Member postings for Colin Creed

Hi Graham,

That's another set of terrific modifications you've done,

I'm curious to know if you'd ever considered back-filling the inner voids within the Tailstock body with something like a metallised epoxy (JB Weld, Devcon, etc)..?

As you'd likely know, my Proxxon PD 250/E has so many similarities to your C5, its Tailstock design & construction being just one.

In use with the 10mm Rohm Chuck, my Tailstock is "nose-heavy" when sliding it along the bed until it's locked down & so I'd contemplated about "adding weight" into the rear cavity portions..?

Now having almost completed building your "Lever Action" attachment for my own Tailstock, I'm again wondering if filling those rear voids might help?

Would appreciate your thoughts on whether it's a good or bad idea?

regards Colin

Hi Graham & Michael,

No prob's, more than happy to keep this whole discussion open.

So Graham, with the various aluminium components, is there a specific grade you'd recommend using for this application?

It's most likely I'd be buying short drops coming off flat bar, which typically is 6060-T5 & based on using the 4mm Pins, I'm guessing these flat pieces would need to be about 8mm finished thickness?

Already had to buy a 300mm length of EN1A-PB out of the UK for the Barrel extension, as currently buying short drops over here of any suitable steel is almost impossible.

(However if I wanted full lengths then I can pretty much buy anything)

regards Colin

Hi Graham,

Thank you once again, your detailed information is an immense help to me on this project.

Knowing now that you've used aluminium for those rectangular pieces, it simplifies things greatly as I'll be milling them on my Proxxon FF 230 Mill.

I believe Proxxon has used the same M8 x 1 LH thread on their Barrel too, which helps as I can now dimensionally gauge & scale various items between the Proxxon & Emco.

The one major difference between our Tailstocks is that Proxxon chose to use a MT1 "short" version, which is akin to a B12 taper for Drill Chucks.

Being that I'm in Australia & having those DIN numbers for the Pins, it shouldn't be too hard to find something equivalent here or as you suggest, simply make some from silver steel.

I greatly appreciate all of your input to my questions within this thread but please let me know if you'd rather them as a PM instead.

regards Colin

Hi Graham,

Thank you greatly for responding with these photos & their accompanying text.

Seeing your mounting arrangement onto the original Vee Groove is very helpful, as the Proxxon uses an almost identical arrangement for mounting their Handwheel & Feedscrew.

As you've previously made these as a commercial product, may I ask what material choices you settled on for making your own personal one?

I'm assuming the rear most "silver" section which the Handle attaches to, is a block of aluminium?

I gather that central collar with the large grub screw is of steel & is acting as an adjustable stop?

Are the various "black" components also steel which has been given a Black Oxide coating?

And for each of those "pinned" hinge points, are they hardened Pins or are those joints bushed with a bronze material?

Sorry for all the questions but not being an Engineer nor Machinist, I'm trying my best to pre-empt what my possible needs will be.

regards Colin

Hi Graham,

Without wanting to derail your thread, I'm very interested in knowing more about your Tailstock "Lever Attachment", as I'm keen to make one for my own Proxxon Lathe.

I recently read an old MEW (issue 10) that provided a detailed "Lever Conversion" for a Compact 5, although that one was done as a vertical attachment.

As you've chose to do yours as a horizontal version, I'm curious to know if that's because it's a better choice in usage..?

Or was this mounting chosen more as being "prototypical", based on how larger Lathes would have theirs attached?

My Proxxon PD 250/E appears to be very similar to the Compact 5, at least in its basic form & also their Tailstock construction & materials.

As both the old MEW article & yourself suggest, I've already purchased a separate Tailstock body & related parts from Proxxon, in preparation of doing the conversion.

Any insight that you might be able to provide, would be gratefully appreciated.

regards Colin

Hi Paul,

I've got the Proxxon FF 230 Mill which also has collets ranging from 2.35mm - 10mm

The 2.35mm (3/32" collet is used for holding the "shanked drills & burrs" (HSS & Carbide) used within the Jewellery Trade.

Check out any of the Jewellery Suppliers for a wide range of shapes & sizes.

Having the smaller diameter drills (0.5mm to 1.5mm) on a 2.35mm shank is very handy for setups & rigidity but can pose a problem when needing a deeper reach hole.

The 3.2mm (1/8" collet is used for holding the various drills & burrs used in the Dremel style tools.

Both the 4mm & 6mm sizes are readily available as endmills in HSS or Carbide, your cheapest options being eBay suppliers from China.

HTH, Colin