Cross slide table on a wood lathe?

[Kenny]

I've been running this through my head for some time now, and I'd like to hear some other thoughts on the matter, maybe from other who have done this, attempted this, or have thought of it.

What I'm speaking of, is mounting a cross-slide table to the bed of my wood lathe, likely via some type of custom bracket. The cross slide table in question (most likely anyway) will be the Enco Phase 2.

I figure if I do this, the cross-slide will have plenty enough travel for most stem work, and probably most stummel work too. And if I am precise when I square it up, I should be able to achieve some reasonable and repeatable precision, definitely more than I have now using hand-held tooling. I also think it should allow for a good bit of additional speed too, as it should be much easier to cut things like tenons to a specific diameter without having to stop 43 times to measure, or trying to keep from cutting a taper onto it while using a hand-held tool.

I've also considered the down side of if this doesn't work as I plan, and there are a ton of other ways I could use a cross-slide table, so it's not like I'll be out anything. Worst case scenario: I have a cross slide that I can use for three dozen other things.

And as for any custom brackets or tooling required, my father is a professional machinist and will usually help me out with stuff like this, so no real worries there.

So, what is the general consensus here? Is it worth putting the time and effort into mounting the cross slide onto my lathe? (which is a 12"x36") Or is there an issue here I'm overlooking?

Thanks
Kenny

Just as a final note, I don't plan for this to be a "permanent fix", but more of a temporary solution to increase my speed and accuracy until I can afford the metal lathe I want (Grizzly G8688).

[afranks]

For your consideration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOD7gHmSBBA&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqCj-BrLHDY&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f--d43KK9wc&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOxmIglEm2s&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p-PkliZfvw&feature=plcp

I was thinking about this myself, I have an old Homecraft Delta wood lathe and, according to a catalog from 1952, Delta sold a compound slide rest as an accessory.

Al