Gadget for capstan tooling

[10ba12baParticipant @10ba12ba]

I made this gadget to take 2 specific bits of capstan tooling, one of my Coventry die heads and a roller box. The gadget bolts on to the front face of the saddle on my Harrison M250, where the travelling steady would go, the mounting holes in the angle bracket were made a close fit for the retaining bolts. The oblong block was drilled, bored and reamed in situ from the headstock, through the previously fitted pad bolt. I had a jack under the back end of the bracket to discourage any flexing during these operations. With perfect hindsight, 2 permanent jacking screws should have been fitted – something for the round tuit list.

I do have the bed capstan attachment for this lathe and it's on a wheeled trolley at bed height, but still a bit of a faff to get on and off and to set up, this little gadget takes a couple of minutes. Anyway, the gadget would do for fellow strivers who don't have the full capstan attachment.

[10ba12baParticipant @10ba12ba]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Great idea

Might even be scale-down-able for small lathes.

MichaelG.

[10ba12baParticipant @10ba12ba]

Thank you Michael.

Yes I would think so.

It was quite easy on the M250 because of the provision of ready machined flats and tapped holes on the front vertical face of the saddle. I don't know where other manufacturers have the fixings for the travelling steady, but a bracket is a bracket, so long as it's fit for purpose eh?

H.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Considering the amount of old tooling out there from the 50s and 60s I'm surprised there's not a bit more of a cottage industry putting it all to use on more modern hobby platforms

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

I have years of memories using roller boxers…….

Jim

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

A most excellent idea.

I wonder if a faster to use version might be practical with a couple of pins fitted into the bolt holes to align the bracket and a pair of big magnetic bases to do the holding down bit. Clearly not up to mega cutting loads, so no power drilling from the cross slide but maybe fine for lighter duties. Coventry diehead for example.

Clive

[10ba12baParticipant @10ba12ba]

One photo got left out of the OP, showing the other bits to hold the die head: the black sleeve is from a tailstock die holder.

[Author]

Posts