Grayson Lathe – Tailstock Allignment

[Mike WainwrightParticipant @mikewainwright87512]

[Mike WainwrightParticipant @mikewainwright87512]

Can somebody explain how I can check that the headstock and the tailstock are alligned correctly on my Grayson lathe. I have drilled and reamed some holes and the start of the hole is correct to size but the back of the hole is larger. The pieces I was machining were only 5/8" thick mild steel. I started with a centre drill and stepped up in sizes to the reaming size but the back of the hole is about .005 bigger.

The holes were 11/16" dia and the reamer was used but in good condition. The only reason I can think of for this to happen is that the headstock and tailstock are not alligned. I don't have access to another lathe to make a test piece of I can check between centres

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

Hi Mike ,

(1) Make sure your centres and taper sockets are in good order and then mount a piece of plain round bar between centres . Clean up with a couple of cuts and then carefully take a very fine cut with a back pass at unaltered setting .

Measure each end of bar . If tailstock aligned properly bar will be parallel , if not aligned difference in diameters wll show you the error . Adjust and take another cut etc .until best alignment achieved . Small bonus is that when your bar is finally parallel you have a reuseable test bar for next time .

(2) Make yourself a backwards test bar . Taper shank and parallel extension and which goes in tailstock . Clock back and forth and front and back and you wil immediately see any misalignment (and incidentaly any skew) . Adjust etc . Again test bar is reusable .

(3) Before doing any of above make sure that reamer is not simply crooked in the tailstock chuck – old and cheap chucks are prone to misaligment in gripping .

Regards ,

Michael Wiliams .

Edited By MICHAEL WILLIAMS on 30/04/2012 09:13:25

[Mike WainwrightParticipant @mikewainwright87512]

Thanks Michael for your help. I will give this a go over the weekend.

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