Help needed with tool post

Hi,

I recently bought a used Chester Craftsman lathe, it seems to be reasonable now that I have set it up how I like it, but the lathe arrived without the box spanner that tightens the screws that hold the tool in the 4 way tool post. I know that the studs/screws are 10mm AF so I know what size tool I need to buy but what are they actually called? and where would I need to look in order to buy one?

TIA

Ian

Ian Skeldon 2

Searching for Toolpost Spanner via Google comes up with this :-

**LINK**

https://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/Toolpost-spanner-3-8----10mm-Square-9324.html

which may do.

It has got a "proper" name which I used to find one maybe 20 years back but darned if I can remember it.

Clive

10mm radiator key

would bring up a few returns

.

I believe the “proper” name is Box Spanner : **LINK**

http://www.smithfrancistools.co.uk/box.htm

... or maybe Box Wrench [according to prference]

MichaelG.

.

P.S. __ Not entirely convinced by RDG’s dual-sizing ... but perhaps that’s just me.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 25/05/2021 08:15:57

Rotagrip have Bison and Dickson ones in 10mm

Toolpost Key, surely?

Michael

Looks like you could be right about box spanner being the correct name these days. However to me box spanner always meant the steel tube things with the ends pressed round into hexagons and a couple of cross holes through the middle for a (bent!) tommy bar.

Bought a set of Draper 28967 Metric ones in that style back in 1973 from a proper engineers tool shop at the motorway side of Orpington. These days they call it Tubular-Box-Spanner-Set-(6-Piece) but I'm pretty certain that back then they were just plain ordinary box spanners.

Key has the feel of being historically more correct for the style in question. Googling Toolpost Key as suggested by DiogenesII comes up with some results of similar forged hex head on stalk devices. Both T handle and bent shaft.

Clive

Gentlemen thank you, this forum never fails. Many years ago I thought they were known as tool post wrenches or tool post box spanners but I look on RDG and ARC and couldn't find anything, hence my question, I will go away and get one ordered.

Many thanks for your help,

Ian

I never knew what thread those screws were !!

But then, I only have my Craftsman lathe about 20 years !!!

I bought a very cheap box of sockets on ebay simply because it had a couple of double square sockets in it. They were for 8 and 10mm heads. The other way would be to just buy some SHCS of the right length and diameter, and use a hex key.

How do you find your Craftsman in use, by that I mean that mine arrived with the operating handle needing to be pushed down for normal spindle running (anti-clockwise), I changed the wiring over so that lifting the lever up now provides AC rotation. I also find the cross slide function odd, if I tighten the gib so that I can only just move it it moves so freely with the leadscrew, I don't want to over tighten it and induce wear but it does seem slack in operation.

Any hints tips or advice gratefully received.

Ian