Adjustable Height Toolpost

[James AlfordParticipant @jamesalford67616]

Having become increasingly frustrated trying to set tool heights with shims, I thought that I would have a go at making an adjustable height toolpost. I completed this using the Flexispeed for all milling and turning. It is a little rough around the edges,needing an Allen bolt to replace the long screw.

I am pleased with it. It works and it is the first thing that I have made on the lathe, other than the odd bush or sleeve.

James.

[James AlfordParticipant @jamesalford67616]

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

Nice piece. I'm part way through making one of those too. I went and made two tool holders to go onto the shaft, that way I can use it a la Aloris tool holder and have two different tools always ready at the right height. Then I broke a tap in one and got it proper stuck so now only one is nearing completion.

What sort of sizes did you use? If its for the smaller lathe I can see in your album we probably have about the same sizes to work with.

[James AlfordParticipant @jamesalford67616]

Thank you.

The sizes are: 1" thick by 1 1/2" wide by 1 3/4" long. The post is 5/8" diameter. I think that the grub screws and height screw are 5mm. It takes a 1/4" tool.

What lathe are you making yours to fit?

Regards,

James.

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi James

Your toolpost is nice, saves you looking for suitable shims every time you need to change cutting tools. I made one for my 290 lathe, with several toolholders, they work well.

Thor

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

Very nice, will have to make one for my flexispeed.

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

The lathe I am making them for is a Wizard Lathe. 6" between centres that are 1.75" high.

The original tool holder is the one I hear some people call a elephants foot. Worse than those 4 way toolposts because it doesn't even allow the tool to be swiveled around without lots of poking stuff about and it is generally a bother.

The overall size of mine is similar to yours. Mine has a 13mm tool capacity though with a 12mm post.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Rainbows, why 13mm tool on a 1.75" centre lathe? seems like overkill to me

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

I have a little tin of HSS tools I have picked up and I wanted to be able to use them rather than buy new sets of 8mm or whatever tool blanks. I had a sharp 10mm endmill so I slotted with that then did a pass on each side to try and get a slightly nicer finish.

However for some of the time I was able to access a milling machine which made life easier. If I was doing the slot by lathe or hacksaw I would certainly have been tempted to go smaller.

[VicParticipant @vic]

I've bolted or epoxied shims to the bottom of my insert tooling and parting tools so they're always on centre. Keeps things simple and doesn't compromise rigidity on my Lathe. Just one way of doing it. I need to do the same with a couple of boring tools. My most used tool is a tangential tool holder and has height adjustment built in so no shims needed.

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