Congrats my friend. You deserve it.
I can’t wait to see the creations that you make with this new rig.
Just thought I would mention that I can watch your videos on my iPhone6 and Apple will not permit flash.
I really hesitated in posting this OL. My fear is that once you start modding your lathe, we will never see you again! :bigsmile:
There are some simple improvements here though that you may want to consider. This is a very entertaining video.
I like the idea of a readily accessible bit shelf and indexing the tailstock but no how to’s on any of the more complex ideas. The cam locks seem like a good idea as well.
I'm not really looking to mod much, but anything that makes loosening or tightening easier, like the change on the tailstock, is interesting. One of the very first things I will do, is to find new handles for the compound. The carriage wheel and Crossover wheel both have the type of handle with a thru bolt and the outer handle spins freely. The Compound rest handles are just solid, so if you want to turn the compound much at all, the handles come out and it's a pain to turn, so I want to find or make handles like the larger ones. I doubt I will do any mods, to turn it into a digital read out lathe, nor will I mount calipers, or dial indicators permanently, but you never know. I would like to mount an electronic stop switch in front of the carriage, so the machine would E-stop if the carriage were to get too close to the chuck. That I could see as a safety mod.
just one question- what did your wife say when you told her the BLF would buy you a lathe ? And what was her reaction when it arrived! I would love to know that! :bigsmile:
I'd hazard a guess the Mrs OL grabbed Mr OL in a loving embrace and smothered him in kisses and spoke words of understanding and happiness, then again I'm not right very often.
Some things just aren’t meant to be discussed.
08/08/15 - Updated in the bottom of the OP, about Grizzly issues.
I'd suggest to purchased brand name belts as the durability on no name branded belts is terrible.
Thanks for the updates.
Code for: "Here is your pillow and blanket 'cuz I know you won't be home (inside) for 3 months"....although I am sure she gave him a bon voyage party LOL
Justin -
Try calling these people and ask for one of the engineers. Easy to get them on the phone and very helpful
Wonder if they just shipped it installed on the wrong pulley.
Actually, it was more like, “Not No, but Hell No!”, or something like that. Needless to say it is a very sore point still. Her idea of a job, means working for someone else. Self-employed at home is not something you do in a HOA and as bad as I am at selling, I will most likely fail. Well, she does have a point or two and everyone has the right to their own opinion, so I just let it slide and see what comes of it all. Can’t predict how it will all go, any more than I can predict the weather. Women and weather are fairly unpredictable, but she knows if I ever do get a good job offer, I won’t turn it down.
You can always continue pursuing “outside” work and when after an hour of two you have exhausted all new leads, go to work in your shop 
When you produce lights or parts for sale, show her the profits (but not the time involved). Think like Vinh- make small runs of special lights or modding parts that can’t be purchased at retail. You already have the ear of the market so no advertising costs are needed 0:) The HOA needn’t know a thing- you’re just working in your shop for yourself- bring in materials from the vehicle at night when they’re not looking and keep the door closed. I know several people running at-home businesses this way. I have a wood shop in my home which I use in conjunction with my field-based work. My closest neighbors don’t care and few others know about it. Makes for good security too.
The vids you posted work fine for me. Youtube reformats vids to lower bitrates to minimize the space needed to host them, and that reduces the resolution, but they’re good enough for most purposes. Almost every device that can view online vids will work with Youtube already which makes a good reason to use it for sharing.
Self-employment isn’t for everybody but it isn’t bad at all. If you’re adept at filling in the slow times doing odd work or small jobs, and if you’re highly self-motivated you can do well at it. I’ve spent probably 50% of my working years this way. I have lots of things I can share on this which can help immensely but that’s for private correspondence.
Best wishes!
Phil
Well. if you can say “Would you like fries with that?” or “Welcome to WalMart” and not follow it with “asshole”, you can always get a job… :party:
Loving the vids.
Any chance you can use PowerTwist link belts? I’ve used them on other tools, and they seem to work well. (Although they seem stupid expensive… maybe the HF surrogate, acculink?)
And as skilled as you are at making flashlights, I doubt that! 
Look at Vinh - he offered a $1K, 7xXHP70-modded TK75 mule, and had to refuse orders he had so many buyers. I think the 1M lux light is going or went the same way - he sold 3 in less than 24 hrs.
All I know is I want to buy one of your MT-G2-modded 2D Maglites someday, and I am not the only one.
All I know is I want to buy one of your MT-G2-modded 2D Maglites someday, and I am not the only one.
[/quote]
count me in that group!
OL, Are you going to offer custom mods? I am very interested in a bezel to attach the big KD reflector to a JKK 13 flashlight like this member did for his TK61 whenever you feel ready, I’m in no hurry whatsoever.
Thanks, and good luck with your new endeavor
Sincerely
AlexGT
That was a thought in the lathe forum too. Yes, I could and yes, they are expensive and from what I understand, a little noisy. I have some “Fractional sized” belts coming and I will see how they fit.