Ian 2,417 #1 Posted June 9, 2021 Hi all, sorry for the lack of posts from me in...ooooo... quite a while! Life changed a great deal when Covid appeared and my Wife started working from home.... Spare time is something that is very very hard to come by! That's not to say I have not been busy in my little Workshack, it's finding Workshack time and the time to post anything anywhere that's been the problem.... Sooooo.. With my new Workshack finally (well, almost as they are never finished) and the lathe re-power done (I will update the Re-power thread), it was time to make something that my Southbend lathe has needed in a long time.. Yep a new tool holder that can hold more than one cutting tool at a time The said lathe in question.. To make the TH I needed three different size lumps of steel.. Here's the base part being cut to size. The middle part will be cut from this odd lump of steel that was coated in clear rubber, then bolted to a Volvo bulkhead! No idea what it did in the Volvo! The third and top bit will have to be cut from this rather big slab! While the middle part was being cut roughly to size.. It was filmed on an old phone that was rubber banded to a tripod! My faithful video camera had snuffed it you see.. The middle part being turned to size.. As my hands are not working that well these days the Power Crossfeed thingy I build has come in very handy and saved lots of hand ache.. The middle part done.. And plonked on the base. 2 Alan and Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #2 Posted June 9, 2021 Now for a errr... Interesting challenge.. How to cut a smallish square from that big slab! The best and quietest way I could think of was a bit "iffy", but it worked.. That looks very close!! But it clears, just.. Lot's of cutting and turning later, all three parts are the right size. A quick look at my plans... Or should that be rough scribble? And it was time to fix all three parts together... A single bolt kept it all in check.. So I could mark out and start drilling holes to put some bolts through. Here's the top drilled out.. And the base... A bit of countersinking was needed.. So the bolt heads would sit flush. More to follow later including a rather well edited if rather long video... Tune back for more later.. 5 Stormin, nigel, Alan and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anglo Traction 1,016 #3 Posted June 9, 2021 Good to see you back postin Ian!. Should help to stem the flow of tumbleweed and the sound of howling wind across the forum. Good work there. A much larger form of 4 way tool post than I have on my old myford, but they're sooo handy. Keep 'em coming. Regards 1 Ian reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #4 Posted June 9, 2021 8 minutes ago, Anglo Traction said: Good to see you back postin Ian!. Should help to stem the flow of tumbleweed and the sound of howling wind across the forum. Good work there. A much larger form of 4 way tool post than I have on my old myford, but they're sooo handy. Keep 'em coming. Regards Thanks Richard, it's good to be posting again, it's been far too long... Nigel mentioned yesterday that it's been a bit quiet on here, something about that strange place that's Farcebook! I should of built this tool holder a long time ago, it's such a handy thing So where was I? Oh yes.. about here. With both top and bottom bit's drilled and countersunk.... It was time to cut some threads in the middle section.. Top bolted down.. As was the base.. Before the bolts were welded in, I countersunk the holes a bit wider so I could get a good weld all around the bolt heads. A quick check to see how the cutting tools looked... Quite happy with that. A nice sturdy bolt was cut down and welded to a small square of steel, it will come in handy for clamping the holder to the carriage. In this pic you can also see the "block" has had the bolts welded up and turned flush on the lathe. The bolt with the big square head fit's like so.. The original "1 tool" tool holder won't be in use for much longer.. A quick test fit, me likey The big question was........... Had I got my measurements right and did the tip of a cutting tool end up in the right place???? Yep, that will do nicely 2 Stormin and Alan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #5 Posted June 9, 2021 So, having created an odd shaped lump of metal with a hole through it, a few more holes were needed... Marking the holes out.. Drilled.. The with the aid of one of these.. I was able to fill the holes with bolts Me likey even more Next on the hit list was to make a handle so the holder could be clamped down tight.. Having a nut to fit the big bolt was handy, but a nut alone wasn't enough.. So in the lathe went a random "useful" bit of steel which was turned down and bored out.. To fit the nut most of the way in but still give plenty of gap to weld the nut on. A bit of weldy sparkly action.. Back in the lathe to turn the welds down. Chop the end off.. The cut a taper on the cut off end. 1 Alan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #6 Posted June 9, 2021 Grab a lump of ally.. Bung it in the lathe and face the end off. A bit of a trim down the side. More metal removed, the black pen stuff was to help me get the right shape.. Or near enough.. Almost there now.. Parted off. Then finished off... HHmmmm.. Shiny To fit the knob thingy I had to drill yet another hole.. Tap a thread in it. Ta Daaa... Almost.. Not sure about the thread showing.. A bit of ally tube soon had the looks sorted.. And finally fit the finished tool holder to the lathe.. I hope you all have enjoyed this little build, it was quite fun to make Of course..... This build comes with a video 3 1 Alan, ranger, expeatfarmer and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan 1,273 #7 Posted June 9, 2021 Good to see you back Ian. Now we need to see more of your crazy builds. 1 Ian reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #8 Posted June 10, 2021 Brilliant job, Ian. And good to hear from you. 2 expeatfarmer and Ian reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayp 46 #9 Posted June 13, 2021 I wished I hadn't watched - it just made me even more envious of your skill. 1 Ian reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #10 Posted June 16, 2021 On 6/9/2021 at 11:23 PM, Alan said: Good to see you back Ian. Now we need to see more of your crazy builds. Thanks Alan, it's good to be back.. I'm not sure how crazy my builds will be, only smaller stuff these days.. But still fun to make On 6/10/2021 at 8:17 AM, Stormin said: Brilliant job, Ian. And good to hear from you. Thanks Norm, yeah it has been a while, life has/had been on hold since Covid popped up! On 6/13/2021 at 12:27 PM, Rayp said: I wished I hadn't watched - it just made me even more envious of your skill. Hi Ray, don't be envious, have a go yourself.. I'm self taught, no training what so ever... Liking a challenge helps as well 1 Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
