From the previous session we can now screw down the left support block and with the sliding guide arm in place measure the length of the threaded lock rod which will later be fitted with a star knob.

With the rod cut to the right length and pushed right in I tapped it with a hammer to mark the drill point.

As always I drill a test hole in the same material and after tapping out check that the cut thread has the correct depth for good grip.

I’ve mentioned before that two bench drills saves so much time by reducing bit swapping.
Drill pilot on one and move to the other chucked with the carefully selected bit for 3/8” tapping.

Tapped out and the rod is a nice screw fit.

With the sliding guide arm in place screwed in the rod. The reason I made it so long to stick out the side of the base box is because there’s not much room under for a screw knob.
To support the rod on the right side I measured and the filed a 3/8” half circle in a bit of timber that is yet to be cut off and screwed on.

This is how it looks, a mudguard washer and two nuts will clamp the sliding arm when the rod knob is tightened.

Precisely cut a support post to sandwich the sliding arm.

When the lock knob at the end of the rod is tightened the arm is clamped with a mudguard washer and two nuts.

Next session we will make the bearing guide assembly using a piece of laminate flooring to mount the bearings in slotted holes. Also need to work out another sliding arm for the thrust bearings.