Centre-Height Gauge in 5 minutes

I'm not sure if this even deserves a separate thread. For a long time I wanted to make a height gauge. Without one it was time consuming to adjust every time the tool height. I kept putting it off because it didn't looked like a very interesting project. But it seems that it's not always bad to keep putting things off. Today it occurred to me to do this:

It took only a few minutes to use the vise to insert a piece of soft aluminum together with a depth gauge into that knob. It is very solid and it works well. The two horizontal arms are at exactly the same height. Being lazy can take you to the simplest solution

Edited By Sonic Escape on 06/08/2023 20:31:54

I must be even lazier ~

I've never felt the need to make one.

I just use a dead center in the tailstock or more usually a small drill in the tailstock drill chuck. Close enough, Or you could do same using the headstock if you suspect your tailstock's way above center height.

I did the same. But lately I did a lot of turning between centers. I had to remove the workpiece to check the live center height.

I just use a digital height gauge set to the measurements I took from the cross-slide and bed ways when I got the lathe. Those are on a sticker near the headstock.

It's not worth spending any more time than that on something I might use once a year.

I like it. Depending on circumstances I use 3 methods:

1. Nipping a strip against a rod held in the chuck (when the rod is going to be turned)
2. Setting against a rod turned to a cone held in the chuck (for accuracy)
3. Setting against a column carefully turned to height that stands on the ways. (for accuracy when a job is already in the chuck and a tool needs setting.)

Sonic's idea is an improved column. Better because my column is easily knocked over and last time it fell on the floor the reference edge was damaged. Sonic's version has a nice base, is shorter because it reaches over from the cross-slide, and can be reset after accidents.

Dave

Oh dear! That old chestnut again! Here's what I do. First of all, I normally use my QCTP for which all of the toolholders are already set to centre height and locked by the top screw supplied with each holder. So fitting a tool and its holder automatically gets me spot on or very near as what matters. Myford OEM clamp, you can get a visually rough idea. When facing the end of the work, if it is spot on or slightly high, then tool will leave no spare metal in the centre. If there is a tiny pip of metal then I adjust the tool up by trial and error til it wipes out the pip. Quick and easy. Just need a thin piece of packing like a thin lid off a tin of sardines or mackerel fillets. Same material is good for trapping against the side of the work by the tool. If it's spot on, metal strip will be vertical but if not, adjust tool up or down as indicated. That's all I do, never bothered with centre height finders of any sort other than the simple means as above. Just store tool with it's packing til next time.

John

Edited By DMB on 07/08/2023 08:28:00

Sonic. Thanks for this neat idea. I have an old rusty depth gauge that I can hardly use as the graduations are pitted and I have an identical usable one. But I hate to throw the old one away so this is a great use for it. I also probably have a ropey flywheel or something too for the base.

That’s the spirit, Bazyle

MichaelG.