New Lathe Tooling

[Terry KirkupParticipant @terrykirkup37827]

Now slowly doing little bits to get nearer startup time. I did a quick test using Rollie's Dad's Method as far as I understood it. Doesn't look too far out at first attempt. Before that I stuck a 2 foot length of 40mm steel tube in the chuck and entered the tailstock spindle into the other end of it and just by eye it seemed to run fairly concentrically at the tail as I turned the chuck. I still haven't tightened the lathe to stand bolts until more twist tests are done.

However, to continue the cleaning process I need help to get the top slide off! I wound it back until its screw reached the end of the block it runs in (could see it and feel it reach to just below flush) but then it stopped and the handle got VERY tight, so I didn't want to rotate it any further. I think I'm stuck as I can't see anything in the way looking at the parts list. HELP!!!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Take the handle off then dial and then unscrew the two screws either side of the bracket and you should be able to slide it off.

[Terry KirkupParticipant @terrykirkup37827]

Ah, okydoke thank you again Jason. I've had to retreat back to the house now so will give that a go tomorrow.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Don't you have a manual with an exploded view? You might want to get one before taking too much apart. If all else fails the Grizzly 0602 looks similar, and sometimes Chester equivalent manuals are on line. You can be planning your next disassembly on the computer.

[Terry KirkupParticipant @terrykirkup37827]

Hi Bazyle, thanks for your input. Yes, been looking at the exploded parts diagram but the only thing I see interfering with straightforward removal is the steel threaded block (aka rectangular T-nut) that its leadscrew runs in, once the gib screws are loose. Will hopefully find out for sure tomorrow.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You can't run it all the way forwards as the bracket that the handle runs in hits the lower part so can't simply wind it off.

 

EDIT. I just remembered that I took it off to show someone else how to do it, handle can remain in place, just undo the two bracket screws and then you can slide it all the way off.

 

Edited By JasonB on 18/12/2018 07:58:22

[Terry KirkupParticipant @terrykirkup37827]

Great. Thank you Jason, got it stripped now. Apart from cleaning underneath the top slide I also wanted to see what holds the standard toolpost down – now I know.
The reason for that is my desire to add a quick change toolpost as soon as possible as I can't see myself being bothered with shimming everything. This brings me back around to QCTP selection. The commonly mentioned mid-range wedge post is the BXA or 250-222 and it measures 3" at its base, exactly the same as the width of my top slide so none of the overhang issues some folk have warned about. I popped a dead centre in the tailstock and measured top slide to centre height which is around 24.5mm. That doesn't sound a lot to me but it seems so many people have fitted these successfully to either the WM290 like mine or very similar lathes. I'm sure I've seen people on YouTube sticking the AXA (250-100) on so-called "mini-lathes" which suggests the next size up for me.
I'm fascinated to know how the manufacturers of these things – Chinese, American or even English – can state that they fit a lathe with a swing of 10 to 15 inches when surely it must depend on the height of your top slide in relation to centre height and nowt to do with swing, or am I missing something obvious?
If they are right then the BXA is definitely right for my 290 but I'd still like one or two brave souls to give it the nod and possibly suggest the easiest way to bolt it on bearing in mind I have no milling machine.

Edited By Terry Kirkup on 19/12/2018 15:19:49

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You can knock the central bolt out, measure it then pop back in while you make another. Really depends on whether the central boss needs altering.

[Terry KirkupParticipant @terrykirkup37827]

Super, thank you Jason. That bit doesn't look too daunting! If I tap the top of the bolt does it bring out the little roll pin underneath with it? I see something that looks like it on your pic.

[Terry KirkupParticipant @terrykirkup37827]

Well, I was a brave boy today. Got most of the reachable gunge off the 290's bed, ways and slides and oiled them with the stuff that Warco sells, the gears done with 3 in1 white Lithium spray. I stuck a 2 foot length of chromed steel roller (dunno where I got it) in the chuck, completely unsupported, to do another twist/parallel test and there was hardly a flicker on the dial either a few inches from the headstock or just shy of the tailstock centre so I reckon I got the base pedestals pretty well aligned.

