Has anyone else had difficulties utilizing these locking levers? Did you upgrade them to a larger size?? If so, where would I find quality upgrades? (I don't want cheap plastic replacements)
-
December 2025 Turning Challenge: Single Tree! (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Bob Henrickson, People's Choice in the November 2025 Turning Challenge (click here for details) -
Congratulations to John Dillon for "Chinquapin Oak" being selected as Turning of the Week for December 22, 2025 (click here for details) -
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
Banjo and Tailstock Locking Levers TOO SMALL (Jet 1221VS)
- Thread starter Mark Goulais
- Start date
Go to McMaster.com, they have a very good selection of those type of handles. Metal, plastic, different sizes.
KIPP USA | Your manufacturer for standard elements, clamping technology and operating parts
KIPP - Your reliable partner for standard elements, clamping technology and operating parts ✓ Made in Germany ✓ Wide range with 85,000 items ✓ Highest quality ✓ Order online now!
www.kippusa.com
My experience swapping these handles on my lathe.
Kipp makes what you have in some version of plastic, cast zinc, and all steel. I went all steel, it's gonna last forever. I bought direct from Kipp USA. I'm not sure if McMaster Carr is selling this brand (probably), but I also don't know if they sell all three handle materials.
You have a lathe. Turn a handle extension. Several turners I know have done that.
Never had an issue with the tailstock on my 1221. On the banjo I set the screw up to be at roughly 3 o'clock and would give it a small tap with the handle of whatever tool I was using. Worked great for me.
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
Can I ask why you need longer handles?. If it is the tailstock slipping you may need to fabricate another locking piece forvtge bottom of the tailstock. They typically have a round piece underneath to pull up against the bed ways and lock the tailstock. There just isnt enough surface area to grip. I have made rectangular ones for my jet mini. Has a much larger area to grip tge bed and doesn't take as much pressure on the kever to lock it.
The tool rest is different. There isnt an easy fix. The flat area on the end of the screw just doesn't have enough friction to lock firmly. I fabricated a brass plug that has a curved area to match the tool post. But its hard to keep it aligned and it can easily fall out. The banjo would have to be redesigned to build a better system that grips like they did on the 3520C.
The tool rest is different. There isnt an easy fix. The flat area on the end of the screw just doesn't have enough friction to lock firmly. I fabricated a brass plug that has a curved area to match the tool post. But its hard to keep it aligned and it can easily fall out. The banjo would have to be redesigned to build a better system that grips like they did on the 3520C.
Odie
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
Also, a cheater-bar can be used. I made one from a short piece of pvc for this.
However.....you need to be very careful not to distort those soft cast iron threads in your banjo. Once you do that, it's game over......and no way to fix it without major repairs...
=o=
Mark Hepburn
Artist & Chef
Hey Odie, I have a PVC cheater bar for my tailstock and it works very well.
Odie
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
Yes, it could work along with the knowledge that the threads could be damaged with too much torque while using the cheater bar. I am guilty of this myself and the original banjo of my old Woodfast lathe. I figure that without the knowledge that the soft cast iron threads are vulnerable, I suspect that others might resort to using a cheater bar too forcefully. I can tell you for sure that it's not all that difficult to do.
=o=
Oneway makes a banjo that may work on your lathe : model M0185 for 12 inch swing lathes.
I got the 2407 model for my PM3520C and I absolutely love it.
Worth every penny.
Something to consider.
I got the 2407 model for my PM3520C and I absolutely love it.
Worth every penny.
Something to consider.
Odie
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
I agree that the Oneway banjo is a premium addition to other lathes......but, the last time I checked they are not available in a dogleg configuration. I NEED that!
OOPS....I see you are talking to the OP in this thread, sorry about that, Greg.
=o=
The difficulty with the original levers is that my hands hurt to engage them. Feels like they were cutting into me. I did find at McMaster-Carr larger levers with a ball end that are larger and softer to use. Also enlarged the tailstock handwheel. I will be cautious so as not to overtighten them.
Attachments
I have an older Delta midi lathe that this happened to. When I received it as a refurbished item the locking screw for the banjo was bent and some years later the cast iron threads in the banjo failed. I ordered a larger handle from McMaster-Carr and drilled out and tapped the threads for a successful repair, and a longer handle to boot.figure that without the knowledge that the soft cast iron threads are vulnerable, I suspect that others might resort to using a cheater bar too forcefully. I can tell you for sure that it's not all that difficult to do.
=o=
Odie
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
My Woodfast banjo threads never did fail completely, but I'm sure they were distorted a bit. The problem that drove me to purchase the Sweet 16 banjo was that the Woodfast locking lever would sometimes lose it's grip and pop loose. I'm pretty sure that is because the threads were distorted.
Drilling the bad threads and re-tapping to a larger diameter is the appropriate fix. Someone else mentioned using a helicoil insert.....that would work too. Matter of fact, that might be better, since the helicoil has steel threads instead of cast iron.
Note: It's very possible that me, being aware of the problems of over tightening the post locking lever could damage the cast iron threads, I just might make this new Vicmarc VL240 banjo last the rest of my life......hopefully!
=o=
I have never had problems with the tailstock slipping. Be aware that the tailstock, most of the time is used to apply just a little pressure, you do not want to crank it down hard. As for the banjo, I have had problems with the tool rest slipping down. They do need to be tight on that screw. I wish all tool rest lock down mechanisms were made like the Robust and PM 3520C! they have locking wedges that pull up against the tool rest post to secure it in place. FAR more secure than the set screw types. I did have one custom made for my 3520A after stripping the teeth on the soft pot metal handle, and that is always going to happen since they use hardened metal on the set screw, and soft pot metal on the handle. I guess that is done to "save" money, well, maybe to sell more parts too....
robo hippy
robo hippy