FWIW I use a Dickson type on my Super 7 and it’s excellent.  Provided you insert the steady pin to stop it rotating under cutting load tools in their holders are dead repeatable.  The 254 may take a larger size than the 7.

i see you may be modifying your Multifix, but if you decide against it I use the PeeWee tools size AS multifix copy which is made to suit the 254. Made in china but sold through Germany, Still pleased with mine after two years hard use, I originally used the Dixon from my previous 7 series but the AS takes larger tools which suits me better.

On my 254+ I swapped the compound slide with one from a Colchester Chipmaster / Bantam which is near enough 1/2” lower in height than the original Myford item, this then allows me to use the multifix size A system. Other benefits include a smoother action and a bigger hand wheel / micrometer dial. A very worthwhile improvement!

Looking at the Myford top slide what is the possibility of taking some material off the top of the round part with the angle scale on as that looks a lot taller than the colchester.  Also the square lower part of the topslide casting could anything be taken off of that? 1.5mm off each should be enough to gain the 3mm required. If you want the bigger handwheel than that can be made.

I know there are people who do away with the topslide all together and replace with a solid block is that another option and just fit the topslide when angles are needed.

As the owner of a Bantam, thanks for the warning. My top slide is carefully disguised as a heap of swarf.

Seriously though, there is a possible hiccup in the idea of pinching – by fair means or foul – a top slide off a Bantam as there are different versions of this machine with quite differing centre heights.  The Chipmaster and Mk 1 Bantam (the round head version) are nominally 5-1/2 inch centre height whereas the Mk 2 Bantam is (usually) 6-5/8 centre height.  I don’t know that the top slides are different but they might be.  To further complicate things the Mk 2 Bantam also came as a 5-1/2 inch centre height version, which might suggest that the two top slides are interchangeable but I suggest it needs checked.

I also note Tony Griffith’s caveat that the top slide is fragile and easily broken, and spares aren’t available.

Best rgds Simon

Probably reduced as it looks to be missing the ability to swivel as it is just the two sliding parts.

Yes it could possibly be mated to the Myford one. But as per my earlier post the round part of the Myford is taller than the Colchester.

If you are going to butcher the Myford one to fit the Colchester may as well just do as I said and reduce it to lower the Myford slide.

Thanks for the clarification, Dave

MichaelG.

You won’t regret it! I seem to recall an obscure grub screw that holds the bronze nut in place for the feed screw, removal is the key to dismantling the topslide then you just have a round base on hold in the chuck for threading.