Next step, give it some electricery after sticking a short piece of iron in the chuck. That's when I hit a problem. The DRO lit up nicely and zeroed/shifted with X and Y movement as it should. However when I tried to fire up the motor I got nothing. Now I've twice removed the gear cover – once to transport it to the shed and again to grease the gears. Both times I had an awful job refitting it and now I know what caused the issue. The horrible little forked blade thing attached to the cover is supposed to engage into a slot in the motor interlock switch thingy but it was dangling loose on all four m3 fixings so wouldn't engage properly. It's impossible to position it accurately so I got lucky with a guesstimate and at last I had motion. A momentous occasion for me. I got real scared at 2000 rpm and eased it back down to 60. It did seem eerily quiet whizzing away like that.

Obviously I couldn't wait any longer to make my first incision so I hunted for the 60-30 degree indexable 8mm tool an old engineer gifted me and tried to set it in the toolpost. Of course it was way too far below centre so I spent the next ten or more minutes searching for some packing pieces. None to be found as I'm really not geared up yet. So it was that in utter frustration I headed for the PC and immediately ordered a QCTP from ArcEuroTrade – and it was in stock! Now I just have to hope the ARC reindeer aren't too slow before the family descends for Krizzy!

Prepare for some very newbie-type questions about the EASIEST way to fit the BXA toolpost.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Looking at a BXA toolholder (Shars 201) dimensions it gives the thickness of the base as 1/2 in so you could use an half inch HSS tool 'cos you can grind the top down a bit. An insert holder might be a problem though. However a different drawing (Shars 202) facing holder has a bigger slot so a little thinner base giving an extra 1/8in. So you need to look carefully at the dimensions of whatever you do get.
An AXA seems to have the top of the half inch slot at 15/16.
So neither is ideal. It's surprising the lathe sellers don't get their act together and invent an AXB specially for this size of machine.

I got sold a Myford sized for my Boxford so I had to shim the post up a bit but has the advantage that the holders are cheaper.

[J BENNETT 1Participant @jbennett1]

Warco do produce a 9009 series QCTP for the WM series of lathes. They are machined by Warco to fit each individual model. I have one on my WM 250 and it works very well. Only problem is that they are in short supply and usually out of stock as, are additional tool holders.

Earlier this week I emailed Warco about the availability of standard tool holders, which I have been trying to obtain for a long time, and they said they expected delivery in about four weeks. They also said the previous batch were sold out before arriving, not sure how that works however, as there does not seem to be any means to back-order on their website.

I did stress my disappointment in their lack of support to customers who having spent a lot of money on machines cannot get basic accessories.

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

Terry,

It looks like the members addressed every aspect of setting up your lathe. I just skimmed the responses and did not see the answer to one of your questions: where to obtain raw material. I have three kinds of sources:

A small manufacturing company allows me to "dumpster dive" for material. A second source is scrap yards but getting access is becoming more difficult due to safety concerns. The third source is one of the vendors that deals in small lots of metals.

[Terry KirkupParticipant @terrykirkup37827]

Hi J Bennet 1. I have a suspicion that due to fairly limited customer demand in this sector of the engineering market there may be too much risk in companies like Warco holding too much stock. And of course they are at the mercy of completely different market conditions in Asia and the Far East. Many companies in all sectors now keep stock to a minimum and order from their suppliers/manufactureres only when sufficient demand arises, the so-called Just In Time logistics approach. I do sympathise though, it can be frustrating. I steered away from Warco's own QCTP as it didn't seem to find much favour in the articles I've read and I really like the wedge design of the Aloris copies.

John, ta for that, I did get a few similar suggestions to yours and have located a local blacksmith and steel supplier.

