Choices..Need guidance

Good Evening chaps. I have sold my old lathe and bought a chinese 10x22 so it is very similar to Warco 250. With it I got the standard 4 way tool post. Have been thinking about these quick change tool posts that everyone seems to buy and it is tempting to buy one. Contacted RDG and they suggested the Myford size T37, but that seems very small? I have come to these options and I am curious which of these option would you go for and why?

1.T51 Boxford size Dixon type QCTP from RDG

2: T37 Myford size Dixon QCTP from RDG

3: 250-111 wedge style QCTP from Arceurotrade

4: Make a couple of 4 way tool posts and keep tools permantent in them and just change the tool post.

I have used a 4 way for years, but changed to QCTP. - I now rarely use the 4 way. The QCTP is more expensive and when you buy it, you need to buy some extra holders as its a devil to get holders that fit the QCTP several years down the line.

If a supplier says T37, order that on the proviso that if it doesn't fit, you can return / exchange for a different one / money back.

Bob

If the Cross Slide has T slots, you could make a 4 way rear toolpost.

( I don't have space to store a load of QCTP holders ).

In this way you can have 6 tools available. (My set up gives me

FRONT, Rougher, Tangential Turning Tool, and Boring bar

REAR Front chamfer, Parting tool, and Rear chamfer

See my Albums for pictures of "4 Way Indexing Rear Toolpost" for my set up.

When very occasionally needed, it is usually the boring bar which is removed to make a slot for a when a Clamp type Knurling.tool, or a radius turning attachment .

Howard

I have a myford size Dickson on my WM250 and it's just the right size.

If I was starting from scratch, I would go with the wedge type, mainly because it's easier to build tools(like a powered spindle, slotting tool etc) that fit directly onto the post.

Not me! As for options it'd be none of them. I use a single 4-way toolpost. Has indexing and no overhang. Works fine for me and is way cheaper. allowing me to spend my cash on more useful accessories. Like high speed threading - that really does save time.

Andrew

A Myford size is ok for a Boxford 4 1/2 in lathe (9in swing) if you pack up the block 3/16" but for a 10" lathe I would suggest a Boxford sized one despite all the holders then being more expensive, And as suggested above the wedge type rather than piston or Dickson is the current best option.

+1 for nothing wrong with a good old 4 way, you can even have interchangeable 4way blocks.

Edited By Bazyle on 09/08/2022 18:49:56

I run a myford size one on my 11x28 (280 size) machine which sits on a 6mm packer as I had the post and holders on a previous smaller lathe so assuming the 250 has a bit less height from topslide to ctr height should be OK

Though Warco suggest a 50mm high post for the WM250 machine.

Edited By JasonB on 09/08/2022 19:03:18

Thing to be sure of is the size of the QCTP allows it to be fitted to the saddle and then that any tool put in it can be adjusted to centre height. In other words don't fit a giant tool-post to a tiny lathe or vice versa! Journeyman's website may be helpful.

I don't recommend option 4! Swapping the whole tool-post would be pretty clumsy I think. It's easier to pre-shim tools to height and swap them as needed. I've thought of super-gluing the correct shims to all my carbide insert holders but decided it's not worth the effort. A QCTP advantage is HSS tools can be resharpened and reset to height in the cartridge very quickly : tools in a 4-way have to be removed and then re-shimmed because sharpening can move the tip. ,

Depends on what the lathe is used for, but I decided against a QCTP, partly because I mostly use carbide inserts, where the tip position doesn't move when an insert is changed. Tool changing on a 4-way doesn't take long enough to annoy me and QCTPs cost a fair whack of money that I preferred to spend on other toys. Putting a DRO on the lathe for example. Or buying metal quickly before the prices go up again!

I rarely put more than two tools in my 4-way because sticky-out tools in all positions often get in the way or create a medieval weapon system for spiking unwary hands. However, I find the 4-way a good compromise and it has the advantage of being stiffer than a QCTP, not that QCTP owners admit to having floppy tools. Perhaps they're too embarrassed!

Dave

Thanks for all the comments chaps. I have not made my mind up yet so will just continue to use the 4 way tool post for now. But is the wedge style so much superior than the piston, dickson type? Anyway my first project is to make a new idler wheel for the belt tensioner. Noticed it don't make noise on the three lowest speeds, but the three highest it rattles and makes alot of noise. So I changed the bearings, but that did not help. Also it fits loose in the swinging bracket so will make a new one. This time with a nylon locking nut at the back instead of a locking ring and with highest quality bearings. Added a photo on how it looks like.

I feel it is a bit shitty since it is a new lathe, but then again it is chinese so it is a project in it is own I guess. Added the four bolt on the compound slide since the original two bolts were soft and the threads stripped out. Otherwise it seems fine and run true and I dont regret selling the other old lathe I restored since it took up too much space. Though I am a bit jealous of all the nice Myfords and Boxfords I have seem online . Hope my English is good enough since it is not my native language. All the best from Norway.

Photo of the old and new under.

Edited By PipesandStuff on 20/08/2022 13:21:58

A QCTP is good for HSS, otherwise a matched set of insert holders give only one shim to make for all three in the existing 4 way. The speed advantage is therefore irrelevant and the height adjustment for HSS is the only thing left worth having.

By far the best quick change tool holder system is the Multiquick type. Infinite postion and quick to postion.

A good system of tool holders for round tooling or square type shanks. Perhhaps type 'O' or 'OO' for the new lathe.

don't like my QCTP. tool holder tends to work loose in heavy cuts and the whole thing moves around the center fixing post . only use it for light work now and drilled a hole opposite the tool fixing positions to fit a locating pin [ drops into the tee slot the tool post fixes to ]

QCTP holders can work loose especially if they are poorly made which a lot of them are these days.

Tony

They have their uses, particularly for users of hss tooling, as there should not be any bother with shimming after every sharpening to get on centre height. We have avoided QCTP's at the museum, all our tooling is indexable, holders are milled down to centre height, or boxed with custom made shims for smaller boring bars. Having a choice of over 50 tools would be rather expensive and space consuming if QCTP's were used.