For those who make bowls on fixed headstock lathes.....hip rest.

[odie]

When I work on the details of the rim top, and interiors of bowls on my fixed headstock Woodfast lathe, it makes it much easier on your back to solidly brace your hip.

I've been using hip rests for about ten years now, and after redesigning previous versions, I finally came up with two versions that are "easy on, and easy off". There are two different distances, depending on application. The one where the padding is held in place by nylon rope, is for bowl interiors. The other one that extends out a bit further is for rim details. The padded material is kids "swimming pool noodles" with pvc pipe in the center......nice cushioning for comfort. They simply insert with a wood block that fits between the bedways.

These two rests replaced the old ones, and were made up within the past six months...

Hopefully, there are a few here with fixed headstocks, that can benefit from this information.

-----odie-----

 

[Clifton C]

I haven't used cushioning, but I do get "up close and personal" with my lathe, and I have a sliding headstock. It's something to think about.
Here is a pic of me turning before I learned the advantages of bracing against the lathe...

 

[odie]

I haven't used cushioning, but I do get "up close and personal" with my lathe, and I have a sliding headstock. It's something to think about.
Here is a pic of me turning before I learned the advantages of bracing against the lathe...

View attachment 43685

Ha,ha......I stopped wearing a tie while turning a long time ago!

I have so much junk on the tailstock side of my lathe, that it would be a hassle to slide a headstock down there every time! However, I would be interested in a swivel head lathe, but the hip brace works so well, that I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger on a new lathe!

-----odie-----

 

[robo hippy]

I never was comfortable with leaning on the lathe. One reason was it bent my back sideways, which caused some soreness. Another was thinking about the possibility of my feet sliding out from under me. Main reason for me going to a sliding headstock, and now one lathe with a pivoting headstock. Perhaps it is easier now since I got new hips and a knee, but standing up straight is a big comfort at the end of a day.

robo hippy

 

[John Snow]

I haven't used cushioning, but I do get "up close and personal" with my lathe, and I have a sliding headstock. It's something to think about.
Here is a pic of me turning before I learned the advantages of bracing against the lathe...

View attachment 43685

Nice pic. That was back in the days when your tie wouldn't suck your head into the work. Also, you couldn't get your arms caught in those belts going up to the ceiling.

 

[robo hippy]

I haven't worn a tie in over 50 years. Shirt collar sizes stop at about 16 or 18 inches, and when young and buff, I had a 19 inch neck..... Formal wear for me now days is a clean t shirt....

robo hippy

 

[hockenbery]

I haven't used cushioning, but I do get "up close and personal" with my lathe, and I have a sliding headstock. It's something to think about.
Here is a pic of me turning before I learned the advantages of bracing against the lathe...

View attachment 43685

Posture is key to a healthy back. You have a straight back in the photo
If leaning against the lathe keeps your back straight then-it is good

 

[Kevin Jenness]

Odie, do you normally use a steady rest when turning the outside of a bowl? Do you reverse it when turning the inside?

 

[odie]

Odie, do you normally use a steady rest when turning the outside of a bowl? Do you reverse it when turning the inside?

(Sorry Kevin, I just now noticed that you asked about the Oneway bowl steady...)

(Note: As shown here in the original post, I wouldn't normally be using the hip brace, as the setup in the photo is for turning the outside of the bowl. The setup is what it is, when I took the photo, and isn't representative of how it would be while using the hip brace......thanks for pointing that out, so I could clarify this.)

Yes, I use the steady rest as much as I can. As in the photos here, I'm using the Oneway bowl steady for turning the outside of the bowl, where it doesn't interfere with tool rests and turning tools. While turning the inside, I usually have it on the opposite side, where it's closer to the cutting action of the tool.

I have proven to myself that the Oneway bowl steady rest really does work, by using it, and then not using it at the same time. Sometimes it doesn't help, but I'm always using it in case it does. The Oneway bowl steady isn't a panacea, but when it does help, it's well worth using it. It's just one small component of the total equation in seeking the best possible cut...

