Old school lathe toolpost

[OccupantRJ]

I had acquired a Clausing metal lathe for my home shop, but there was no toolpost with it, so I decided to make my own set. I have been machining both as a hobby and in my work for 35 years or so, and had cut my teeth on the old lantern type toolpost holder. I may at some point in the future go to an Aloris type toolholder, but for now, I'll use this one, as I have been using another at work like it for over 20 years, so I know it works well.

I do a bit of hard to reach machining in my job, so I created a holder for the toolbit itself which allows me the freedom to access my needs more readily. The holder bar can be used as both right and left by flipping it over in the mounting post. This allows the combinations of right hand cutter, left hand holder, etc, in several combinations. The setscrews recess out of the way.

My job is a little unusual, as I am an autonomous one man show which encompasses maintenance machinist and prototype development, tool and die, along with anything else mechanical or process related in the factory. There are no drawings for me to work from, other than the freehand sketches I make for my use on a steno pad. If a machine breaks, I repair it. If there are no parts available, or non in a timely fashion, I make them. Greatest job in the world. Hope you enjoy.

 

[OccupantRJ]

By the way, for those interested, the weld was done with a Craftsman AC/DC welder using my economy tig setup from this previous thread.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65000

 

[trbomax]

Thats pretty neat! Ive got a whole set of that style,straight,45 deg. both ways and cut off that came on the old pre ww2 sheldon lathe my dad had. Mine are not set up with the set screw bit holder,just a square hole with a single square head screw. I even have the wrench around somewhere.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Thats pretty neat! Ive got a whole set of that style,straight,45 deg. both ways and cut off that came on the old pre ww2 sheldon lathe my dad had. Mine are not set up with the set screw bit holder,just a square hole with a single square head screw. I even have the wrench around somewhere.

The setup you have is a stock toolpost set. The bit holder I made was custom for my use. I also have the stock holders for my lathe, but I don't like using them, as they seem bulky.

 

[A_Pmech]

Looks good, RJ. Nicely finished too.

I just ditched the rocker toolpost for an Aloris recently. I've found rockers are handy for some things and a pain in the *** for others. Though, despite the manufacturer's claims, I don't think any one toolpost can "do it all"!

 

[rsanter]

very nice
now lets see you make your own aloris type toolpost

bob

 

[gordsgarage]

That's some pretty impressive work RJ, nicelt done!

Gord

 

[trbomax]

Is that stainless?

 

[bobadame]

That's nice work RJ. At work I've been using Aloris tool posts for years and I swear by them but about a month ago I needed to make some big pole pieces for a magnet. No matter what I tried there was no way to reach the entire cut. There is a box full of various sizes of old ring and rocker tool posts that have been in the shop for generations. I found one big enough that it would reach. It looked a bit weird seeing a ring and rocker on a Haas CNC Tool Room lathe but it did the job.

 

[hofferwood]

RJ,
That is SWEET!!!!
BUT-------
You shoulda-----------
I woulda--------------
You can't-------------
It won't---------------
Blaaa,blaaa,blaaaa
Sorry just waiting for some of those
I hate that ****.

Being able to make application specific tooling is one of the coolest feelings
I could use that in places the Q.C.T.P. bulk, just gets in the way.
Excellent Job
Chuck

 

[cnc-me]

About the nicest lantern tool post I have seen.
I used lanterns for years,'til I made a square post from some stock
that came off a Warner & Swasey. The main thing with the square post
is you have to have a bunch of shims for every different size tool bit.
Have since moved on to Q.C. holders (Dorian).
Those cheap Chinese holders fit right on the U.S.A. made Dorian post.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Is that stainless?

O1 tool steel.

 

[OccupantRJ]

very nice
now lets see you make your own aloris type toolpost

bob

Don't tempt me, now!

 

[Mario428]

Very nice work, you have turned a lathe dial a few times I think.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Looks good, RJ. Nicely finished too.

Thanks. The burnished finish was done by using a power wire brush on a bench grinder.

 

[OccupantRJ]

About the nicest lantern tool post I have seen.
Those cheap Chinese holders fit right on the U.S.A. made Dorian post.

Thank you, and the info on the tool post interchange is good to know.

 

[diggerrick]

Very nice!

How did you cut the concave rocker seat?

 

[NASTYZEN]

Turned out well!Nothing like making your own tool for the job.

 

[OccupantRJ]

RJ,
That is SWEET!!!!
BUT-------
You shoulda-----------
I woulda--------------
You can't-------------
It won't---------------
Blaaa,blaaa,blaaaa
Sorry just waiting for some of those
I hate that ****.

Being able to make application specific tooling is one of the coolest feelings
I could use that in places the Q.C.T.P. bulk, just gets in the way.
Excellent Job
Chuck

Thanks. One of my favorite expressions is...Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda, If, and Maybe. You've obviously experienced the computer chair shop floor critics before.

 

[sporkedtospec]

Hey RJ, my obsessive search for a lathe paid off. I now have a very nice SB Heavy 10 sitting in the shop.

Has a nice phaseII tool post with assorted holders, but I did find the rocker post in one of the drawers.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Hey RJ, my obsessive search for a lathe paid off. I now have a very nice SB Heavy 10 sitting in the shop.

Has a nice phaseII tool post with assorted holders, but I did find the rocker post in one of the drawers.

Good for you! One day when I'm back up in your area, usually buying off Craigslist, I'll have to stop by and check it out. Did you ever get a welding table setup? I have a small one I might be turning loose in the future. PM me for pics and dimensions, if you might be interested.

 

[sporkedtospec]

I finished the table late last summer. Took me a while to get the taper cut into the legs and the miters square, but the finished product was well worth the time.
Doesn't show much, but it's the only picture I have handy. Top is 3/8" (hot rolled, not ground or surfaced). Legs and frame are 1/4" 3x3" and 4x4" angle. All cutting was done with a 4.5" grinder and trued-up with a file.

Let me know next time you're coming through.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I finished the table late last summer. Took me a while to get the taper cut into the legs and the miters square, but the finished product was well worth the time.
Doesn't show much, but it's the only picture I have handy. Top is 3/8" (hot rolled, not ground or surfaced). Legs and frame are 1/4" 3x3" and 4x4" angle. All cutting was done with a 4.5" grinder and trued-up with a file.

Let me know next time you're coming through.

spork, the table looks good! The tapered legs add that elegant touch. My welding table top is hot rolled, and it does just fine. I have welded things to it through the years, then just grind it back down smooth later. It IS made to work for me, after all..... I'll contact you next time I'm going that way, then.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Very nice!

How did you cut the concave rocker seat?

I used the lathe compound in a loosened state as a concave radius cutter, making light sweeping cuts as the compound was advanced towards the workpiece, which was rotating in the chuck. The already made rocker was used as a radius gage.

 

[Speedbird]

Very impressive work! Sometimes old school practices just work better.