Small Weekend Projects

[barryc43]

Thank you. That now makes perfect sense! As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[BaronJ]

Hi Barry,

Thankyou for your post, I'm glad. Apologies if I offended you.

 

[swood1]

I don't understand why you are making things so complicated. I have one lathe tool height setter that I use for all of my lathes. I can check it from either cross slide bed or lathe bed where the lathe bed is flat. I just used a piece of pipe painted it black popped a centre in the lathe and used that to mark centre for tool. Hey presto tool centre now found. Just spin it round and adjust your tool to suit.

Regards

Steve

 

[swood1]

 

[barryc43]

Hi Barry,

Thankyou for your post, I'm glad. Apologies if I offended you.

Hi Baron, No offence taken. Having done my 22 in the RAF it takes a lot to offend these days!! LOL. Cheers, Barry

 

[WSMkid]

Baron, thank you very much for the pictures!

 

[awake]

I have to confess that I never have used anything like these devices. I have always used the tool-against-ruler trick, which of course is a bit subjective on whether the ruler is absolutely vertical, but it has worked more than well enough. For a facing tool, of course, the ultimate test is to face off and see if it leaves a tit. (With a QCTP, it is so quick to change the height that this is the easiest way to get it dead center - but maybe not such a great way to do it if you have to shim!)

 

[BaronJ]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your comments.

You might have noticed from my pictures, that my tool post & tool holder are Norman patent ones, both front and rear. The tool block height is adjusted by an M6 screw bearing against the top slide. I can use any tool size that I can fit into the 13 mm slot. Also the tool holder is interchangeable between front and rear posts.

I used to have a Dickson tool post but I considered it far too expensive in terms of buying holders for each tool, so I built the Norman tool post and find it far more effective. Don't get me wrong, if you are in the engineering business where time is money then a QCTP once set up is probably worth it.

I'm a hobbyist and a great believer in making your own tools. I have my own drawings for a Myford sized Norman patent tool post based on the original Van Norman patent. The only departure from the original apart from size is that the tool holder is a slot rather than a square hole.

 

[KellisRJ]

I have a 6" rule with a bullseye bubble level on top. That's one rule that is easy to grab as it can't lie flat and is always by the lathe.