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Laser Hollowing Rig

S

sundance

Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
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Location
Elyria, OH
Does anyone have experience with the Lea Universal laser guide?

I am going to buy a laser rig this summer and am wondering if anyone has any inputs?

Thanks in advance.

Don.
 
making a laser setup

You can make one using wood blocks for the connectors and a piece of alum tubing from Lowes for about $7 and whatever pocket laser for $20 or so. Far cry from $140. It just takes a few minutes, a drill press, and some scrap hardwood.

Vernon
 
I built a modified version of the one Bruce Hoover put in the AAW magazine. It probably cost me less than $20 and works perfectly. The only modification I made was to make the lazer holder less complicated. His is much more adjustable but mine works just fine.
 
Like John, I also made a version of the laser rig which Bruce Hoover published in the AW Journal. I like the single point of adjustment. However it has a single bar going up to support the laser. When you get vibration it translates into a lot of vibration at the laser tip. The darned thang shakes!

So I will probably modify it to have more support in the vertical tubing which originates from the hollowing bar. Probably a triangle will provide proper support.
 
Jeff
Someone sent in a tip that if you filled the tubing with "GReat Stuff" spray foam it stops the vibration. I haven't tried it yet but will as soon as I get that part of my lathe back up and operational.
 
vibration while hogging

I have built 2 units and they vibrate like crazy while you are hogging out the big mass, but smooth right out when you get down to the finishing cut, which is where you really care about it being smooth. I used 3/4" for one and 1/2" for the other. I don't know if one's better than the other but the bigger one makes you feel like it's sturdier even if it's not.

Vernon
 
John - I might try the foam. I also heard that lead shot works well.

Vernon - the problem is the heavy vibration might kill the laser electronics. Also it has vibrated the laser out of adjustment a few times.
 
I have ruined penlight style lasers in as little as 15 minutes with what I am guessing is vibration.

Some of it can be eliminated by the cutter style. If you are using a typical 3/4" boring bar that has a 3/8" rod with a cutting bit in a circular holder (like the Jaimeson system), shortening the 3/8" rod or eliminating it and cutting a shelf on the 3/4" bar for the circular holder to pivot on, it will cut down ALOT on vibration. This would also mean you need another bar for around the corners though.
 
That's a good point Steve. I only use the standard cutter that came with the Jamieson bar as little as possible. Instead I bought some 3/16 x 3/16 HSS M2 and cut it down to 1.5" long. It fits just snug into the bar. However it doesn't cut around corners well, and does not provide as much flexibility as the standard cutter. I like your idea and may well try it. 3/4" bars are relatively cheap so I could use one to experiment with.
 
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