What is it and what is it for

[martin cross 1Participant @martincross1]

I have acquired a box of stuff for the Myford and within the box was this rather nice looking device. Well made and seems to do its stuff, but what is it for and what does it do?

Any help appreciated

[martin cross 1Participant @martincross1]

A thingy

[Dave SParticipant @daves59043]

Looks like a filing rest.

Dave

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Definitely

Oft-used in smaller sizes by watchmakers

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ scroll down this page: http://www.lathes.co.uk/watchmaker/page2.html

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 28/07/2023 20:14:04

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

It is indeed a Filing-rest, used for forming flat and hexagons on the turned end of the work-piece.

The flanges guide the safe-edge of the file to maintain correct and consistent length; the column with screw-adjustment and clamp give the depth-limit..

It is fitted to the top-slide having lifted the tool-post or tool-clamp off its stud, and for more than a single flat you need some form of dividing-arrangement on the spindle – typically a simple detent engaging the bull-wheel or the change-wheel pinion.

Does anyone have one to photograph fitted?

[MichaelRParticipant @michaelr]

See here LINK not the one you have but it gives the idea of use.

MichaelR

Edited By MichaelR on 28/07/2023 20:38:24

[martin cross 1Participant @martincross1]

I like that, I like that a lot. It's so nicely made that I intend to keep it for the odd occasion which it will be put to use. Saves taking the piece out of the lathe and setting up the mill.

My thanks to everyone for the quick response. Everyday is a learning day.

I was thinking along the lines of something to center work in a 4 jaw or something to do with loco wheels. How far out I was.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Good decision, Martin

MichaelG.

[martin cross 1Participant @martincross1]

I got some more stuff which I'm not sure about. Just need to get a pic, will be in touch.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Bring 'em on!

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Martin,

The Forum is her so that we can help each other, and learn.

Howard

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

Quite by chance, I came across what I think is this design. 'A Filing Rest' by L C Mason, Model Engineer 5 March 1971 (Vol 137, No 3412, pp 251-253).

[martin cross 1Participant @martincross1]

Another thingy, the base of each one is magnetic.

 

Edited By martin cross 1 on 29/07/2023 09:56:50

Edited By martin cross 1 on 29/07/2023 09:57:48

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Jaws from a sheet metal bender (press brake), might be usable in a bench vice.

From something like this possibly.

John

*** See below for a more accurate answer, Well found Nick ***

Edit: Add Image

Edited By Journeyman on 29/07/2023 10:02:26

Edited By Journeyman on 29/07/2023 10:08:42

[Nick HughesParticipant @nickhughes97026]

**LINK**

[martin cross 1Participant @martincross1]

And this one, think it fits to a face plate.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Next one please ! Noel.

[martin cross 1Participant @martincross1]

Is that one a Keats chuck? Trying to find how best to use it on Youtube, but seems no one uses it these days?

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

A Keats chuck is used with a faceplate for holding round bar instead of a chuck.

**LINK**

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

First new "thingy"

Metal-bender dies useable in a vice or with a fly-press. The magnets are to assist setting-up and help prevent them falling to the floor, which won't do their edges any good.

.

Second –

Yes, it is a Keats Angle-block.

Although its primary purpose is for holding work on a face-plate or Te-slotted saddle / cross-slide, it is quite a versatile "thingy" that can also hold for example, a work-piece vertically on a mill or drill table.

A book on turning would be a better bet for information than the vagaries of You-tube. The "it seems" may just boil down to whatever single-project videos you saw, and their makers' available equipment – and opinions. I do have one, and bought it new only a few years ago. I don't use it very often but that's not the same as no-one using them "these days".

It use is fairly intuitive. The slots are for the bolts clamping it to the machine, the U-bolted Vee-block clamps the work between itself and the fixed block.

For some purposes on the lathe it is better to wangle the U-bolt off its block and use instead two flat bars with bolts and nuts; or bolts tapped into one of the bars rather as on a tool-maker's clamp. This will reduce the amount of projections twirling round. (Mine takes a bit of wangling as the loosened U-bolt legs splay slightly!)

.

Noel – Shouldn't that be "Next slide please" ?

[martin cross 1Participant @martincross1]

The square piece with the circles cut into it?

The forked jobby I believe is for the change wheels, but as I have the QC gear box it's not needed unless it's for the metric conversion (don't think so). I believe I have another bit that goes with the forked jobby somewhere.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 29/07/2023 10:57:16:

…

Yes, it is a Keats Angle-block.

Although its primary purpose is for holding work on a face-plate or Te-slotted saddle / cross-slide, it is quite a versatile "thingy" that can also hold for example, a work-piece vertically on a mill or drill table.

…

It use is fairly intuitive. The slots are for the bolts clamping it to the machine, the U-bolted Vee-block clamps the work between itself and the fixed block.

For some purposes on the lathe it is better to wangle the U-bolt off its block and use instead two flat bars with bolts and nuts; or bolts tapped into one of the bars rather as on a tool-maker's clamp. This will reduce the amount of projections twirling round. (Mine takes a bit of wangling as the loosened U-bolt legs splay slightly!)

…

I recognised it as a Keats from Sparey's excellent "The Amateur's Lathe", and remember thinking in my innocent youth that it was a must have accessory.

But are they still useful when many of us have milling machines? In practice I've never had call for a Keats, thinking it's because a mill is a better alternative to a Keats or an milling slide on a lathe. I hadn't thought of a Keats on a mill-table though. A vice, angle table, rotary table, or clamping down direct do most of what I need. Am I missing something? (Quite likely – I'm self-taught, and have many odd gaps in my skill-set!)

Dave

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Posted by martin cross 1 on 29/07/2023 09:54:14:

Another thingy, the base of each one is magnetic.

Edited By martin cross 1 on 29/07/2023 09:56:50

Edited By martin cross 1 on 29/07/2023 09:57:48

Hi Martin, as Nick Hughes has shown, primarily designed for use in a vice, but as Nigel Graham has said, they can be adapted for use in a fly press, and probably in any type of press. Below is a photo of a 6" pair that I adapted back in 2013 for my fly press, and which includes a back-stop for doing multiple bends of the same dimensions. I have folded a 6" length of 1.5mm thick steel sheet to 90 degrees with it with very little effort, and it may even do 2mm thick steel.

Regards Nick.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Forked thingy is for the change wheels.Redundant after fitting the QC box. It is not the metric conversion banjo. Noel.

[martin cross 1Participant @martincross1]

The base of this retracts against a spring. Again very well made.

[Author]

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