Help me pick a tool post for my SD300 lathe

[Pylonracer]

I got my Hobbymat MD65 a few months ago, spent some good hours in the workshop and lots of petroleum and oil cleaning it up and adjusting it, and it's now running very well. I'm a turning-beginner, I learnt to use a lathe 30 years ago in university, now finally now has my own and is trying to learn the basics.

I'm as well looking for a quick change tool post but a thing is puzzling me. I can't work out how any available posts actually fit on the machine with the tool height correctly aligned. I cannot get 10x10 mm insert-tools to align on the lathe sitting sit flat on the top slide under the inverted top-hat tool post, so how can a quick change tool posts that bolt on the top slide in the same location, fitting tool holders that obviously wrap around the tools to hold them align?

None of them seem wide enough to actually suspend the tool off the side of the slide, and few seem designed to do so.

I've seen some youtube videos of people fitting different tool posts to their mini lathes, and some even mill or scrape off material from their top slide. I'm not going to do that on my original 1981 Hobbymat, and by the way, it wouldn't work, as I'd have to remove so much that the slide would be destroyed.

I'd really appreciate if someone could post a picture of their toolpost on their Hobbymat. I've attached a photo of how badly a 10x10 insert-tool holder fit on my lathe.

This is my first post. This seems a very serious forum. I hope you guys will bear with my silly question

I have had good success with the Multifix style tool posts from PeWeTools https://pewetools.de/en/

I have fitted these to all of my EMCO manual lathes which are a Unimat 3, Compact 5 and Compact 8.

I used AAA size posts on the Unimat 3 and Compact 5 and AA size on the Compact 8, both the Unimat 3 and Compact 8 needed minor modifications to the top slide to get the correct tool height.

I hope this helps you a little and welcome to the forum.

 

[Dinsen]

Thank you both! It's now all making sense I have two 10 mm HSS tools that are both fine, but both has been cut so the edge fits, and in my naivity, I thought 10 mm insert tools would work too

RaisedByWolves, I did look through your excellent story about your "adventure" when I was considering buying my lathe. I learnt a lot. I'll have to reread.

And I'll definetely start a new thread about my adventures - thanks for making this section!

Pylonracer, your lathes seems to have a taller compound slide than on the Hobbymat. The tool posts look great on your lathe, though!

 

[Pylonracer]

Thank you both! It's now all making sense I have two 10 mm HSS tools that are both fine, but both has been cut so the edge fits, and in my naivity, I thought 10 mm insert tools would work too

RaisedByWolves, I did look through your excellent story about your "adventure" when I was considering buying my lathe. I learnt a lot. I'll have to reread.

And I'll definetely start a new thread about my adventures - thanks for making this section!

Pylonracer, your lathes seems to have a taller compound slide than on the Hobbymat. The tool posts look great on your lathe, though!

Thanks for that photo, assuming that the tool is 10mm square then you would use the Multifix AAA and be limited to 1/4" tools max.

This thread link tells a little about my fitting a AAA multifix to the Unimat 3.

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/unimat-3-fitted-with-multifix-aaa-tool-post.110228/

What ever QCTP that you choose then I hope it works out well for you.

 

[Dabbler]

@Pevehouse Since you have such little clearance, you might consider 'other options' to the 0XA. As far as height is concerned, The Aloris style is not necessarily the most economical for vertical space. Properly configured, a 4-way can be quite accommodating.

Note: I own 3 lathes, with 3 4-way, 4 Aloris style (3 wedge, 1 piston), 2 Dixon style, and 2 American Rocker tool holding systems. I use them all. To get more vertical tool height, a smaller Dixon with the QC holders cantilevered over the edge gives you the most flexibility, at a little cost of rigidity. My experience using Aloris types are not as rigid when cantilevered (I own AXA, BXA, and CXA Aloris systems). Frankly, on such a small lathe, even an American Rocker system will operate on par with the Aloris. (but slower).

If you already have moved in the 0XA direction, it will do well. Far more expensive than properly tooling a 4-way, but still serviceable.

 

[Dinsen]

Thanks for that photo, assuming that the tool is 10mm square then you would use the Multifix AAA and be limited to 1/4" tools max.

This thread link tells a little about my fitting a AAA multifix to the Unimat 3.

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/unimat-3-fitted-with-multifix-aaa-tool-post.110228/

What ever QCTP that you choose then I hope it works out well for you.

Thanks, it's great being able to see what others have done before making a decision!

 

[Dinsen]

@Pevehouse Since you have such little clearance, you might consider 'other options' to the 0XA. As far as height is concerned, The Aloris style is not necessarily the most economical for vertical space. Properly configured, a 4-way can be quite accommodating.

