Lever/Rack tailstock preferences

[Steve BowerParticipant @stevebower42241]

Hi. I've the option (at cost!) of a lever or rack attachment for my Super 7. Before I splash out, what preferences do people have? The consensus seems to be that one or other is worthwhile.

Ta

[Steve BowerParticipant @stevebower42241]

[richard 2Participant @richard2]

I have both – a rack drive with barrel marked in metric and a lever with barrel marked in imperial.

I am currently building a small vertical steam engine in imperial so lever tailstock barrel is in use.

But – do have one or the other – you will never regret it.

With so much drilling done in the lathe the screw feed is so slow and a right pain for drilling deep holes winding the barrel in and out.

Lever or rack is much quicker and easier.

It's probably good for the drills.

Richard 2.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Choice is six of one half a dozen of the other really. Lever is arguably better for small drills due to direct connection which is said to give better feel. Rack is arguably better for larger ones as it is said to give more thrust for the same force. As Richard says in practice either will do fine.

When using big drills you may well prefer to change back to the screw feed.

Clive.

[Trevor Drabble 1Participant @trevordrabble1]

Steve , I have the rack attachment and wouldn't be without it now . It is much more sensitive than the standard barrel ( essential for smaller drills ) plus I continually use the friction -set depth scale . Had serious reservations at the high cost when bought it new from Myford Nottingham , but now , as I've said I wouldn't be without it .

Trevor.

[NishkaParticipant @nishka]

I have a lever tailstock attachment for sale with my ML7 lathe in the classifieds section here – **LINK** – If anyone is looking for one!

Sorry for the blatant hi-jack of the thread

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

I have both and I prefer the lever but in all honesty, it's just personal preference and there's not a lot in it. You get more travel with the rack (from memory).

[Steve BowerParticipant @stevebower42241]

That’s great, thanks all. TBH Nishka, ?900 for the lever (albeit with a free lathe) is a bit out of my budget. I’ve found a lever with no spindle – is this likely to be machineable?

Edited By Steve Bower on 19/11/2017 21:54:51

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Steve – very simple to make – must be … I made one! Now have a Cowells rack triple lever; very worthwhile.

rgds

Bill

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Steve, Yeah I also made a lever feed, two in fact, one for each lathe. A good lever feed should have really close fitting pivots so the whole assembly has a positive feel when in use

Wouldn't make one now though, far to busy modelling to make accessories, I've moved on.

P.M. me if you do fancy making one I can give you some ideas.

Geoff

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Made up ,a sensitive drilling attachment, mounted on a Morse taper arbor to fit into the screw feed tailstock, on my lathe. takes up a little space, but has caused no problems, so far, and have the best of both worlds.

(Made from a buckshee small drill chuck, the MT arbor and whatever else came to hand, so minimal cost)

Howard

Edited By Howard Lewis on 21/11/2017 17:51:37

[Steve BowerParticipant @stevebower42241]

Am I able to add an image? I could show the lever I have

[Steve BowerParticipant @stevebower42241]

Ah here we go – the image editor isn't available on the phone:

 

 

Edited By Steve Bower on 22/11/2017 18:16:51

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