Lantern tool posts information

[Jimsehr]

WOW, WOW. WOW!!! That is beautiful work! You really capture the movement with the horse and baby pieces.

Also did the mural in the background.

 

[saipan59]

FWIW: I'm in a similar situation. I'm "very new" at this - last week I got a 6" Craftsman (Atlas) that came with a lantern post, and several holders very similar to what you have. But my post was missing the "rocker" (aka 'boat') and the "rocker washer". But I found that the larger-ish holders can be mounted in the post *without* the rocker parts. Also (as someone mentioned above) a 3/8" cutter can be mounted without a holder at all.

SO, the first thing I made was a rocker washer, using a simple square washer that is 3/16" thick and has a 3/4" hole to match my post. It was a "sub-optimal" setup, but it worked, and I learned a couple of things in the process. I made the rocker from 3/8" square bar stock, using a bench grinder.
So now I have something that holds the smaller holders nicely.

I had another of those square washers, so I used it to make an "angled washer" (one edge thicker than the other). It allows flexibility when using the larger holders in the lantern (which was intended for the smaller holders).

For now, I'm sticking with the lantern post. I enjoy using old tools the way they were originally made, rather than "modernizing". I'm in no hurry to get things done. That said, with my old wood lathe, I *did* buy a $40 set of modern carbide-tipped tools to go with the traditional tools. The new-fangled tools sure are nice for some things...

Pete

 

[Jake M]

Never mind, I misread a post......

 

[David2011]

FWIW: I'm in a similar situation. I'm "very new" at this - last week I got a 6" Craftsman (Atlas) that came with a lantern post, and several holders very similar to what you have. But my post was missing the "rocker" (aka 'boat') and the "rocker washer". But I found that the larger-ish holders can be mounted in the post *without* the rocker parts. Also (as someone mentioned above) a 3/8" cutter can be mounted without a holder at all.

SO, the first thing I made was a rocker washer, using a simple square washer that is 3/16" thick and has a 3/4" hole to match my post. It was a "sub-optimal" setup, but it worked, and I learned a couple of things in the process. I made the rocker from 3/8" square bar stock, using a bench grinder.
So now I have something that holds the smaller holders nicely.

I had another of those square washers, so I used it to make an "angled washer" (one edge thicker than the other). It allows flexibility when using the larger holders in the lantern (which was intended for the smaller holders).

For now, I'm sticking with the lantern post. I enjoy using old tools the way they were originally made, rather than "modernizing". I'm in no hurry to get things done. That said, with my old wood lathe, I *did* buy a $40 set of modern carbide-tipped tools to go with the traditional tools. The new-fangled tools sure are nice for some things...

Pete

If you can find proper replacement parts on eBay or elsewhere the function will improve greatly.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Hello all. I recently got my first lathe (SouthBend heavy 10L) from a garage.
It came with a bunch of tool holders (see px) and a lot of bits, but no tool post (I think they use the "lantern" type tool post?).
I am struggling to understand tool holding- my "How to Run a Lathe" SouthBend book barely mentions tool posts. I also got several quick change tool posts (the piston type), but almost no bits for it (I'm not sure I got everything out of the garage that was supposed to come with the lathe...). My questions are as follows:
1- will the tool bit holders shown in my picture work in my quick change tool post?
2- if I were to purchase a lantern style tool post, how would I know if it would fit the compound slide on my lathe?
3- the shanks on the tool holders are of various sizes. Do I need a different tool post for each size of shank?
Thanks!

You bought yourself a Very good model lathe. Now buy yourself a good QCTP for it.
Those old lantern style tool holders worked. So did bias ply tires for your car, rotary dial phones, single pane windows, hand miter boxes, rabbit ears on TVs, incandescent light bulbs, wood fired kitchen stoves, cast iron plumbing pipes and 6 volts and points/condenser for your tractor. The world has moved beyond those functional but antiquated things for a reason.
I say move with it.

 

[robsig]

Hey, don't knock wood-fired kitchen stoves (at least in the winter)...!

 

[craniac]

It won't kill you to use the lantern post. I survived it. What really helps is having a gage of some sort to set the center height when you change tools. That speeds things up. But when you have a bunch of operations all needing different tools it can tedious to spend the extra seconds. You can always buy a quick change later, when you have the budget for it and the toolholders that you will never have enough of. Also I imagine that you will gain important rigidity on a small lathe.

A lot of the sentiment is- you're going to want one eventually you might as well get it over with.

Tim

 

[David2011]

You bought yourself a Very good model lathe. Now buy yourself a good QCTP for it.
Those old lantern style tool holders worked. So did bias ply tires for your car, rotary dial phones, single pane windows, hand miter boxes, rabbit ears on TVs, incandescent light bulbs, wood fired kitchen stoves, cast iron plumbing pipes and 6 volts and points/condenser for your tractor. The world has moved beyond those functional but antiquated things for a reason.
I say move with it.

Someone I know told me that a family member put a flood light on the piping in their water well house. An LED light bulb. It didn’t do much to prevent the pipes from freezing. (Banging head on desk)

I still need incandescent lamps as gentle heat sources.

 

[MikeInOr]

My (possibly controversial) opinion is don't even bother with the tool holders shown in the photo. Purchase a quick change tool post and some tool holders. You would probably want size AXA. The quality of my work improved significantly and my frustration level diminished when I changed from lantern to a QCTP.

I have almost the exact set of old tool holders the OP is showing shoved in a drawer somewhere. I put a quick change on my lathe and never looked back.

With the lantern style tool post holder I had to set the height of the tool EVERY time I changed tools. It was a MAJOR hassle compared t the quick change post I have now!

 

[David2011]

The benefit of the lantern post is that it makes grinding tools much easier for the beginner. The angle at which the bit sits eliminates the need for a top relief angle.