Bought a few QCTPs to compare quality in inexpensive brands.

[Cadillac]

Cdco company sells bostar qctp. Same quality as shars and so. Their tool post block has good finish and smooth action.

 

[Mr Mike]

I talked with a Shars rep today and was told they use multiple Mfr's to make their Shars Branded QCTPs, at any given time have 2 or more AXA sets on hand made by different Mfr.s where the branding doesn't match. they do call out the different Mfr's by a letter after the Item number like 202-9476 P} or 202-9476 M} or if its their regular go to Mfr no letter.

I called and asked because amazon showed a couple different looking Shars AXA set on the same page by Shars using the same DBA name Discount Machine Shop but have different pricing..

I asked if there was quality difference to explain the higher priced item and was told both are the same quality. ebay also carried the same tool post sets, but both were the same price..

I bought one of the Bostar 6 pc sets, Least expensive wedge set I could find was on eBay.

 

[pontiac428]

At one point, I had collected a plethora of Chinesium AXA tool holders. Most were from Shars and All Industrial. They vary a lot, but who cares as long as they are square and fit the dovetails well enough to lock. Some were better finished, edged, and blued, some not so much, but every one of them worked fine.

The tool post is where you need to spend your money. The bottom must be flat and square. The mechanism must fit and operate smoothly. Once tightened, the post needs to stay tight. Basic stuff. My post was a Shars, I did disassemble and lap the whole thing in with x-fine lapping compound, solvent washed, lubed and reassembled. Made a nice difference. I've seen some of the $20 amazon ones and they are not square, well-finished, or well-fitted, but the components appear the same as typical for no QC China manufacture. So that's the long and short of my experience with these ubiquitous toolposts.

 

[MrWhoopee]

I have this belief that the idea of "soft" setscrews came about by guys using imperial hex keys on metric screws...seems to fit until you crank down, then it looks soft. I have not found a soft set screw on any holder.

I now buy on price.

I'm of the same opinion. I inherited an assortment of no-name AXA holders, then acquired more with my Bostar QCTP. I've had no problems with any of the set-screws, but then I do own metric allen wrenches.

 

[WobblyHand]

I'm of the same opinion. I inherited an assortment of no-name AXA holders, then acquired more with my Bostar QCTP. I've had no problems with any of the set-screws, but then I do own metric allen wrenches.

I have run into some substandard screws, and yes, I use the right key for them.

However, the primary reason I tend to replace them is most of the one's I find are cup point, and I'd rather use flat end set screws. Silly perhaps, but I like keeping my tooling from getting beat up. For the price of the screws, it's an inexpensive way to keep me happy.

 

[Mr Mike]

At one point, I had collected a plethora of Chinesium AXA tool holders. Most were from Shars and All Industrial. They vary a lot, but who cares as long as they are square and fit the dovetails well enough to lock. Some were better finished, edged, and blued, some not so much, but every one of them worked fine.

The tool post is where you need to spend your money. The bottom must be flat and square. The mechanism must fit and operate smoothly. Once tightened, the post needs to stay tight. Basic stuff. My post was a Shars, I did disassemble and lap the whole thing in with x-fine lapping compound, solvent washed, lubed and reassembled. Made a nice difference. I've seen some of the $20 amazon ones and they are not square, well-finished, or well-fitted, but the components appear the same as typical for no QC China manufacture. So that's the long and short of my experience with these ubiquitous toolposts.

View attachment 441424

Nice set you got there... I'm working on getting a good Tool Post as a primary when I have a clue what I am doing, till then I will be using something less expensive to learn with... I prolly shouldn't mention ill be turning rebar down at first cause it cheap & disposable - lol thud thud thud thud thud... hopefully that wont hurt the lathe..?

I want to get a QCTP set from the Shars line that match's the Shars Tool Holder I got off amazon, and add it to this thread for comparison, when I called Shars to get a matching set they said it would be pot luck because the guys pull what ever is first inline from the warehouse rack, she said I could buy a couple sets maybe get lucky and send the other sets back... I haven't given up yet but its a bit of work...

I have run into some substandard screws, and yes, I use the right key for them.

However, the primary reason I tend to replace them is most of the one's I find are cup point, and I'd rather use flat end set screws. Silly perhaps, but I like keeping my tooling from getting beat up. For the price of the screws, it's an inexpensive way to keep me happy.

Davidpbest posted a link to McMaster-Carr Showing the set screws that he uses, while I was hunting around I found the Dog Cup set screw and under the Usage info it says that the Dog-Cup set screw is meant for permanent installations...

I can see a use for that if your never intend to remove the tool from the holder maybe.

 

[Mr Mike]

Hello all...

I ordered 1 of the 2 different Shars Brand QCTP listed on the Shars website hoping to get the set that matches the tool holder seen above in my previous post... Have my fingers crossed..! Customer service said its a flip of a coin which set has the new Shars Logo on it.

The Dorian Tool Post I ordered and canceled same day due to an advertising issue says its arriving tomorrow, If its a real Dorian tool post " I'm hoping it is " Ill keep it - If not ill send it back. Shars says the tool post seen below is a Dorian AXA tool post, I called Dorian tech line and they said that its not from a recent or current production. Guess we will see if the picture is just wrong.

The Bostar set I ordered from eBay should be here this week as well.

Another interesting find is a QCTP set called Forged Tough which is on Penn tools site and has the same exact # 100WS - 55-405-911 as Travers tools sit, Hmm makes you think - even funnier is on travers tools It says Forged Tough on there page but if you zoom in on the photo, the set clearly show Phase ll, that also uses 100WST on their AXA sets name. I wont be buying this set but it looks pretty cool.

I'm pretty sure the last set I need to get is a Phase ll AXA set to complete this comparison thread, The price is all over the board on this set from 288.00 Amazon, to MSC 539.00 - on eBay it is 279.99 looks safe with a 100% rating and is the one ill order next week.

If there is a major mid range QCTP set I've missed plz let me know thanks...

 

[Just for fun]

I wouldn't believe anything you see in photos. I have been shopping for a rotary table on Penn's web site they show a red 8-inch table with six slots. the description says new low-profile table. When I called about it they didn't have a clue. They went and looked on the shelf, it was the standard 3 t-slot unit in black.

On another note, I paid a little more attention to my BXA setup the other day and I can see what @davidpbest was talking about. All my tool holder are near the top of the adjustment the tool holder is almost as low as it can go. Especially the cutoff tool.

 

[Mr Mike]

I wouldn't believe anything you see in photos. I have been shopping for a rotary table on Penn's web site they show a red 8-inch table with six slots. the description says new low-profile table. When I called about it they didn't have a clue. They went and looked on the shelf, it was the standard 3 t-slot unit in black.

On another note, I paid a little more attention to my BXA setup the other day and I can see what @davidpbest was talking about. All my tool holder are near the top of the adjustment the tool holder is almost as low as it can go. Especially the cutoff tool.

Hi, So I'm probably good with AXA and 1/2" tooling hopefully...

When I called Penn tools, they told me there more of an E-commerce site with no stock on hand, nothing made sense in the conversation I had with them, I think I'll just keep moving along...

 

[davidpbest]

Hi, So I'm probably good with AXA and 1/2" tooling hopefully...

Haven't we been over this before?

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Just ordered the PM-1236T Lathe - Need some help please...!

AXA tooling will work on a 1236 lathe in most cases. You may need to shim the QCTP if you cannot get enough height, removing the compound going with a solid tool post circumvents the height issue. If you need the compound and do not shim the QCTP then it will change the cutter heights. I have...

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