanks for sharing your work!

[@LisaRamlow]

Hi Bill, and welcome! I started out as a woodworker doing mostly flat work, then started doing some carving. But I’d always wanted to turn and was afraid of it. I’m pretty much addicted to it, as are most who venture into this realm 😂 What lathe did you get?

[@billm4560]

@@LisaRamlow Hi Lisa…. As I can see it’s going to be addictive! 😀 The lathe I ordered is the Rikon 70-3040! I’ll be watching for your next video! Cheers!

[@alinmayerthorpe7801]

Well done Lisa, your mechanical ability is very good! That looks like a good fix and I hope it works well for you! That looked like a fairly simple job so it did not take too long but wondered why no grease was used but that may just collect a lot of wood dust and clog everything up later and you would have to take it apart again and clean it! Thanks! Cheers Al

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Al! Not sure about the grease. Votes on both sides. I didn’t really think about it when I was reassembling it. I used PB Blaster Teflon lubricant to “clean” the parts with so there’s a lot of something but I’m gonna check the manual and ask Laguna as a last resort. Won’t take long to take it apart and lube it now that I’ve done it once. 😁

[@danepowell3128]

Hi Lisa, I also have an 1836 and did the same thing about 1 1/2 years ago and love it.

[@LisaRamlow]

Hi Dane! Apparently I should’ve re-lubed the handle shaft before I reassembled it so I’ll take it apart and add some, and I may need to reposition where the handle locks in the front to make sure it’s out of the way when I’m turning but I think it’s gonna work out! 😁

[@kevinhuber3651]

I just did the same thing to mine. You only need to remove the two clips and pull the lever out. Then put it in from the other side and jiggle the eccentric to align the key with the keyway. Replace the two clips. You then just need to locate and drill the hole in the front and tap the threads 1/4 x 20 and chamfer the hole. You can then adjust the location and amount of tension required to lock it like you did.

[@LisaRamlow]

Pretty happy with how this works for me - way better than in the back!

[@petergrice8060]

Nice job Team!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks! 😁

[@lindseyrae8339]

Nice! I think I will give this try. Thanks for sharing

[@LisaRamlow]

Hi Lindsey! You may want to lube the parts before you put it back together. I’m gonna check the owners manual and see what they say to use

[@lindseyrae8339]

@@LisaRamlow yeah I didn't check the manual yet but will probably use a dry type to reduce the dust from sticking and clogging it up

[@mikec53]

Lisa I sure hope that works for you. Spring sure is trying to establish itself but having a slow time of it. Be Safe & Stay Warm!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Mike! I may need to reposition it a bit yet and I always have the option of flipping it back if it doesn’t work out. In that case, I’ll move it so it doesn’t lock under my bracket and add an extension handle. I think we’re in like 4th winter now. Gonna be in the 30a the next couple of days and then finally nice next week. I. Can’t. Wait. I’m so tied of being cold! 🥶

[@mikec53]

@@LisaRamlow Or set it where it is but the handle pointing in a direction where....lean on it to lock and lift using your leg strength to unlock. Snow this weekend is forecast. So "turn baby turn!"

[@jayscott306]

Always interesting to see how things are designed inside. I need to put a 5" aftermarket hand wheel on my new 12|16. Holding off until they decide if they will replace the damaged spindle it came with, or replace the whole lathe. But, that's only a few set screws. Not as involved as what you did, here. Very good camera angles for us on this video.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Jay, I appreciate the feedback. Part of Shay’s video was hard to see cuz he had to move the tailstock out of the frame to work on it so I tried to make sure everything was visible.

[@noahcount7132]

Well done, Lisa, er, I mean Queenie. 😄

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Noah! It’s really bad sometimes. 😬 I may have a little ADHD and that doesn’t help in this situation!

[@jasonholman6153]

I agree with Ron, really should have some white lithium grease or something, just a light coating on the shaft.

[@LisaRamlow]

Hey Jason! Imma send you the same reply as to Ron: It didn’t really feel like grease as far as a lubricant goes and to be honest I didn’t think about it. Easy enough to take it apart and add some though. I cleaned it with the PB Blaster Teflon lube I use on the ways and stuff, but a thicker layer of something is probably a good idea 👍

[@jjisella]

Not sure why Laguna puts it to the back, but good that it can be reversed. I'll be doing mine also. Thanks for video.

[@LisaRamlow]

I like it so much better this way!

[@jjisella]

Yes I can imagine, really have no clue why anyone would want to reach over the tail stock to get to it... very odd. @@LisaRamlow

[@franwilson2097]

hi Lisa,I see you get snow there too as well as good wood,good job on tailstock and yes a bit of lube is good

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Fran! Snow is finally gone now 🙂

[@ronnielloyd4514]

Impressive

[@LisaRamlow]

It works out really well!

[@mpart_woodlathe-stuff]

Hi Lisa, Hmm, how about using a short-ish piece of PVC pipe to extend your leverage ? I use 1/2" x 4" on my tool rest clamp when I found out my palm was getting bruised. Take care. -Mike p.s. I'm always cleaning the black gunk from the cam bar when it doesn't fully release the tailstock. (I've been lubing with K.Rizza's Slick Stik - the cam, the ways, the tool rest and even the chisels.)

[@LisaRamlow]

Hey Mike! Dunno what to think about lubing the works - think I’m gonna call Laguna and ask them what I should use (if anything). Gary from ThePapa1947 said they sent him a replacement tailstock or banjo (can’t remember off hand) and there wasn’t any lube on the shaft. It might say in the owners manual I’ll check that out this weekend. I will also relocate the locking position so it’s a bit lower in the front - someone suggested using my knee to unlock it and I want to try that and see if it’ll work. Will save my knuckles at least one direction 😂

[@mpart_woodlathe-stuff]

@@LisaRamlow Mine cam unlubed too but the gunk kept appearing. Until I started using the slick. Let us know how the knee kick works out ?

[@dallasmoss1428]

I think you did a good job a little bit of grease might’ve kept the keyway in place while you put the handle back through

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Dallas! I may need to go back and lube the handle shaft - there’s been some debate about that so I’m gonna check my manual and then with Laguna and see what they say 👍

[@markthompson6860]

you got some guts gal lol xxx

[@LisaRamlow]

I’m not afraid to try new things, as long as they seem reasonable. There are a lot of things on YT that you should definitely not do! 😉

[@michaelmcdermott2178]

Lisa, Now that you've had plenty of experience with the 1836, would you recommend it? I'm going to upgrade from my Powermatic 2014 and I think I'm really liking this lathe.

[@LisaRamlow]

Hi Michael! I really do like it - the few issues I’ve had were while it was still under warranty and Laguna has been fantastic about making it right.

[@michaelmcdermott2178]

@@LisaRamlow Thanks, buddy!

[@remiknowicki1990]

Number One

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks!

[@valeriehenschel1590]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Valerie!

[@mr.latheznknivez]

Did you relube everything?

[@LisaRamlow]

I did not. Gonna check the owners manual and see what it wants me to use

[@mr.latheznknivez]

@@LisaRamlow I was just wondering, I lay last lathe I took off the headstock and so on and cleaned everything up all the day to the tailstock and didn’t relube and everything was jamming with time hahaah. So yeah slap some grease on everything that was already greased and it will all be smooth again!