What's your favorite lathe tool and why?

[seasicksteve]

I want to say my pratt burnerd multisize collet chuck but on further review I have to go with a quick change tool post. Way back when I got my first lathe my friend gave me an aloris toolpost and holders I struggled mightily before that with other tool posts. Makes getting good results so much easier

 

[WobblyHand]

My favorite tool is my set tru ER-40 chuck. If the part is 32mm or less that's what I use. Besides it's ease of use, I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I made the back plate from scratch and fabbed some collet nut wrenches for it as well.

If we count something that's not quite a tool, then I vote for my ELS that I designed and coded. Any time I use my lathe I get the warm fuzzies. It just makes my life so much easier, especially with the touchscreen interface.

Maybe I'm easily pleased, but I get the most satisfaction from stuff I've made.

 

[ChazzC]

Maybe I'm easily pleased, but I get the most satisfaction from stuff I've made.

That is a sentiment I share: while some self-made/modified tools & tooling are only occasionally used, it gives great pleasure every time I do.

 

[verbotenwhisky]

The 5000 lumen LED light fixture I mounted directly above the ways just overhead.

 

[Ischgl99]

I thought I'd post an easy topic to keep the inclusive, nonspecific conversation going. What's your favorite lathe tool and why?

Here's mine for the week. The Jacobs Flex Collet Chuck. It's been living on my spindle most of the time in the couple years since I bought it, which surprises me. It offers good support and dialed-knutz centering throughout its capacity. It's in a different class entirely when it comes to work support than ER or 5C. It is non-marring. It's easy to pop out and swap collets. When I need a true 4-jaw, or big support of a 3-jaw, or inside jaws, then the right chuck comes out, but I really like the precision and repeatability of the flex collets.

What's yours?

Is this the kind of Jacobs chuck you have? I was looking at one in 5c from I think Atlas, I didn’t realize Jacobs made those, too bad they don’t any longer.

JACOBS #91-A6 RUBBER FLEX COLLET SPINDLE NOSE LATHE CHUCK w/ A1-6 MOUNT | eBay

This is a Jacobs Rubber-Flex Collet Spindle Nose Lathe Chuck w/ A1-6 Mount. Spindle Taper: Jacobs J900 Series Rubber-Flex Collet. Collet Size Included: 1-1/4" to 1-3/8". Made in the USA by The Jacobs Mfg Co.

www.ebay.com

I’ve been thinking of getting one of the lever chucks at the bottom of the page in the link, takes collets similar to the Jacobs, but also can use spring collets. The chuck is not that bad on price, but those collets are pricey!

QUADRO® Dead Length Collet Chucks

ORTLIEB

www.ortlieb.net

My favorite tool is probably the quick change tool post, makes changing tools fast and easy. My next favorite is probably my ER 40 collet chuck, I use that a lot for smaller sized bar stock.

 

[Larry$]

Favorite, depends on the project but always used, the DRO. For small accurate work HSS & an adjustable 5C chuck. Very safe to the hands for polishing right up to the nose. Very quick to pull out more stock and tighten. A rubber-flex chuck would be nice to have.