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.