Topslide question

just get a very shallow angle centre punch and put in the slot and tap with Birmingham screwdriver

Where can I buy a Birmingham Screwdriver?

Do they come in different sizes?

Don't want a 7 lb one

Howard

Funny how opinions vary. After owning my lathe for 20 years or more I bought a set of quick change tool holders and immediately wished I had bought them 20 years earlier. They avoided the awfull fag of finding and adjusting packing to get tools to centre height every time a tool is changed. They also allow you to continually swap tools around on repetition work. Regarding removing the reluctant screw, I've had success with hammer and small chisel used to drive the screwhead round first on one end of the slot followed by the other.

if you don't want a 7lb one you know what it is!!

Would strongly disagree with you there. It's made life a lot easier in a variety of ways. But if you don't like them, you keep going whichever way you prefer. I wish I'd got one years ago.

How about doing it the proper engineering way - not the fitter way, with a clumsy hammer and chisel?

Drill out the core of the screw head. Job likely done. The screw is (or should be) scrap, anyway. If the threaded section is any problem, drilling carefully/accurately with left handed drills will solve that problem.

As regards the QCTP, they are good for what they are, but not as rigid as a 4 way tool post. The original lantern type were even better, but replaced, long ago, by more ‘convenient’ tool holding systems.

OK, I have one on my lathe, but I am quite aware of the limitations and extra care needed in some circumstances. Many, out there, think they are the holy grail of tool cutter holder. They are not in a great number of cases - particularly old, worn, flimsy lathes operated by those that don’t know any better.

Vanity! All is vanity! Even QCTPs.

Real engineers faff around with bits of hacksaw blade to get their lathe tools on centre height - apparently.

I didn't realise that my QCTP was an indication of a character defect. Add that one to a long list.

In which case sod being a real engineer. I'll just be the kind that does this for fun.

As I only have one QCTP does that mean I only have one character defect? - or is it the number of holders that indicate the number of character defects?

I don't use hacksaw blades as packing on the rare occasions I don't use the QCTP - I use strips of aluminium cut from empty beer cans - and in fact I am about to restock by disposing of the contents of a couple right now!

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 12/07/2022 19:01:37

I had a similar issue when removing that same piece off my lathe. I tool the cross slide off, removed the end plate and lead screw, and gib. I placed the casting on a piece of Ali that I had, and hit the screws with a long punch and ballpein hammer. 2 of the screws undid straight away. The one that had rolled over like yours didn't. So I found an old screw driver, reground the tip to fit as well as it could . Then put the molly grips onto the shaft, and then put pressure on the screw to undo it, and hit the end with a hammer at the same time. So like a poor mans impact driver. It only took one hit and it un done easily after that. I replace the block with a Dickson holder, and have never regretted the move. I now have lots of tool holders and tools all set to be used. Only wish now that i had bought a bunch of holders when they were cheap. lol