Quick Change Tool Post for PM-1340GT

[mksj]

May be worth reviewing:

Aloris vs Dorian BXA Tool Post, or is there a compelling case for Multifix (PeWe or other non Chinese)

I own Aloris, Dixon, 4 way, and American Rocker tools posts. Frankly what you want is quality. Any format tool post will be good enough if it is well made. I don't own a Multifix, but I've used them. I cannot rate a Dorian versus Aloris, but I expect they are both well made. In terms of...

www.hobby-machinist.com

I usually recommend going with the Dorian or Aloris QCTP if using that style, that way you will not have to question is my QCTP the problem or is it what I am doing. It is something like a good chuck, you use it all the time, and it may make a difference to how it locks up the holders. Most repeat close to the same, but the mechanism on the Aloris and Dorian help lock the holder down. Quality control also probably is a part of it works fine for me but not someone else. You can save money on the holders as you will need quite a few, there were previous reviews on the holders and most are pretty decent. The ones from QMT/PM are reasonably price and people have been happy with them, there are other vendors but you need to also factor in shipping costs. Ajax also has very good pricing on QCTP's and chucks. I would advise against buying kits with holders or inserts holder sets, you can do better. David Best also outlines most of this in his book which is very helpful to people starting out with lathes. He also share an extensive amount of information on his 1340GT.
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...indexable-tooling-for-the-metal-lathe.104817/

BXA QCTP's
Dorian SDN30BXA

Quick Change Tool Post SD30BXA

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Aloris BXA Super Precision Quick Change Tool Post Lathe Swing 10-15

Aloris BXA Super Precision <br>Quick Change Tool Post <br>Lathe Swing 10-15

Qctp Holder Review Part 1

I have read a lot of discussions on the pros and cons of QCTP holders from various manufacturers but never a head to head comparison so I collected four of the commonly used BXA-1 holders for review. I have had inexpensive import QCTP's and more recently a new Aloris QCTP . Just from an...

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Qctp Holder Review Part 2

I'm still waiting on the steel but I was able to do the aluminum test cuts. The process was use the same insert and insert tool in each of the tool holders. The stick-out of the tool was set to the same dimension for each holder. The material was set to the same 2" stick-out from the jaws of...

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[coolidge]

This thread got me shopping for tool holders today. Initially excited that the QMT and Shars are a fraction of the price of Dorian's. BUT...I noticed they are 1/2 inch shorter than Dorians, that's a chunk of steel. Some of the other dimensions are also smaller.

 

[davidpbest]

This thread got me shopping for tool holders today. Initially excited that the QMT and Shars are a fraction of the price of Dorian's. BUT...I noticed they are 1/2 inch shorter than Dorians, that's a chunk of steel. Some of the other dimensions are also smaller.

There are several aspects of the QC Tool Holder dimensions that differ from brand to brand. Some of the differences matter - quite a lot - while some others (like overall height of the QC Tool Holder) don't matter much at all. I've gone into exhaustive detail in the book Mark (@mksj) references in his post above, but the aspects that matter a lot are what size shank the QC Tool Holder can accommodate, and the position of the bottom ledge that the shank sits on since that affects the height of the cutting edge of the tool. Here's a small excerpt from the book that illustrates some of the variances and why they matter:

Before loading up on a dozen QC Tool Holders, I always recommend you buy one of a brand that seems interesting, and then test it to see if you can position the cutting tool properly. Also, if you do buy Chinese clones, it will be worth your time and expense to upgrade the crappy hex-socket set screws that come with the QC Tool Holder to a better quality alternative. Aloris and Dorian screws are imperial, whereas the clones are typically metric and pretty sloppy at that. You might also find this document informative as it goes into some of these aspects on pages 6 and beyond.

 

[coolidge]

while some others (like overall height of the QC Tool Holder) don't matter much at all.

We will agree to disagree on additional mass.

 

[davidpbest]

We will agree to disagree on additional mass.

On a PM-1340GT or similar machine, the mass of the QC Tool Holder is totally insignificant in comparison to other aspects of the machine that contribute to lack of rigidity - especially the spongy nature of the compound. The OP might find this discussion interesting wrt this aspect:

PM1340 Solid Tool Post for Dorian BXA QC

After some hours of use on the Best & Jacobs Full Custom Edition PM1340, I decided it was time to improve rigidity of the toolpost by implementing a solid tool mount as a substitution for the compound when I don't need the function of the compound for normal turning activity. In many ways...

www.hobby-machinist.com

Also this thread:

1340GT/1440GT Solid Tool Post

This post will be part five of the thread that I started here: https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/1440gt-upgrades-and-additions.96854/ When I ordered my 1340GT back in March of '21 I knew that I wanted to incorporate a solid tool post. And in June when I acquired my RF-45 mill it became...

www.hobby-machinist.com

 

[coolidge]

On a PM-1340GT or similar machine, the mass of the QC Tool Holder is totally insignificant in comparison to other aspects of the machine that contribute to lack of rigidity - especially the spongy nature of the compound. The OP might find this discussion interesting wrt this aspect:

Again I disagree, mass and dimensions matter hence the Aloris No 71 but that's just my opinion. I ordered up one of those bad boys last night.

 

[davidpbest]

Again I disagree, mass and dimensions matter hence the Aloris No 71 but that's just my opinion. I ordered up one of those bad boys last night.

On your Grizzly G0670, the extra mass might be important, but on the 1340GT the OP is getting, the mass of the different BXA QC Tool Holders isn't something to focus on. I hope you can get your #71 to lower to the CL of the spindle. On the 1340GT, it requires a fixture to lower the tool. Details here: https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...tool-holder-question.97611/page-3#post-930774

 

[coolidge]

I hope you can get your #71 to lower to the CL of the spindle.

It will be fine, this same #71 worked fine on my old 12x36 so not an issue on this new 1440.

 

[xr650rRider]

You don't have to have the fixture either. You can use the jam nut and lock it in at whatever height. It's not moving after jamming them together. Should qualify with at least mine hasn't in several years.

I do use a spacer with a screw to set the height on some left-hand threading tools, upside down for threading away from the chuck. They need to be above the toolpost height to get on center.

 

[dabear3428]

You don't have to have the fixture either. You can use the jam nut and lock it in at whatever height. It's not moving after jamming them together. Should qualify with at least mine hasn't in several years.

I do use a spacer with a screw to set the height on some left-hand threading tools, upside down for threading away from the chuck. They need to be above the toolpost height to get on center.

not the problem, the bottom of the tool holder can be so low that the highest adjustment of the jam nut is below spindle centerline and you have to shim the tool up to get it on center.