I'm considering purchasing some attachment for the Clemens Lathe I own. I love the Lathe and highly recommend it, even considering the initial cost. I can visualize the lathe lasting the rest of my life and still having usefulness to the guy that buys it in the estate sale that my wife will have shortly after I'm gone.

Can anyone share their first hand expierence with the "Boring Tool and Tail Stock Center" and other Clemens accessories? I was looking for something to finish grips while on mandrals.

What other uses are rod builders using the attachments for. Are they useful enough to purcahse?

While the acessories are not cheap, the cost is relatively minor if they improve the overall operation of the Lathe.

Thanks in advance.

Steve S.

The accessories will only increase the usefulness and value of your original purchase of the lathe. The boring tail stock makes quick work of boring holes in bushings/arbors, hosels, winding checks, etc. (I'd bet I can bore out a set of brick foam, cork or wood reel seat arbors faster than you can make them out of masking tape!)

Pop in the live center and you can use any mandrel which is counterbored to accept it. Get the tool rest and in effect you have a light duty wood turning lathe.

I have dedicated one of my lathes just for tasks other than wrapping. I use it for cork and eva turning, boring any number of parts, polishing, reaming, etc. The accessories truly make it a complete rod building tool. Very well worth the money. And more accessories are on the way. In the New Products section of the next RodMaker we'll unveil a new lathe accessory that I think almost everybody with one of these units will go for.

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Renzetti has a live center that is a stand alone unit. It's considerably less than having to buy the boring tailstock and then the live center attachment to go into it. No use paying for it if you don't need it. But I bought all the accessories including the boring tailstock. Lots of things you can do when you have the whole kit.

Can anyone describe the difference with the Renzetti solid state foot pedal. I have a Custom Power wrap and the low end foot control stinks. Can I use this o a CPW?

Steve: I also have the Clemens lathe and the boring tool. I replaced the 3/8" chuck with a 1/2" chuck. I have a set of drill bits in 1/64" increments ranging from 1/8" to 1". Every bit from 1/2" to 1" has a 1/2" shaft. I can use them all in the chuck I now have. I use the boring tool to drill graphite and cork arbors, cork rings for handles, etc. I have even used the tool for holding a drill bit and then hand turning an EVA grip to get the ID larger. The Clemens lathe is tops in my book. John

I have several types of foot controls, all work very well. The solid state control does offer some advantages. I believe you can use it with the motor you have now on your CPW. If you want to be sure, just click on the link to Renzetti and use their contact email to ask. I am sure they will get back to you quickly. Please note that the "Power Pack" unit with the large, reversible motor/control would not be something you could use with your CPW without some modifications. The standard solid state foot control could be, however.

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While not available as a commercial accessory, it is a simple adaptation to make the lathe and live center work as a line winder to transfer bulk line to spinning reel spools.

Phil,
Unfortunately, back when CPW started making the rod wrapping units, the mechanical foot controls were the only ones readily available. Since then, we have upgraded all our current models to include an electric foot control. We do have the current foot controls available as an upgrade.
Thanks,
Wes
Angler's Workshop

Another use for the live center is that I take it off the lathe and set it on the carpet supported by my foot to use as a vertical spine finder. I am in the process of making a base that will be used in a verticle position.

Just another use of equipment.

Bruce Young
Landing Gear