In the issue of RodMaker that arrived today and on the New Products page I noticed the neat laser alignment tool Renzetti is offering for the lathe. Sounds like a winner to me. But there was no price listed and I do not see this tool and attachment on their website. Does anyone know what the price is? I have emailed them but guess they are gone for the weekend. I have so much trouble aligning my guides I just am anxious to try one of these.

Also, the magazine was a winner as usual. I get so many ideas from the photo gallery and was very impressed with Don Morton's modular handles. I hope an article on how to make something like that will be forthcoming in a future issue. Thanks.

Mick,

Guess I missed that article even after the third time through the magazine. Did I miss it or are you refering to the Split Grip article by Rich Forhan? Good job again Rich!

I too like the new issue as well as the previous ones and have to comment on the lazer. Much to my surprize it has been done, lazer guide alignment I mean. I started working on this a couple weeks ago and then open the new RodMaker to see Renzetti has been there, done that. Great! I'll just buy one. Thanks Tom K. and Renzetti.

Andy should have a price set by now. I am sure he or someone from Renzetti will get back with you early next week.

As someone who has never had much trouble with aligning guides by eye, I must say I found the tool suprisingly helpful and easy to use.

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Brad,

The modular handles are on the photo gallery pages. Don brought these with him on a trip he made to the RodMaker office earlier in the Summer.

The laser alignment idea is certainly not new, but Andy has fabricated an attachment that make fastening it to the lathe a simple, one-screw procedure. Which brings up some points that need to be made. First, most rod blanks are not straight. I found that by using enough rod supports I could get the blank on a straight path with the help of the laser. The eliptical beam is "tall" enough that it shoots over the supports so even using several of them does not interefere with the alignment beam. It is also important that your lathe bed is straight. Again, the beam helps you to do this as well. Once you make the initial adjustments to get everything straight and the beam sighting down the path you wish, it's just a matter of pressing a button.

As I said, I have no trouble aligning guides by eye, but this is a neat attachment for the lathe. I'm a tool nut so this is something I will add to my units.

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I seems to have problems aligning the tip and the last guide, so this may be another "goody" I can buy. Will it attach to a Clemens lathe??

Tom - I asked about making Ferrules earlier this year on Rodguild, and you told me later on this year an article would come out showing me how to do this. At the time I couldn't figure out why no one would tell me how to do it (how hard could I be I thought?). Glad I waited, because I wouldn't want Ralph typing me a 10 page E-mail. That is a great article.

Thanks, Billy

Sure once again my mailman got my copy and I'll have to wait for him to finish it before I can see the articles.

John,

The issue isn't scheduled to be delivered until the end of August so your's may not have been captured by your postman after all. I don't know why so many got them so quickly. Mine has not arrived yet and it only had to travel about 150 feet. Perhaps when they are done with it in their restroom they'll put it in my box.

As far as I know, the Laser alignment tool will fasten to the Clemens lathe as well. It just utilizes a longer bolt which is used in place of the original headstock to headstock support screw/bolt.

If you have a chance to see Ralph present his ferrule or repair information in person, do so. It is very impressive to watch him slide carefully sized pieces together and then without any adhesive see him put the section into a full flex without damage. The understanding of what materials to use and how to size and prepare them make all the difference. More of these type articles are in the works.

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It is also possible that the Laser Alignment tool is a direct bolt-on for the Custom Power Wrap lathe as well. I would have to measure the heastock centerline to be sure though....




Okay, I did and it will. The unit has quite a bit of leeway as far as adjustments are concerned, but the headstock on the CPW puts the tool in about the same position as on the other lathes so it's no contest - it'll work on that unit too.

I wouldn't be surprised to see all the lathe makers come out with something similar in the near future. It is a neat tool.

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I got an email from Renzetti, Inc. today in response to one I had sent. It said they are revamping their entire website and it should be up soon. Maybe they'll have all the accessories on line them. It also said that some replies to emails can take as long as 5 days. I guess they are quite busy.