Clarkson Tool and Cutter Grinder

This topic has 27 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 15 March 2026 at 21:33 by Mark Davison 1.

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18 February 2026 at 22:31 #838338
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
Hi All,

Does anybody know what the standard thread is that is used for the main cross slide.

I’ve been given one and it appears the thread is the wrong hand! Turning the handle clockwise is traversing the table toward the user??

Very odd!
Advert

19 February 2026 at 07:25 #838365
renardiere7
Participant
@renardiere7
I’m pretty sure mine is a left hand thread, at least I hope it is as I recently obtained a LH tap to make up a new nut. I’ll check after breakfast.
19 February 2026 at 08:01 #838368
Tony Pratt 1
Participant
@tonypratt1
No idea of the thread but is this a real problem?

Tony
19 February 2026 at 08:12 #838372
John MC
Participant
@johnmc39344
My Clarkson T and C grinder was well worn, the previous owner replaced the standard leadscrew, 5/8″ x 14 LH, with an M16 x 2 RH screw. Inconvenient, caused a few problems being the wrong hand.

I replaced it with an M10 x 2 Trapezoidal (Acme) LH screw and nut bought from either Temu or Aliexpress, forgotten which, for a fiver, the correct hand, no more mistakes!

The first photo shows the original LH screw (on the left) and the RH metric replacement. The second photo shows the correct handed metric replacement, before fitting a graduated dial. Also a modified support for the lead screw, part of the attempt to make the machine foot print more compact.
19 February 2026 at 09:59 #838378
Clive Foster
Participant
@clivefoster55965
John

Thanks for the details of Clarkson feeds screw size and the suggestion of an M10 replacement.

Mine is floppy enough for replacement being desirable when round-tuit supply is sufficient.

I guess the standard is 5/8 BSF but M10 x 2 means that some form of useful dial is possible. The pair are cheaper than a BSF tap too.

Clive
19 February 2026 at 11:01 #838393
Julie Ann
Participant
@julieann
The cross slide feedscrew on my Clarkson T&C grinder, which I have no reason to believe is not original, is definitely left hand.

Julie
19 February 2026 at 11:17 #838396
peak4
Participant
@peak4
Just been out to check my spare Mk1 table, with 100 divisions on the handle dial.
0.619″ diameter 10tpi left hand.
My 55° thread gauge seems to fit the profile nicely.

Bill
19 February 2026 at 11:22 #838400
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
On 19 February 2026 at 08:01 Tony Pratt 1 Said:

No idea of the thread but is this a real problem?

Tony

That would be 👍
19 February 2026 at 11:27 #838403
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
On 19 February 2026 at 09:59 Clive Foster Said:

John

Thanks for the details of Clarkson feeds screw size and the suggestion of an M10 replacement.

Mine is floppy enough for replacement being desirable when round-tuit supply is sufficient.

I guess the standard is 5/8 BSF but M10 x 2 means that some form of useful dial is possible. The pair are cheaper than a BSF tap too.

Clive

Concerning the original thread being 5\8 x 14 tpi.

That would further confuse the issue.

I’m sure the dial reads 100 thou per rev…..which would point to a 10 tpi thread!

The plot thickens!!

I’m at work at the moment so I can’t check the dial.

I’ll get back to you later

👍
19 February 2026 at 11:29 #838406
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
Double post
19 February 2026 at 11:41 #838409
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
On 19 February 2026 at 11:17 peak4 Said:

Just been out to check my spare Mk1 table, with 100 divisions on the handle dial.
0.619″ diameter 10tpi left hand.
My 55° thread gauge seems to fit the profile nicely.

Bill

Ahhhh.

I think that would be what I’ve got but the thread has been cut the wrong hand!

Obviously not an original leadscrew and nut in my machine!
19 February 2026 at 11:42 #838410
Julie Ann
Participant
@julieann
I don’t have a dial on the handle on my Mk1 Clarkson and the thread is clearly finer than 10tpi.

Just checked and a 14tpi Whitworth gauge is a perfect fit.

Julie
19 February 2026 at 11:46 #838412
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
On 19 February 2026 at 11:01 Julie Ann Said:

The cross slide feedscrew on my Clarkson T&C grinder, which I have no reason to believe is not original, is definitely left hand.

Julie

👍

Thanks Julie
19 February 2026 at 11:52 #838418
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
On 19 February 2026 at 11:42 Julie Ann Said:

I don’t have a dial on the handle on my Mk1 Clarkson and the thread is clearly finer than 10tpi.

