You do not stats what type of tool holder or tool post you have? Dickson type ? I presume not myford boat type or 4 way ? Noel.

I've just had this same experience – My genuine Myford QCTP was bought, direct from Myford, in the 90's. I recently bought a 'Myford-compatible' tool-holder from one of our usual suppliers (of good repute), and it didn't fit – the 'vee-slots' are about 1/16" too shallow. The suppler accepted the return without a quibble, and refunded me. I'd have liked to try deepening the vee's as everything else fitted, but as it's hardened and ground I didn't bother.

Can someone confirm that current genuine Myford holders still fit the old Myford QCTP, before I get myself some for my Xmas present ?

Myford contracted out the making of their QCTP to a fellow in the west country,  they had a W stamped on them. I met him and bought some Myford parts a while ago ! This was when Myford were still ar Beeston. There MAY have been other contractors doing this work as well. Noel.

Edited By noel shelley on 19/12/2022 11:40:56

Like A&R Precision in Coventry, now gone.

The original Dickson tool posts were made by Dickson Engineering in Farnham [Surrey] this was in the early 1960's they were eventually taken over or absorbed into the 600 Group, now Dickson tool posts and holders are available from Colchester Lathes, part of the 600 Group but it seems they no longer supply the SO size for small lathes aka Myford size. only from S1 size upwards.

My understanding was that the original Myford tooling was made by Dickson Engineering i.e. those with a W or was it an M ?? but would stand to be corrected. They were and are totally interchangeable with Dickson brand tool post blocks and vice versa — I have both plus some of those made by A & R who made for Myford Nottingham. I also have some other brands all of which had to be "fettled" to ensure a correct fit.

I also have some purchased from Myford [Nottingham] at the ME show many years ago they were clearly made elsewhere and probably not in the UK? they do fit correctly but they are thicker on the base so take only 3/8" tools.

It is indeed a pity the current makers abroad don't ensure the dimensions & tolerances ensure interchangeability with original tooling !

John

Bob Unitt 1

John F – are you suggesting that current Myford toolholders should fit my 1990's toolpost ?

No not at all ! They may do but no g'tee, I purchased a Piddington extended tool holder from them 18 months ago and that was OK with my Original Myford tool post. Cannot vouch for the standard tool holders.

At the same time I ordered a standard parting tool holder from RDG [Myford were out of stock] —- it did not fit, not even close ! so returned for credit — strange really when they are in the same stable ?

John

I have always considered the Dickson style tool holder to be over constrained. This is because two parallel vee shaped mountings are always going to be fighting each other if there is even the slightest error, damage or contamination and the lack of adjustment for the piston pull in. This all adds up to a holder with poor repeatability of positioning. If I was making my own tool holders to fit one of these tool posts I would only make one vee and leave the other side smooth with a threaded hole for an adjusting screw to allow proper pulling tight by the piston. It would mean you could only use the tool holder in one direction as the vee should be near the cutting point but in favour of making your own would be easier to produce. I would also try putting a gap down the centre of the vee to effectively make it a three point mount on the tool post.

Martin C

I must admit I did initially wonder why you bought 10mm square tools for a lathe of that size, seems a bit of overkill. 6 or 8 would be fine and probably saved you all this agro.

regards, Mike

I bought my QCTP from Myford many years ago. I have had to return several pattern tool holders as they did not fit. One of the common faults is that the hole for the height adjusting stud is too close to the rear face of the holder and consequently, the knurled nut fouls the rotating clamp on the block. Some can be jobbed by turning down the knurled nut. Others just wont go on at all, as the angles and clearances of the slot and v's are incompatible.

I took my Myford supplied block to MEX this year and tried the RDG offerings. Slightly tighter than the originals but OK. I bought a couple, may buy some more at another show, after trying them first.

I've only just picked the thread up.

For what its worth, I have a 'modern' Myford QCTP for my ML10 purchased about 5 years ago. The tool holders are all stamped with the W or M so this probably shouldn't be seen as a mark of age or originality.

I think Bison/Toolmex still make Myford size Dickson type QCTP for those with an eye to quality and matching deep pockets

I'm not surprised that "after market" Dickson type tool holders can be a bit of a gamble. Four things need to be made to to a "standard" with close tolerances. Namely, the tool post, the tool holder, the top hat clamp and the cam. I guess over time, some of the tolerances have been slackened off for reasons of economy. As gets said many times, "you get what you pay for". I naively thought that buying so called "T51" holders would be OK, but I'm afraid not.