Rapid original tool posts, where to buy or just sell?

[jason spencerParticipant @jasonspencer41535]

[jason spencerParticipant @jasonspencer41535]

I've a very nice rapid original tool post, quick change type. However I need another tool holder and one for a boring bar.

I can't seem to find them anywhere. Can anyone help? Failing that I guess I could ebay mine and buy a 'new' one.

What would be the best thing to do?

[David GParticipant @davidg]

post a picture of the tool post, saw lots of tool posts at the Warwickshire show yesterday.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The posts and holders do come up on e-bay from time to time, you could also put a wanted add here and on Homeworkshop.I suppose you could always make new holders.

David they look similar to the Dickson type but the mating profile of post and holder is different.

J

[jason spencerParticipant @jasonspencer41535]

I'll get a pic up later

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

I have both Rapid Original TipoA and Dickson size 2 posts (nominal 4 inch square) with around 16 holders of unknown breeds which interchange just fine after a small modification to the Rapid post. Three holders each came with the lathes so I assume there are three original Rapid and three original Dickson holders in the collection. The rest were picked up as and when good quality holders appeared at a price commensurate with the then state of my wallet. One of the acquisitions is a parting blade holder and so almost certainly Dickson. I don't think any of the other makes offered one, at least not of that form. Four others came from a source whose atribution of genuine Dickson origin can be considered reliable within the limits of human error. Which still leaves 5 unknowns.

The only differences I have found are in the depth of the lower collar on the height setting thimble. Rapid ones are a little shallower than "known Dickson" so a stock Rapid toolholder goes straight in a Dickson post but not t'other way about. Some of the others are in betweeners which almost, or Heave-it-Up Harry, fit the Rapid post. So far as I'm aware Dicksons are the thickest and Rapid thinnest so anything will fit Dickson. As I recall matters the difference is only a few thou, maybe 10 or 15, so a bit of attention to the depth of the slots in the heads of the locking nuts on a Rapid post makes it universal. They are hard so you need a diamond file and, obviously, you work on the top of the slot so the important height setting reference isn't changed. It does need proper clearance to work well. Not bounce around but a few thou rather than only just. I had toclean out the corners too. If things are stiff for any reason the QC systen doesn't behave well so keep it clean and adjust with a diamond file if need be.

Or, as you only have the one post, either make new thimbles or operate on the thimble collars if the ones on the holders are too thick. Probably easiest to make new as factory ones are very hard so will have to be ground after setting up just so.

Clive

PS If you get really stuck I could do swopsies from my known Rapid holders for equivalent Dickson ones. Assuming we can positively separate the Rapid ones from the mix!

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