Rear mount cut off tool

[jwmay]

Ok that's what I was thinking, but giving dimensions is great. Was the central hold down bolt hole slotted or purposely oversized? Seems like it would have to be to keep from bending the stud when it was tightened. I guess .100 may not be enough to affect it? I'm curious cause it seems like a great way to get some adjustment without any fuss.

 

[jwmay]

Oops you answered that. Sorry.

 

[epanzella]

Ok that's what I was thinking, but giving dimensions is great. Was the central hold down bolt hole slotted or purposely oversized? Seems like it would have to be to keep from bending the stud when it was tightened. I guess .100 may not be enough to affect it? I'm curious cause it seems like a great way to get some adjustment without any fuss.

The central bolt was longer than it needed to be so I just used a pair of oversized nuts as spacers. I turned them slightly convex so they could pivot without binding. This was certainly no QCTP but I used it for years with no problem. It beat the hell out of the lantern tool holder that it replaced. I also had planned for it to spin around 180 degrees so I could use negative rake carbide inserts but that didn't work out as my old belt drive machine didn't have the juice to run at the speeds and feeds required by carbide inserts.

 

[redgrouse]

Not sure about advertising but I am not a commercial outfit ! However I do have a few of these available primarily for Myford lathes, all UK made not imported fully hardened and ground, I guess they could be adapted to other small machines as well. If they are of interest please message me with your email for pics etc
John

 

[jwmay]

Well that would be great John, but I'm about half done with mine. If it doesn't work out like I hope, I'll let you know. Your version is at least a couple steps above what I've got here. But the cast iron has been cut. There's no going back now! Lol

 

[Lo-Fi]

Pics and let us know how you get on please, @jwmay !

 

[jwmay]

Well after some shuffling around, and scratching my head, I decided that I don't have the skill to make anything very fancy at all. So, I cut off the extra, drilled and tapped two holes for set screws, drilled one hole for a hold down, and mounted it. Drum roll please...
Yep! This is astoundingly, amazingly, and incredibly the most dramatic improvement I've experienced. In my opinion, if you haven't done this yet, there's no time like this weekend to give yourself an early Christmas present. I'm going to use it as is for now. Eventually I'll add a slot to the other side for another cutter. But time just gets so squeezed, I needed it done already. So there we go! Done already!

 

[brino]

@jwmay ,

The tool post looks great and the results do too!
(....but even better is your description.)

This is on my long list of projects, unfortunately first I'd have to replace the funky, curvy cross-slide on my Southbend 9".......

-brino

 

[Lo-Fi]

Nice job! It's quite amazing how well it works, isn't it.

I'm using HSS with mine:

 

[jwmay]

Well everybody says the little Southbend lathes are so much more solid than an Atlas that maybe it's not as important. But I have been using a hacksaw. It took me a couple years before I got my cross slide done, if I remember right. So maybe you can't do it THIS weekend. But if you're experiencing any trouble with cutting off, this is the solution.
Andy Lofquist at MLA Toolbox will hook you up with a cross slide casting for your SB that has tee slots in it. I'm sure you've heard. But if not, check it out. http://www.mlatoolbox.com/S-4382.html