Now, in mitigation of J Bennet 1's tale, how dare ArcEuroTrade disturb my late morning weekend snooze plans with a knock on my door at 0930 this morning (Saturday 22nd Dec)? After all I didn't order the toolpost and holders until 11:40am yesterday! Fantastic service to balance the books somewhat.

[J BENNETT 1Participant @jbennett1]

Hi Terry, glad to hear you have got your QCTP so quickly. Hope you don't have too much trouble fitting it. I too have found Arc to be very efficient. I purchased a mill from them last month and it was delivered within a few days and on the day I wanted. I am sure you will quickly find the QCTP indispensable, although you do need a quite a few tool holders to get the real advantage.

Interested to hear you have read articles regarding the Warco QCTP, as I have never seen any reviews of it at all. I purchased it chiefly because it would fit directly and I could get on with using the lathe.

[Terry KirkupParticipant @terrykirkup37827]

I'm sure there are mentions on this site somewhere JB1 but it could have been other forums, possibly American/Canadian/Australian although I'm only a member on this one. I think I also possibly heard it mentioned in a few YouTube videos, I must have looked at hundreds since October when I made my mind up to buy a lathe.

The BXA looks mighty impressive and is a substantial piece of meat. If it proves to be too tall I'll do as a few folk have suggested and just nail it to the cross slide. It'll be hacksaw, hammers and cold chisels for me to get it mounted, I suspect! I did buy two standard holders and two vees as they double up anyway. It may be a while before I need any more than four. Now I just need to decide what size indexable carbide tipped tools to buy.

Edited By Terry Kirkup on 22/12/2018 12:06:54

[Terry KirkupParticipant @terrykirkup37827]

Okydoke, I think I can maybe offer what will probably be my single ever useful contribution to this Forum. I have just stood the BXA/250-222 QCTP on the top slide of my Warco WM290V lathe and can confirm without a shadow of a doubt that it DOES indeed fit this machine. The only tool I have is the one in the photo below, a 10mm square indexable type given by a friend to get me started. With the toolholder set to its lowest position on the post there is still a 3 to 4mm gap between the tip of the carbide bit and the tip of the tailstock centre. I call this a win and I still haven't seen it stated as a definitive Yeah or Nay for this lathe and others like it so I'd like to make it so now. (with the usual disclaimers!!!). But pictures don't lie and this has NOT been Photoshopped!

[Terry KirkupParticipant @terrykirkup37827]

Well after a miserable 5 or 6 weeks housebound with some awful ailment the shed was the last place I fancied but I took ther plunge today whan another little parcel popped through the letterbox.

You'd be forgiven for thinking "it's a nut". What it is, is my proposed solution to the Aloris-type Qucik Change Toolpost mounting issue. Now you must realise I'm a poor welder but a better welder than a turner so I percieved a much easier solution than any I've seen on Googaloo. So I bought a couple (just in case!) of 5/8" UNF nuts after carefully checking the central BXA toolpost thread and squiggled a quick drawing.

This from measuring the cross-slide after removal advice from JasonB, although on my 290V the bolt plus the lower boss popped out as one after a few hammer taps. So, to my first turning job:

I left the nut tightly screwed onto the BXA bolt for easier holding, scared silly!

I think this is as close as I ever want to be to the chuck!

The almost finished article:

Looks like success first time.

Not quite! I hadn't accounted for the nut which the top slide leadsrew runs in, it projects into the cavity below, so I had to reduce the lower hex section of the adaptor to about 4mm thick:

Here it is tapped snugly home:

And this is the 12 or 13mm gap I have from the underside of the toolholders to centre, well pleased with that and may be able to use 16mm tools although I'll settle for 12.

As you see a bit of sideways thinking here but some of the more regular solutions offered scared me rigid as a total newbie. Now I can maybe turn something!

Thanks to everyone on here for the help and advice and may I wish you all a very happy New Year.

Edited By Terry Kirkup on 04/01/2019 20:18:32

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