I Too Have a BXA QCTP On My Atlas 12'

[chevydyl]

so contrary to what some had said about the BXA size tool post not fitting, well it does, it is large but works great, I may have to change to way I grind some tools because of the way they are held compared to the lantern style, I took the t bolt to a machine shop and he milled it out for me for a charge of only $20!! I was stoked that he charged so little, this shop is the one that turned me on to this lathe and he has given me several brand new 3/8 HSS/Cobalt bits. there is plenty of room for height adjustments, the knurling tool works great! all in all I am very happy with the quality of the SHARS tool post and holders. here are some pictures

 

[Dave Smith]

looks nice--you will like it:whistle:

 

[Uncle Buck]

You and I have the same setup, a BXA on an Atlas machine. I would really encourage you to not subject your Atlas to a steady diet of knurling with a pressure type knurler like the one that came with your tool post set. While you can knurl with this setup and the results will look great your machine is going to pay a heavy price for those knurls. A single use of your knurl should not be a big deal, but a steady diet of that would make your lathe loose, worn and sloppy as all get out in short order. I used my toolpost knurler with my BXA only once and got great results with the knurl but swore I would never again punish my Atlas doing that. I sure hope you are able to see what I am speaking of here.

BTW: I have had nothing but great success with my BXA on my 12" Atlas as well.

 

[chevydyl]

yeah I do believe that that knurler will break that ol girl down lol, I used it on alumi and haven't used it again, is the scissor type knurler less work for the machine?
I haven't ordered a boring bar for the round shank boring bar holder but I believe that may be the only tool holder I have trouble centering, its pretty thick under where the tool slides into the holder. I sure do love the ease and quickness of the BXA Wedge, going from facing to turning in a matter of seconds with the only setup change being a change in angle of the post. easy-peasy where as with the lantern im bent over the lather trying to line up the tip of the bit on center and when I tighten it it usually raises above or below and I have to start over lol.
I have made a dial indicator holder out of 1/2 square bar that swivels and you just affix it into a tool holder very easy, I was able to setup some 4140 5/8 into my 4 jaw chuck which was hardly used, to within 1/2 a though on my first attempt, I pulled my 3 jaw apart and its got a few teeth missing from the pinion gear, the left over 1/2 square I TIGed to some leftover 5/8 4140 round with 309 wire and ground some flats, lol my brother and law had a grin ear to ear, "your like, im gonna make a tool, and then boom, theres the tool, and it fits the chuck on the first try after grinding four flats" pretty awesome, haha he asked me is this natural talent or just alotta practice, ive only had the lathe for about two weeks, and ive been at work for one of those weeks (I work outta town) anyway im rambling I do love it, and I would suggest that the BXA be used, seems like it is ALOT more solid than the AXA