Myford lathe tools

What is the correct size for the shanks for Myford lathe turning tools. Does it vary per model? I am interested in Super 7 tools and wish to purchase a set of indexable type tools and don't want to buy the wrong size. (I can't measure the lathe as it is still in bits !!)

Mike.

Hi Mike,

I use 5/16 shanks with the S7 (Dickson tool post).

keep safe, Alain

Mike,

10mm or 3/8" tools are usually recommended but with a Dickson toolpost I have had problems in not being able to get the tip low enough. Buying indexible tools is a bit of a minefield, with metric or imperial equivalents being a bit nominal. Milling the base off a toughened tool, even a far east one, is no fun! Like Alain, I would go for 8mm or 5/16" to be on the safe side - they will be plenty stiff enough provided you do not have excessive overhang.

HTH

Rod

Mike , I have had my S7 for nearly 40 years and use a dickson tool post, I would strongly recommend 3/8 or 10mm shanks. That is what I use and no problems with height, the stiffer the tool the better results you will get..

Also worth getting a couple of the Dickson "Piddington style" extended tool holders to use when supporting work with the tailstock centre.

I also recently purchased a tipped parting tool but I do prefer the original Dickson one with Eclipse HSS tool bit --- mainly due to the excessive overhang created due to the design of the tipped one I purchased [Glanze] -- not knocking Glanze I think their other tools are very good and probably this design is OK on larger machines. Might re-jig it with a dedicated holder when I get round to it !!!

Mike,

This subject was discussed extensively in this thread*:

**LINK**

In brief, you should have no trouble with 3/8" (9.5 mm) tool shanks. I find no problem with 10 mm ones, but the spare room below the holder is vanishingly small, and some people find they just can't quite get the tool low enough.

David

*This shows the benefits of choosing a useful informative title when you start a new thread!

Edited By David Littlewood on 20/08/2012 12:37:32

Well, I have two SCLCR 10mm tools( left and right handed) that will not bring the tip low enough on a Myford Dickson toolpost with the original Myford Dickson holder on my S7. I guess it is to do with the the thickness of the tip and the way it sits in the holder - both tips are above the plane of the tool top surface. This would not be an issue with a ground 10mm/3/8" HSS tool.

Rod

Thanks for the help on this subject. I will now know what to buy.

Mike.

Well I am now totally confused !!

Myford are selling lathe tools for the Super 7 and they list them with 1/2" shank.

Is Myford wrong?

Mike.

You can use 1/2" shank tools, but not with a Dickson type of toolholder.

They are commonly used with a Myford toolboat for setting to centre height.

Martin.

No point in using a Dickson, or other QC system, with indexable carbide tip tooling. If the set is of half decent or better quality the cutting edges will be at the same height over the shank base for all holders so the "easy" height setting of a QC system is wasted. Just make a suitable number of two slot blocks with the correct base thickness and load up. 3 piece screw'n glue construction from stock sizes material works fine, just make sure that the top is thick enough not to bend when the tools are clamped in. Make the block narrow enough that the bottom is fully supported by the top-slide. If you are feeling creative devise some sort of loosen and quick release for the top clamp nut but spinning off a few turns with a fixed handle on the nut is no great bother when it comes to swopping blocks.

Do buy ISO standard tip holders to give a choice of readily available high quality tips. Some of the cheaper offerings take unique sizes and are, often, pretty pants at the cutting end of things to. Allegedly there are some sets out there for which replacement tips cannot be found at all.

On a small machine Dickson and other QC systems can be an unmitigated nuisance. The side offset means the tool has to divine its support at considerable distance and the extra joints reduce the stiffness. None of the small machines has stiffness to spare at the best of times. The large block gets in the way too so excess tool overhang is often essential for tail-stock poppet clearance.

Clive

Myford went bust 2 years ago.

Hi Gents

I'm currently running two ML10s both using Dixon quick change tool posts and 1/2", 3/8" 12mm and 10mm tools of index and cobalt steels I simply skimmed the topslides under the tool post and solved all tooling issues in one go, although I could have skimmed a small section under tool holders at 45º to save on topslide metals.

Springbok Myford is now under RDG Tools ownership

Hi There

Just before they went under, Myford were considering a new top slide for the ML10.

The tool post stud was going to be offset so that the quick change tool posts would miss the top slide.

regards david