Mag base of light vibrates to off position

[James McCall]

I have a magnetic base for a lamp which I have mounted to the top of the headstock of the lathe. It stays out no issue except if some moderate vibration occurs during then the switch can actually shake to off, then the light falls down suddenly.

Any suggestions on how to avoid it shaking to off?

I like keeping on the headstock at all times and avoiding vibration is impossible to do at least some of the time.

 

[David A Morris]

I have a magnetic base for a lamp which I have mounted to the top of the headstock of the lathe. It stays out no issue except if some moderate vibration occurs during then the switch can actually shake to off, then the light falls down suddenly.

Any suggestions on how to avoid it shaking to off?

I like keeping on the headstock at all times and avoiding vibration is impossible to do at least some of the time.

Duct tape!

 

[James McCall]

Fair enough

Duct tape!

Fair enough! That should probably do it, I'll go add some now.

Hopefully this serves as a warning to anyone else with a similar setup. Having that light fall down while you're turning is a pretty good surprise haha

 

[David A Morris]

Fair enough
Fair enough! That should probably do it, I'll go add some now.

Hopefully this serves as a warning to anyone else with a similar setup. Having that light fall down while you're turning is a pretty good surprise haha

I was kidding! I like mine over the headstock as well, but mine is a clip-on so I just made a little block on the wall behind the lathe and hooked it to that. Keeps the light away from the vibration but still puts the light in the right place.

 

[James McCall]

I was kidding! I like mine over the headstock as well, but mine is a clip-on so I just made a little block on the wall behind the lathe and hooked it to that. Keeps the light away from the vibration but still puts the light in the right place.

Unfortunately I move my lathe around a lot so mounting to the wall won't work though for the me.

I think a bit of tape to add some friction to the switch might actually be a good solution

 

[Dave Landers]

I think a bit of tape to add some friction to the switch might actually be a good solution

I used a switched-magnet light on my previous lathe, and I sometimes found it "off". Never figured a reason (but vibration seem likely). I think you're on the right track - something (tape, blob of hot glue, etc) to make it harder to switch accidentally.

 

[hughie]

Change the magnets to rare earth magnets, or bigger ones. This is something I do with nearly all my magnetic bases. Switches on portable items that turn themselves off, I try and have them switching left to right and have been know to simply change the switch to a press button, there are many ways to address this issue.

 

[James McCall]

Change the magnets to rare earth magnets, or bigger ones. This is something I do with nearly all my magnetic bases. Switches on portable items that turn themselves off, I try and have them switching left to right and have been know to simply change the switch to a press button, there are many ways to address this issue.

Interesting thoughts, I'll have to consider modification of the bases.

 

[hughie]

Interesting thoughts, I'll have to consider modification of the bases.

If you get or have several of those boxes/container that have magnetic closing set. The sort you get with many boxes or containers today, normally we just throw them away, once I realised how handy they are I now collect them and they are stuck all over my bandsaw
They are great to insert in the bottom of the light or what ever that needs additional stick down

 

[John K Jordan]

I have a magnetic base for a lamp which I have mounted to the top of the headstock of the lathe. It stays out no issue except if some moderate vibration occurs during then the switch can actually shake to off, then the light falls down suddenly.

Any suggestions on how to avoid it shaking to off?

I like keeping on the headstock at all times and avoiding vibration is impossible to do at least some of the time.

Lights often have a threaded adjustable neck that threads into the top of the magnetic base. What I did was take the big magnet off one light and fasten the neck to a hole I drilled into a cast iron bracket on my lathe, threaded for the lamp.



This was easy on my PM3520b, maybe not so easy on other lathes. But perhaps there is a place where a metal bracket could be bolted on.

Otherwise, I might try some silicone caulk or hotmelt glue or something else that might hold it but could be removed if needed.

JKJ