You don't have any boring tools in that set.

Look at the side of the holders, you can just see the numbers on the top one in the photo the "08" indicates that the shank is 8mm x 8mm so an 8mm tool which would be about the right size for a WM180 or even 6mm would have done.

Still no boring bar in the other photo of the 9 piece set.

Unless warco are saying the 3 smaller shank ones are boring bars with extra clearance

For what its worth and i'm just a beginner also

1 – internal thread

2 + 3 internal facing/boring

4 – internal up to a shank

5 – external facing up to a shank

6 – same (not sure why the different angle to the tip)

7 – Facing – chamfering

8 – parting

9 – external threading

in all my "3 months of learning" all the boring bars ive seen have been round shanks –

I'm sure a more experienced user would shed more light.

This brings up the old advise not to buy sets but buy individual items as needed.

Good to see Rob's set of holders have their insert numbers printed on them – it'll save bother later!

Addressing the Original Post, which tools are for boring in these sets isn't obvious until the holders are turned over. Rear view shows the top tool shank in the photo has a reduced rounded profile for boring.

And the difference is also apparent from the side, where the boring bar insert is tilted & it's support is rounded away underneath:

Chris mentions it's better to buy individual items rather than sets. I think this is true when you know what you're doing, but it may not apply to beginners. A good way of learning is to buy a set and experiment.

Also, sets are often considerably cheaper per item than buying one at a time. If most of the tools get used eventually, it's cheaper to buy that way.

But keep an open mind. Starting out I didn't have crystal clear ideas about what my lathe was for other than it wasn't very fine work like clockmaking or hefty jobs like truing up old brake drums! (I'm an experimenter rether than a model maker.)

Taking twist drills as an example, I bought metric and imperial sets to get started. In practice I found there are sizes in both systems I never use, and others that get hammered. These I replace in bulk. Works well for me: I bought sets to get going, then switched to bulk buying and following Chris's advice once I knew exactly what was needed.

Dave

In my experience £109 is just the start of things. In my humble opinion the next thing you need is a quick change tool post (QCTP), unless you enjoy spending more of your time setting up than actually turning.

Also, as you have a Warco lathe I would recommend you look at their QCTPs as they will fit without modification.

John

I think the answer you have been given is a bit of BS really. If you buy 10mm tools you would expect the tips to be roughly at 10mm height give or take a few tenths.

It is true that boring bars are under height, but you don't have any in your set.

That said it's not a big issue, especially if you have a QCTP, if not just pack them up with some shim. While I agree it is better to buy individual tools I wouldn't say you have wasted your money, £12 per tool with a tip ain't too bad.

They also allow for repeatable tool changing, if you are doing more than one item and you need two or more tools you can swap back and forth and the handwheel readings will be the same for each part so no need to measure the subsequent parts.

Definately quicker and a lot less fiddly than changing from **MT to **GT provided you have holders with each type of tool

Have never used QCTPs so am probably biased, but thinking about Andrew's comment on stiffness, he may well be right.

The more clearances that you have, even if clamped up, the more likely things are to be flexible.

So fitting the correct holder the correct toolpost becomes important. "Mix'n'match" is not a good idea.

And accuracy is related to rigidity.

Having said that, QCTPs were intended for in industry where time is money so no flimsy gadget would be tolerated when pushing machines close to their limits.

Probably, for the way in which most of us use our machines, we would not notice much difference.

But something worth considering if you are a "press on" type!

Howard

Does anyone have the holder info for the 'W' shaped inserts (WCMT06) I have plenty of these inserts but only one holder that is about 6mm thick and a bit flimsy for my liking.

Rob, are the codes on the side of the WCMT holders you have shown the picture of?

Matt

I'd agree, and I know some professional machinists who say the same. In this video of machining Inconel in a commercial machine shop a conventional 4-way toolpost is being used:

Machining Inconel

The chips are coming off hot!

Andrew

Concerning tool post rigidity I have long considered that, in principle, the best type of toolpost would be sets of quickly detachable two slot blocks able to be removed and re-fitted with the same accuracy as a proper, industrial standard, QC system. If using insert tooling the expensive and complicated to implement adjustable height holder arrangement of a conventional QC set-up is wasted. Decent quality inserts are the same size so changing out blunt for sharp does nt alter the tool height.

There are several feasible designs for rapid interchange block type toolhoder systems that can be released by the third or so of a spanner or handle turn typical of conventional QC posts. The rotating centre post style using two slot blocks built up from standard sections screwed and glued together seemed to me the most appropriate for ME and Home Shop types as being simple to make and relatively inexpensive. I have a couple of variations outlined in CAD but never went to full design and construction due to changing machines and getting Dickson QC systems along with the lathes.

The advantage of a QC system is not so much in rapid toolchanges but more in being able to have a decent selection of tooling mounted and ready to go. As Andrew says most jobs can be done with the three or four tools you can load into a four way. Especially if you have a rear post for the parting tool freeing up another slot. If you are going to have a rear post might as well make it with a two way block on to take a knurling tool as well putting the high load tools on the most rigid mount.

I've usually got 8 or so Dickson QC holders loaded and ready to go on my two lathes as needed but its a rare job that absolutely needs more than three plus the parting tool so I could manage with a four way just fine. In practice I'm more likely to use five or six so I don't have to compromise. Lovely to be able to just drop a holder carrying a Johanesson chaser holder or Coventry Die head in when a thread is needed.

Having two machines with identically set toolposts, allowing the same tooling to be used on both machines without adjustment, along with 18 or so holders means I can keep even fairly occasional use tools mounted. Realistically a QC system with less than 8 holders, plus parting tool carrier, is stunted.

Clive