Just checked and a 14tpi Whitworth gauge is a perfect fit.

Julie

Maybe Clarkson changed the thread with the later Mk1 machines with dials??
19 February 2026 at 12:30 #838423
John MC
Participant
@johnmc39344
On 19 February 2026 at 11:52 fishy-steve Said:

On 19 February 2026 at 11:42 Julie Ann Said:

I don’t have a dial on the handle on my Mk1 Clarkson and the thread is clearly finer than 10tpi.

Just checked and a 14tpi Whitworth gauge is a perfect fit.

Julie

Maybe Clarkson changed the thread with the later Mk1 machines with dials??

I thought the Mk1 machines didn’t have a dial?
19 February 2026 at 12:52 #838425
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
On 19 February 2026 at 12:30 John MC Said:

On 19 February 2026 at 11:52 fishy-steve Said:

On 19 February 2026 at 11:42 Julie Ann Said:

I don’t have a dial on the handle on my Mk1 Clarkson and the thread is clearly finer than 10tpi.

Just checked and a 14tpi Whitworth gauge is a perfect fit.

Julie

Maybe Clarkson changed the thread with the later Mk1 machines with dials??

I thought the Mk1 machines didn’t have a dial?

Here’s a picture of what I believe is a Mk1?

It’s not mine but it appears to be the same model.
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19 February 2026 at 14:09 #838466
Clive Foster
Participant
@clivefoster55965
No dial on my Mk 1 and nor room for one either.

Dunno how old mine is but Clarkson had a steady programme of improvements during the life of the Mk 1 so quite likely that later ones got them. No pictures showing a dial on a MK 1 in my collection of manuals and instructions. Although a manual featuring both Mk 1 and Mk 2 clearly shows a dial on the Mk 2.

Clive
19 February 2026 at 14:15 #838469
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
On 19 February 2026 at 14:09 Clive Foster Said:

No dial on my Mk 1 and nor room for one either.

Dunno how old mine is but Clarkson had a steady programme of improvements during the life of the Mk 1 so quite likely that later ones got them. No pictures showing a dial on a MK 1 in my collection of manuals and instructions. Although a manual featuring both Mk 1 and Mk 2 clearly shows a dial on the Mk 2.

Clive

I think that might be the case.

Ill upload some images of my machine when I’m home.
19 February 2026 at 18:31 #838523
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
There used to be a website with loads of pictures and info of Clarksons (apart from Lathes.co.uk) The site owner used to track every one that appeared on ebay. I don’t seem to have a link and it didn’t appear in the first couple of search pages. Anyone know what I’m talking about?
Meanwhile this is useful https://bedroom-workshop.com/grinder-clarksondrawings/0grinder-clarksondrawings.html

Actually it might have been the site above – I assumed it would have clarkson in the main title when I searched. https://bedroom-workshop.com/
19 February 2026 at 20:14 #838538
peak4
Participant
@peak4
On 19 February 2026 at 18:31 Bazyle Said:

Actually it might have been the site above – I assumed it would have clarkson in the main title when I searched. https://bedroom-workshop.com/

Yes, that is the site, I and others, have tried contacting the owner, but received no reply; In my case I had some documentation to donate.
The pdfs used to be available to download from him, but later blocked that resource as someone started selling downloaded stuff on eBay.
I even tried via his work site at microstoc.com, but didn’t receive a reply. (This was before the site’s last update.)
I couldn’t find anything useful at Companies House either; similarly no contacts via ICANN, Nominet etc.

I hope the site remains up, as there’s lots of useful stuff there.

I was going to say, “It would be a shame if it went the same way as Metrication Matters when the author died”, but it looks like that site’s back on line.
https://metricationmatters.org/articles.html

Bill
20 February 2026 at 21:46 #838708
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
Photos of my MK1 with dial as promised.
20 February 2026 at 21:48 #838710
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
20 February 2026 at 21:48 #838712
fishy-steve
Participant
@fishy-steve
21 February 2026 at 09:31 #838740
John MC
Participant
@johnmc39344
That’s not a Clarkson universal head is it? Looks to be a better thought out device.
21 February 2026 at 22:30 #838841
Andrew Kett
Participant
@andrewkett50664
Hello,

My late model March branded machine is 5/8 x 10TPI Left Hand.

Regards All,

Andy
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