Note: I own 3 lathes, with 3 4-way, 4 Aloris style (3 wedge, 1 piston), 2 Dixon style, and 2 American Rocker tool holding systems. I use them all. To get more vertical tool height, a smaller Dixon with the QC holders cantilevered over the edge gives you the most flexibility, at a little cost of rigidity. My experience using Aloris types are not as rigid when cantilevered (I own AXA, BXA, and CXA Aloris systems). Frankly, on such a small lathe, even an American Rocker system will operate on par with the Aloris. (but slower).

If you already have moved in the 0XA direction, it will do well. Far more expensive than properly tooling a 4-way, but still serviceable.

Thanks very much. That's also very helpful. A friend of mine got a Dixon style tool holder for his Hobbymat, it seems a good option. I haven't made any moves yet, still thinking what's right for me

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I have had good success with the Multifix style tool posts from PeWeTools https://pewetools.de/en/

I have fitted these to all of my EMCO manual lathes which are a Unimat 3, Compact 5 and Compact 8.

I used AAA size posts on the Unimat 3 and Compact 5 and AA size on the Compact 8, both the Unimat 3 and Compact 8 needed minor modifications to the top slide to get the correct tool height.

I hope this helps you a little and welcome to the forum.

View attachment 509755View attachment 509756View attachment 509757

Thanks for that photo, assuming that the tool is 10mm square then you would use the Multifix AAA and be limited to 1/4" tools max.

This thread link tells a little about my fitting a AAA multifix to the Unimat 3.

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/unimat-3-fitted-with-multifix-aaa-tool-post.110228/

What ever QCTP that you choose then I hope it works out well for you.

Thanks for the info, I will be reading this tonight.

Thank you both! It's now all making sense I have two 10 mm HSS tools that are both fine, but both has been cut so the edge fits, and in my naivity, I thought 10 mm insert tools would work too

RaisedByWolves, I did look through your excellent story about your "adventure" when I was considering buying my lathe. I learnt a lot. I'll have to reread.

And I'll definetely start a new thread about my adventures - thanks for making this section!

Pylonracer, your lathes seems to have a taller compound slide than on the Hobbymat. The tool posts look great on your lathe, though!

Thank you for the kind words, and you're welcome. I will be selling the SD300 in the future as I have acquired a brand new SD400, two of them actually. Ill be selling off one of those as soon as I'm finished with the repairs and modifications I plan on doing and keeping the new one to modify as well.

As to the part in bold, please do. The more information we can gather here the better it will be for everyone involved.

ETA, just now seeing your thread.

 

[Pevehouse]

Thanks for the info, I will be reading this tonight.





Thank you for the kind words, and you're welcome. I will be selling the SD300 in the future as I have acquired a brand new SD400, two of them actually. Ill be selling off one of those as soon as I'm finished with the repairs and modifications I plan on doing and keeping the new one to modify as well.

As to the part in bold, please do. The more information we can gather here the better it will be for everyone involved.

ETA, just now seeing your thread.

Yes I agree, the more info on these machines the better. I would love to know more about my machine. To be honest I’m not exactly sure what model it is. I believe the mill is the BF500, but the lathe, I haven’t a clue

 

[Pevehouse]

@Pevehouse Since you have such little clearance, you might consider 'other options' to the 0XA. As far as height is concerned, The Aloris style is not necessarily the most economical for vertical space. Properly configured, a 4-way can be quite accommodating.

Note: I own 3 lathes, with 3 4-way, 4 Aloris style (3 wedge, 1 piston), 2 Dixon style, and 2 American Rocker tool holding systems. I use them all. To get more vertical tool height, a smaller Dixon with the QC holders cantilevered over the edge gives you the most flexibility, at a little cost of rigidity. My experience using Aloris types are not as rigid when cantilevered (I own AXA, BXA, and CXA Aloris systems). Frankly, on such a small lathe, even an American Rocker system will operate on par with the Aloris. (but slower).

If you already have moved in the 0XA direction, it will do well. Far more expensive than properly tooling a 4-way, but still serviceable.

Thank you for the reply, I have not gotten a chance to order anything as of yet. I got distracted putting my large mill back together, as well as doing some work on my surface grinder restoration. I’m getting ready to pull the trigger on the tool post but have not decided on one. What would you recommend if I were looking to buy one to cover all the bases? Sounds like you’re just the guy I needed to talk to about it. I’m getting Sykes and ready to start upgrading some areas on this little machine. Thanks

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Yes I agree, the more info on these machines the better. I would love to know more about my machine. To be honest I’m not exactly sure what model it is. I believe the mill is the BF500, but the lathe, I haven’t a clue

The BF500 is the geared head mill, and I believe your lathe IIRC is the SD300