Newbie with Soba parting tool question

Hi,

This is my first post on here. I have a Myford S7 Mk1 which I have been playing with for a few months. I have already got some great advice from this site but I have hopefully a simple question.

I recently bought a clamp type parting tool from Chronos that states it is compatible with a Myford like this one **LINK**

I can't get the cutting edge to centre height. I have a dixon type toolpost and it sits maybe 2mm too high in the lowest position. Also in a (non genuine) rear toolpost it is in the wrong position. Has anyone got one of these and experienced similar issues? TIA

Matt

I have a similar parting tool - just bought from RDG.

It has a 9mm shank - and I had to make some packing to get the centre height correct - I have a home made single toolpost arrangement that merely clamps the tool to the compound slide. I just milled off some 3mm aluminium to make it the correct height.

I guess that doesn't help you too much, if you need it lower then perhaps mill off 2mm off the bottom of the shank?

Matt,

Can't help you on that specific tool I'm afraid. For many years I struggled with parting tools of that general type - they worked, but it was always a slightly nerve-racking experience with steel of any size. Then I bought one of these **LINK** and it was a revelation, an order of magnitude better than any other I have tried. It works well because it curls the swarf into a shape narrower than the groove being made. I bought it after seeing a demo at the Myford factory of someone parting off under power feed at a non-backgear medium speed; magic! Treat yourself.

Oh, and I can confirm that it fits in my Dickson toolholder system (on a S7) with no problems.

David

I've got that exact same one as David and can vouch that it's probably the best type out there too.

The Greenwood Tools parting system is good, as is the one from JB Tools and I find them roughly equal in their capabilities. However, the cost of the inserts from Greenwood Tools is high in my opinion, so I source from either JB Tools or from here

Martin.

Thanks for the recommendation for the parting tool. David, I take it from your post that you part off from the front then? I have quite a long list of bits I still need to get but I have stuck this one on my list and will take a mil or so off the shank as suggested to see if I can get it to fit in the meantime. My main issue was it is advertised as suitable for the Myford but I can't see how it would fit.

I also have a short bit of HSS I got already ground that my uncle gave me and I have had good results from the rear toolpost but it is quite short and can only part about 3/4". One thing I found was that it pays not to be timid, and seemed to work better when I kept the feed going rather than hesitating.

Matt,

Yes, I use it mounted at the front; I never really subscribed to the rear toolpost thing. You are right not to hesitate; like all tools, they work best when actually cutting, and in fact letting them rub is a major cause of blunting the tool. I find dripping a little neat cutting oil every 10 seconds or so (for steel) is quite enough

David