Personally I take the same approach as Martin & dusty; roller bearing conversion, keep everything nipped up nicely, and don't be lily-livered about it.
I did break a 1/162 wide HSS parting tool recently – I hadn't realised that the hex I was parting was the worng bar something like EN19T or EN24T.
So, I've just done a trial, I turned a register so I could securely hold a 1 1/2" diameter short-end of EN1A in my CL300M (that's a 4" chuck).
I parted off a slice using a rectangular section 1/16" thick HSS toolbit in my home-made QCTP. Note that this is more overhang than with the standard toolpost. Lubrication froma brush dipped in neat cutting oil.
At 528 rpm, it was parted off in well under a minute.
Note the small, curled 'chips' of swarf, typical of EN1A Pb and showing the tool was cutting properly.
Admittedly this is the 'best' steel for parting off, but I think this proves the point that no hugely special modifications are essential.
Neil
![dscn2323[1].jpg dscn2323[1].jpg](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==)
![dscn2324[1].jpg dscn2324[1].jpg](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==)
Edited By Neil Wyatt on 24/06/2014 18:05:25