Boxford BUD Tool Post

Hi all,

I've replaced my ML7 with a Boxford BUD, and am wanting to fit a quick change tool post.

I've tried fitting the Myford/Dixon one I have (36mm high), but only a few of my tools sit low enough when fitted in the holder.

The bottom of the toolholder hits the top of the topslide and tool is still above centre height.

The distance from centre to top of top slide is 15mm.

I've had a think, and reckon best solution may be to take off the top slide and mount a QCTP on the cross slide.

I wondered if there are any alternatives, or if anyone had done this?

I'm not sure how I'd go about attaching a tool post to the cross slide - if I should try to turn up something to fit in the hole where the top slide sits, or just drill & tap holes.

My cross slide has only one T slot in it

Any help/advice most appreciated

Don't know if this photo helps - its my Boxford AUD.

Edited By Speedy Builder5 on 27/07/2021 06:52:28

Although not much direct help to you, your figure of 15mm topslide to centre height seems low. On my ME10 it's 1", ( 25mm).

I'd miss my top-slide, but if you do go for removing it, I'd turn up a "Gibraltar" type post that fits in the cross slide hole.

I’ve checked again, only 15mm from top of cross slide to centre. The ML7 had more, probably 20mm

The compound slide looks like a later mk3, is the lathe a late model? Is it possible a 5" centre height compound slide was put on a 4.5" lathe?

Can't give you a dimension off hand but that 15mm seems very odd to me. On my CUD I regularly use 16mm shank tools so the top of the compound to centre height must be well over 20mm. I wonder if the compound or maybe the whole cross slide on your lathe is from a 5" model.

William.

My AUD dims show 25 mm from top of slide to Cl of lathe axis. Seems like you have gained 10mm somewhere.

Also, height over the top of the "Vs" is 87mm (3 3/8) and max swing 4 1/2" over the bed (Less over the saddle).

Looking at your topside, the 10mm is gained as the "Vs" on top of the protractor base are thicker than my AUD. Compare the photos.

Edited By Speedy Builder5 on 27/07/2021 10:06:31

You might want to check the tailstock lines up with the pip on that bit of brass in the chuck as well.

I hate parts swappers who don't know nor care what they are doing.

That doesn’t look like a Boxford top slide to me, probably off of a bigger lathe.

looking at the LATHES web site, it looks like you have an ME10 topslide. Probably the tailstock as well !

Lathes web site ME10

if yours is metric, this may be of interest

nEAAOSwG9pg~Tl9">Metric Topslide

Edited By Speedy Builder5 on 27/07/2021 15:15:52

I agree with others that say you do not appear top have a Boxford compound. All Boxford compounds I have seen have a radius on the front. My AUD measures a tad over 25mm (1" I imagine) of clearance from spindle centre to top of compound.

regards

I have a Myford size QCTP on my Boxford and it is really too small as in 1/4 in low so sits on a plate. The advantage is that the holders are cheaper than proper Boxford sized one.
An additional problem we keep seeing with new lathe owners rushing out to get a QCTP is that they then think they have to use the largest tool bits they can squeeze into the gap. In fact a Boxford never needs to use larger than 1/4 in though you can sometimes fit 3/8in. Think small - it's cheaper.

Grotto, the first picture is an early Boxford, the second a mk3, have a look at the different compound slides, yours appears to be a mk3, is your lathe though?

Thanks guys,

The lathe is 4.5"

Tail stock lines up with centre.

Measurements are;

Bed to top of cross slide is just over 2"

Bed to top of top slide is just over 4".

Serial number is BUD 111 350265 (guessing this means a MK3?)

I bought it from someone clearing out their dad's house. He'd knew nothing about it other than it had been in the garage for decades. It was originally a school lathe.

Cross slide looks they same as on the MK3 Pete posted, although that one is either a 5", or the heights are different, as there seems to be enough room for the qctp.

Here's a pic of my top slide...

You'll need to take a picture showing your lathe, it's impossible to tell with those close up photos exactly what it is.

It’s a 4.5” Boxford BUD, maybe Mk3

That is a MK 11, not a MK 111, not that it makes much difference, and that appears to be the compound from a 5" lathe. Given the bed is from a MK 111, perhaps someone made this up from spare parts. Most of the the parts from the entire 3565 range are interchangable.

The compound from the 5" just has a bit more meat on the underside, otherwise it's the same.

Still struggeling to add a photo to the post so I've created an album showing 4'5" compound.

The correct Dicksons toolpost for both the 4.5" and 5" lathe is the 51mm high one.

Compounds come up on ebay all the time. Any will fit, just get the correct height one. Some of the dealers push their luck and ask silly money but one will come up at reasonable cost if you wait.

Thanks Gavlar,

I think you must be right.

I've discovered some of my tool holders allow me to hit centre height with some tools, so I can mount my myford/Dixon qctp and have 3 usable tools.

There’s no way I can use my parting tool so I'll make a rear mounting one to suit.

I tempted to have a try at making a qctp to fit on the cross slide, buy may have a go at making a mounting plate to fit between cross slide and myford/Dixon qctp first.

Hello, taking the risk of this being stupid, you might be interested in how I overcame this same issue some years ago.

I found the easiest answer was to machine off the under side of tools that were too high. Not always possible I know, but if the tools are soft enough it is possible, I seem to remember holding them suitably in a four jaw Chuck and not reducing the height of the business end at all, as that part isn’t in the way.

simple but effective.

regards