power switch location? Left or Right?

[Wild Turkey]

Putting the finishing touches on my 80's vintage VEGA lathe.

All the lathes I've worked with before have had the switch near the headstock but last night I was watching a woodturning video and noticed the switch was on the right.

Makes sense to me -- if you're turning a bowl, etc and things go wrong the last place I'd want to stick my hand is down near the spinning part.

Anyone else have a "right-hand" switch location???

[Bill Holt]

I don't. Some of the Oneway lathes have a switch that is on a "swing" pole so it can be conveniently positioned.

[Foggy]

Are you right handed or left? Put it where it's good for you.

[PhilJoines]

I have mine in a box with a 4' cord. Move it where I want.

[AHill]

Putting the switch on the headstock is just easier from a manufacturing perspective. Nearest the motor. It does, as you say, force you to reach across the workpiece to switch the lathe on or off. If you had a poorly chucked, unbalanced piece, that could get a bit dicey. I have a remote for my Nova DVR-XP that allows me to control my motor from the right side (or anywhere for that matter - it's wireless). If safety is high on your list of concerns, switch on the right is the way to go.

[MichaelMouse]

PhilJoines said:

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I have mine in a box with a 4' cord. Move it where I want.

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Me too. Mostly it stays behind the tailstock, on a magnetic bar. Even if you're unable to move the controls themselves, put a "kill" switch somewhere you won't have to commit into the throw zone.

[NCPaladin]

I added a kill switch at the right end of the lathe (large paddle to slap) if the need arises.
On my Nova I can't use it as standard on/off because the motor resets to off if power is lost.
For a kill switch it works fine.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/110-220V...itch/H8243

[robo hippy]

Well, mine has always been on the headstock or right under it. With my Beauty, I can put it on the bed which is too low. I can put it on the tailstock, but then the wire is in the way. If I do need an emergency stop, since my tool is held in my right hand, I don't have to transfer the tool to the other hand to turn off the lathe. Only had one occasion to do a quick stop, and the piece had come totally off the lathe, so reaching across the line of fire was a non issue. I do find it interesting that so many worry about having to reach across the line of fire, but have no trouble standing in the line of fire when turning...

Any one have stories about emergency stops?

robo hippy

[MichaelMouse]

robo hippy said:

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I do find it interesting that so many worry about having to reach across the line of fire, but have no trouble standing in the line of fire when turning...

Any one have stories about emergency stops?

robo hippy

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Who does that? Haven't seen any in this thread admitting it. Extremely foolish and unnecessary to stand in the zone when turning, and even more so to stand there when turning the machine on.

Yellow birch, turning bark on, bark up, when it detached and started whipping my knuckles. Had I not stopped emergency, it could have taken the hide off my hands or flung a piece behind my eye protection as I leaned to the headstock.

[Arlin Eastman]

Turners in the club I go to do it all the time. We tell them to move off to the side and then a few minutes later they are right back to the same o same o. I guess they will have to learn the hard way sometime.

Arlin