ML7 (S7?) saddle clamp hack

I was unhappy with the need to scrabble for a spanner every time I wanted to clam the saddle. I balked at paying ca £20 for an after market addon so after some serendipidy I came across this for £2.45 on EB

Its a 15cm die holder and I simply cut off one of the legs to suit as I hope you can see. It only needs quarter turn to lock

Hope this helps other impecunious pensioners

I might even put a little black ball on the end for that professional shine

OBTW as I can already hear the FES rumbling, the clamp is shown in loose position, when fully tightened its at the 6 o clock position and unlikely to foul the tail stock

Edited By brian jones 11 on 13/08/2021 10:37:58

Edited By brian jones 11 on 13/08/2021 10:50:16

You bought it? No scrap steel llaying around? Perhaps an old or unused die holder?

I might use one of - but a cheaper one - of THESE  .

Edited By not done it yet on 13/08/2021 11:15:28

been there done that, those machine handles are £9 ex uk and are M8 thread, you have to make a new clamp nut and drill out the saddle, when i checked they were all sold out

still for those with time to spare on this earth, what ever floats your boat

My tip took 5 mins to fit

this is the competition btw

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184863410085?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&toolid=10001

Edited By brian jones 11 on 13/08/2021 11:45:46

Edited By brian jones 11 on 13/08/2021 11:46:23

I made this one. Then got ambitious & made some more. Lockdown blues stuff.

Steve

I replaced my screw/bolt with a countersunk washer and socket screw so that I can get at the cross slide clamp screw when necessary:

The S7 block type cross slide gibs were mentioned in another post; I have found it helpful to install a clamping grub screw in line with the centre of each even though the front one is often hard to get at.

so are you offering these for sale to members ? How much inc pnp mainland uk

they look neat btw

ega when I did that it always filled up with swarf

Roy

Not if you leave the allen key in situ.🙂

True, but as I regularly use a shopvac to clean up the swarf it's not a problem in practice and, as NDIY says, I could leave the key in place if it were.

An additional advantage of a key/handle/spanner of some kind is that it gives an indication of whether the saddle is locked or not.

Well said guys, have you noticed there are those who see life as if looking through a part consumed pint of beer - HALF EMPTY

I was taught, about 75 years ago, at technical college that all loose tools ie. chuck keys, spanners, steel rules calipers etc had to be placed in the drip tray of both lathes and milling machines before switching on

Hence I get swarf in Allen screw heads

Roy

With the lathe, it should be easy enough to tap a bit of bar to match the clamp screw and to make a handle and a tapping to take it. If you are really ambitious,turn up a nice ball to go on the end of the handle!

All from material waiting to "Come in handy", and only a short time to make, cost? Minimal

Satisfaction? Great

Howard

Sorry Brian. That was the original idea. But with Covid & our local post office closing down they just got shoved out of the way.

I have quite a bit of stuff to sell. But just must be lazy. Or maybe waiting till i am skint & then do a bumper ebay sell. Sorry. If you lived anywhere near Leeds you could come & take one. From memory the handles were £5 odd each

The reason i remade the grip pad was i made them metric. Could not get any imperial ratchet handles. Tried rethreading one but not too good . So made the complete things.

Steve.

I feel mean now. Send me a P.m with your address & will see if i have a Jiffy bag somewhere.

I can pop that in the Postbox.

Steve.

Edited By Steviegtr on 13/08/2021 15:56:19

Well come on Myfordians rescue this initiative, someone make an offer to buy all 6 add pnp £2.45 large letter to go through post box looks like its already in a suitable box

check weight and size ea

fyi large letter 350 x 250 x 25mm <750g

Check your inbox Brian.

Steve.

Edited By Steviegtr on 13/08/2021 17:11:45

msg sent, but the in box doesnt show it as msg read?

Hi Brian. You only get message read once the respondant has opened it. Anyway packet on it's way.

Steve.