Hardening screws for tool post

[WolfieParticipant @wolfie]

[WolfieParticipant @wolfie]

I'm thinking of making a bespoke tool post to hold my parting tool.

Do I need to harden teh screws that hold the tool? Occurs to me that if I don't they will just mush up at the business end.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Harden or not…use cap heads/grub screws..hard before you start…
It can also be argued to use over size screws and leave soft..but reduce contact point to avoid removal probs.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I use those m10 high tensile allen socket bolts in different lengths with no problems

Usually 25mm for a tool holder

The "weak" point IMO is the thread cut in the holder itself

The bolts are very tough

Edited By Ady1 on 13/05/2014 22:38:44

[WALLACEParticipant @wallace]

I usually stick a shim ofscrap ally between the bolts and the tool to avoid marking it. And I think the bolts have the threads turned away slightly so if they do get mushroomed, they can still be unscrewed from the holder.

W.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

For my QCTP I bought a bag of stainless M5 cap-head screws from Screwfix. One advantage of these is the end is slightly chamfered as they are supplied, so distortion of the end is not an issue.

Neil

JOOI, I took a random M6 from a bag yesterday, and found it was oversize and wouldn't fit a tapped hole. A second screw went straight in.

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

One word of caution regarding fasteners, whilst the imported and economical Allen screws are probably good enough for some applications they are no where near the strength and quality of say Unbrako fasteners.

I bought a selection of imported ones from J & L one MSC and they are OK , I have used them for many jobs but they are next two useless as replacements in my Dickson tool holders so I purchased Unbrako for these.

Just my observations and thoughts.

John

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