What is the most useful workshop tool that you have made?

[Roger Williams 2Participant @rogerwilliams2]

Sort of a workshop tool !!. Definitely the most useful thing Ive ever made, a folding beam woodsplitter, or one of em. I must have split many tons with the one at the back. Only about 7 ton splitting pressure, but gets through most things.

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Roger Head (and others),

I did exactly that when I made my version of the pincer style knurling tool based on a design by Graham Meek. That is, I incorporated the tool into the QCTP mounting as partially seen in the photo below. It makes the tool more rigid and makes for a better finish in my experience.

In this picture, the tool isn't quite finished, but you get the general idea.

The picture below better illustrates the body style.

John

 

Edited By John Hinkley on 18/11/2015 21:47:45

[Roger HeadParticipant @rogerhead16992]

John H, that's certainly an interesting design. My experience has been that the stability of the arm hinge points is important, especially for large diameter knurling (40 – 50mm), hence my liking of the original photo shown by John. Putting the pivot points at the rear of the tool allows the arms to be guided by the side plates (thereby minimizing the forces on the pivots), and also allows a larger range of diameters without extreme angle changes.

It will be interesting to hear your experience when you have completed your tool.

+1 for the original photo.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

The 2nd one is pretty rigid Roger. The arms and wheels are thicket than the other on, arms circa 3/4" across but I agree that the first design is fundamentally better. The arms on that one are 1/2" across.

The other problem with the 2nd one is that the max dia doesn't tie in well with the distance from the centre of the knurls to the point where the clamp screw would rub on the work. The slots in the arm are too short too but I lengthened those as much as I dare.

A big gain with this style is that it's possible to apply a lot of pressure without the work bending and compared with the ones that are just pushed in from the side they seem to make the job easier.

John

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[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

Posted by Alan Jackson on 18/11/2015 10:19:09:

Mine is a Lever Locking Topslide. This is the latest version on a Chipmaster lathe. It is so useful to be able to position and angle the topslide anywhere on the cross slide and instantly lock it in position. It also has a screwcutting retract and a slide locking lever below the feed dial.

Alan

That's a nice device Alan, looks well made – worth a write up or magazine article?

* Danny M *

[Alan JacksonParticipant @alanjackson47790]

Hi Danny,

In MEW mags 119, 120 & 121, in 2005. I described it in great detail with variations for various lathes including Myfords. In the article I tried hard to describe the idea to the MEW world, and even had subsequent discussions with Mr Moore the Myford boss then, to no avail. The one in the photo is a newer version incorporating some other ideas, notably an oval gib, notice the absence of gib screws on the sides. This works very well and enables the slide to be locked along the full length if desired, virtually turning it into a form of Gibraltar toolpost. The flexibility enabled by being able to move, rotate and lock the topslide anywhere and easily remove the topslide from the cross slide cannot be overated. It really enhances the lathe operation.

Alan

[Peter NeillParticipant @peterneill47196]

Perhaps not the most useful, but invaluable on the several occasions I've needed it.

It's an adjustable chuck spider for the lathe, so I can hold very very short parts.

[SteveMParticipant @stevem36008]

Hi Alan that is a very interesting tool post you have made. Would you show and describe it in a bit more detail please?
In fact the tool post and top slide combination would make for a very interesting construction/functionality thread all of it's own – particularly for those of us who don't have the relevant MEW issues.

Cheers
Steve

[Alan JacksonParticipant @alanjackson47790]

Hi SteveM,

I have also added a detailed description in MEW 210,218 & 219 which also used a Lever locking topslide on the Stepperhead lathe. You may not also have these copies. I tried to copy a PDF file but could not work out how to do it.

If you look at my album you may see some more photos in the Myford and Chipmaster albums.

The toolpost is my version of the MLA toolpost you may be able to Google that.

Alan

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

Peter that Spider looks just what I need, I'm going to have to make one of those-brilliant

Mick

[SteveMParticipant @stevem36008]

Thanks Alan.
In case anyone else is interested I found a good build thread for the MLA toolpost here:

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/south-bend-lathes/machining-mla-23-toolpost-174336/

 

 

Edited By SteveM on 19/11/2015 14:07:54

[robert davies 6Participant @robertdavies6]

my most useful tool is a toolpost nudger. Just a small ball race on the end of a piece of bar. I use it every time I need to align a workpiece in the chuck which is too sort to reach the back of the chuck.

bob app

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Robert, do please show a photo of what a nudger is and how it works! I could have done with one with some of the parts on my Acute sharpening kit I think, but I have no idea what it is or how one would use it!

[“Bill Hancox”Participant @billhancox]

Posted by John Haine on 08/12/2015 21:44:59:

Robert, do please show a photo of what a nudger is and how it works! I could have done with one with some of the parts on my Acute sharpening kit I think, but I have no idea what it is or how one would use it!

John

Here is a pictorial example. **LINK** I found them quite simple to make using my limited experience.

Chip Away

Bill

[Bruce EdneyParticipant @bruceedney59949]

John

You might like to also look here **LINK**

Chris has made some fine tools and a couple of his videos show him using his "bump" tool

Bruce

[Roger HartParticipant @rogerhart88496]

Most useful tools are:

Mandrel handle, Toolpost drill, Fingerplate (as from George H Thomas book)

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Mandrel Handle & tool post nudger…

George

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