A simple tool holder project

Hi,

If you have a dickson style quick change tool post for your lathe, you may notice, like i have, that those M8 screws don't like holding 1/4" shanks very well. It's one of those niggling problems where they just grab the very edge of the tool and the holder clearly isn't mean't for smaller shanks, not a problem if all your tools are at least 1/2" square but i've got a big collection of 1/4" tools that are very difficult to set right in the holder, and especially for 3/16" shanks as well.

So i made this with that problem in mind. A holder for the holder if you will.

The shank is now held in place by some M6 grub screws, you don't need 4 as the shank isn't very long so 2 will do, one for the front and another towards the rear.

I made the fit for the slot just so, and it's very satisfying to use a tool holder made for the job when it slides in so neatly.

Made out of 25.4 square mild steel, cut to length, machined all faces and just cut the side relief for the bigger screws on the QCTP. You can't see it very well but i stamped the size on it too.

You can make these any size you like and i'm probably going to make a small collection of them for some other sizes or even round shanked boring tools.

If you're worried about machine rigidity, i found that the amount of force you can impart on the screws more than ofsets any possible movement and cuts just as well, just make sure you leave enough metal underneath the tool so that the slot doesn't warp. atleast 5 or 6 mm i would think should be enough.

Sometimes the best tools come about from simple ideas and it's definitely useful to me.

On a slightly different note i finished machining my first attempt on a pantograph i made. A small sign for my pinion mill.

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 15/05/2016 17:07:29

A neat solution to holding the smaller shank cutters. Repeating the M6 fixings at the other end would enhance the usefulness.

Why not just cut some packing strips for the side?

Mark

Thanks for the tip, Chris.

I did come to the same conclusion whilst making it, Mark.

But it just felt right to make a proper holder for the sheer amount of useful 1/4" cutters i have, i do the same thing for my bench vice, i don't use proper replacement jaws, i just use steel shims and within about 2 months of hard work i've completely worn them thin that they just split in two with a slight twist.

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 15/05/2016 20:06:14

I use sharp inside corner angle of appropriate thickness to both lift the tool and centralise it under the screw. Could cut down standard angle but mine are shop made by clamping two pieces of strip to an HSS tool blank and welding the outside corner.

Clive.