I replaced my screw/bolt with a countersunk washer and socket screw so that I can get at the cross slide clamp screw when necessary:

The S7 block type cross slide gibs were mentioned in another post; I have found it helpful to install a clamping grub screw in line with the centre of each even though the front one is often hard to get at.

ega when I did that it always filled up with swarf

Roy

True, but as I regularly use a shopvac to clean up the swarf it's not a problem in practice and, as NDIY says, I could leave the key in place if it were.

An additional advantage of a key/handle/spanner of some kind is that it gives an indication of whether the saddle is locked or not.

I was taught, about 75 years ago, at technical college that all loose tools ie. chuck keys, spanners, steel rules calipers etc had to be placed in the drip tray of both lathes and milling machines before switching on

Hence I get swarf in Allen screw heads

Roy

Sorry Brian. That was the original idea. But with Covid & our local post office closing down they just got shoved out of the way.

I have quite a bit of stuff to sell. But just must be lazy. Or maybe waiting till i am skint & then do a bumper ebay sell. Sorry. If you lived anywhere near Leeds you could come & take one. From memory the handles were £5 odd each

The reason i remade the grip pad was i made them metric. Could not get any imperial ratchet handles. Tried rethreading one but not too good . So made the complete things.

Steve.

Hi Brian. You only get message read once the respondant has opened it. Anyway packet on it's way.

Steve.