-----odie-----

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Fixed headstock on my lathes Odie, but no need for me to lean over the ways, as I didn't like that either, I build the outboard on the lathe and can stand upright, also no bed ways in the way for how I like to hold my turning tools, oh and you can buy the outboard setup to go with your Oneway lathe, no need to build it yourself

 

[odie]

Fixed headstock on my lathes Odie, but no need for me to lean over the ways, as I didn't like that either, I build the outboard on the lathe and can stand upright, also no bed ways in the way for how I like to hold my turning tools, oh and you can buy the outboard setup to go with your Oneway lathe, no need to build it yourself

View attachment 43844 View attachment 43845 View attachment 43846

I have an Australian Woodfast lathe, Leo...

I believe they did offer an outboard attachment for the Woodfast, at one time, but I don't have the room for it anyway.

Besides, the hip rests are working for me very well.....so well, that I might just keep the Woodfast till I am gone, or can no longer turn......hopefully the latter.

Take care, my friend.

-----odie-----

 

[odie]

I forgot to mention that I have a HF foam pad with magnets hot glued to the backside on the side of the lathe. This pad is actually one of my first attempts at a hip brace when it was mounted a little higher up than in this photo. It didn't work all that well in that capacity, but works great in conjunction with the new style hip braces shown in the OP. It's now a great resting place for my right knee, and contributes to my body's overall stability while turning.

-----odie-----


Note: The HF foam pad was the first attempt at a hip brace. The blue foam pool noodles on the far right side was the second attempt. It didn't work out so well, because the foam piece with the arrow didn't install and remove very easily between the bedways. At this point, I knew the pool noodles would work, but needed a better way to install and uninstall quickly and easily. The 3rd attempts shown in the OP of this thread look like they are going to be useful and easy to use.

Sometimes, you just have to keep re-doing these little inventions and jigs......until you get it right!

-----odie-----

 

[Aaron Cheateaux]

I haven't worn a tie in over 50 years. Shirt collar sizes stop at about 16 or 18 inches, and when young and buff, I had a 19 inch neck..... Formal wear for me now days is a clean t shirt....

robo hippy

Look at this fancy guy with his ‘clean T-shirts’. Must be nice….

 

[odie]

Update.....I've now added a third rest. This one simply slides onto the locking handle of my banjo....simple and quick on and off.

I'm finding it very useful for the details I put on the rims of my bowls.

-----odie-----

 

[hughie]

I cant say I have actually had too many issues with leaning. But what I have done is elevated my lathe way above the recommend elbow method, along with the fact the bed is 29" long all this allows me to get around the lathe very easily.

 

[robo hippy]

Hughie, I would call that a short bed lathe. Can't tell if it is home made or not. With a bed that short, you are already pretty much standing at the end of the lathe and don't have to lean against it, or extend your arms away from your body.

robo hippy

 

[Tim Otto]

No Hip rest required. Outboard bowl turning lathe

 

[Vincent Vogel]

Nice job fabricating that lathe.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

No Hip rest required. Outboard bowl turning latheView attachment 49993View attachment 49994

Variable speed?

 

[Tim Otto]

Variable speed?

Yes has vfd and 3hp, 220v, 3ph inverter rated motor, 1800rpm. I turned the spindle from 2 inch 4140 cr-mo 1-1/2-8tpi

Nice job fabricating th

. It is that white thing with the wires hanging out.

 

[robo hippy]

Nice job, and I do prefer short bed lathes for bowl making. Did you make your tool rest also?

robo hippy

 

[Tim Otto]

Nice job, and I do prefer short bed lathes for bowl making. Did you make your tool rest also?

robo hippy

Yes: everything but the obvious bearings belt, motor, drive, etc. The welding is so-so appearance wise, but very solid. The pedestal is held down by two 1" grade 8 bolts torqued to 700ft-lb, about 90,000 lbs each so it all can be dismantled. For a permanent installation, it would be welded to the table. I tested the lathe by rough-turning a 30" bowl with no unusual difficulty.

It is for sale in the marketplace....cheap