I did hear back from Smithy this time. My email even made it up the food chain! Not only did I get a response, I got an explanation! I don't completely understand what they mean by hand-fitted to each machine, it seems to me that something ought to be precision made... like the ways. So one saddle ought to fit another machine because the ways are all alike. They did offer to sell me the parts to assemble and install an XL cross slide. It's a bit large of a price tag, but it's not the difference between the machines. Plus it's a piecemeal offering. Not assembled or anything, so I'll be putting it together myself. I'll update this thread as it seems appropriate.
ps. I'm still open to other suggestions!


LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks




<--- That's you on the right, Tim. Or is this you on the right...
Second, do you have an XL? I don't. If you have the standard 1220 like me, measure the distance from the front edge of the toolpost to the centerline of the lathe chuck. It's about two inches or so. Confirmed by a Smithy salesperson as being normal. The XL has a long slender cross slide with two T-slots running lengthwise (like a mill), but the standard has a much smaller version that's almost square and also has T-slots running across the slide. I haven't checked the overall travel as I don't want to work from the back of the workpiece so it hasn't come up yet.