Lathe "work truing" tool

[Canobi]

This is one of those very handy tools you eventually use all the time, and it's very simple to make:



I cobbled this tool together from items I had on hand, most of which is scrap I've salvaged from here n there so cost me time only, which wasn't very long.

I considered a press fit for the bearings but decided to bolt them in place as it to give it more flexibility, I'm fixing up a mill I got recently and it can also be used as an edge finder.

Job was simple, face, turn to size, drill, tap (M6 x 15), champfer, flip round, trim to length, repeat first four steps.

In this case though, it was a bit large for my small quick change toopost holder:



It held it very tightly though, so left it where it was and tried something new by doing a bit of light milling on the lathe. A 10mm two flute stub end mill took care of the cutting and just judged the cut depth by feel and eye, which went well all considered:



I then cleaned up the edges? flipped it round and it was a perfect fit:



For those that don't know how this kind of tool works on a lathe, here is a short demonstration video I made:

[olderdan]

This is a well known tool but well worth posting for those yet to discover it and nicely presented.
I assume the other bearing is for bar stock, unlike face truing this needs some care as it works like a wobbler in reverse. In this use the bearing can not move so the work will if going slightly over centre try to climb over the bearing, nuff said.
Maybe useful also to mention re tightening the jaws after use.
I hope this is taken in the spirit of being helpful for the novice turner.

[Canobi]

This is a well known tool but well worth posting for those yet to discover it and nicely presented.
I assume the other bearing is for bar stock, unlike face truing this needs some care as it works like a wobbler in reverse. In this use the bearing can not move so the work will if going slightly over centre try to climb over the bearing, nuff said.
Maybe useful also to mention re tightening the jaws after use.
I hope this is taken in the spirit of being helpful for the novice turner.

Absolutely, I am that novice turner lol, so thank you for mentioning the extra details I forgot to include.

[Ralphxyz]

I am a novice novice turning and I do not see what it does.

But thanks for posting, eventually I usually catch on.

Ralph

[KA4993]

This is a well known tool but well worth posting for those yet to discover it and nicely presented.
I assume the other bearing is for bar stock, unlike face truing this needs some care as it works like a wobbler in reverse. In this use the bearing can not move so the work will if going slightly over centre try to climb over the bearing, nuff said.
Maybe useful also to mention re tightening the jaws after use.
I hope this is taken in the spirit of being helpful for the novice turner.

Every time I see your avatar, the little white pooch, I think of the attached file. So I decided you need to see it.

If you left click on it, it should get bigger.

Regards,

Ed

[Canobi]

I am a novice novice turning and I do not see what it does.

But thanks for posting, eventually I usually catch on.

Ralph

Did you watch the demo vid, it shows you how it's used (well one side of it anyway)?

[Ed ke6bnl]

I made one a while back and use it often.

[Ralphxyz]

Yup, I watched it but did not see anything but the bearing rotating, what am I supposed to be seeing.

What does the tool do?

A few words and then the video might make sense.

Sorry but I am brand new to using a lathe.

I do not see where this would "true a lathe" it might indicate a lathe not being "true" or being true.

I do not understand a "trueing tool".

I can see how it might be used to indicate a tool post, if the tool post/tool holder was not perpendicular to the face of the
test piece that would be obvious, but that is an indicator not a trueing tool.

Ralph

[KA4993]

Ralph, you may be over thinking this.... If you notice the title of the original post ... Lathe "work truing" tool . This tool is used to true the "work" that is in the chuck. If you look at the video again, you should see that at the start of the video, the item in the chuck is far from true but after making contact with the bearing... it is repositioned in the chuck and no longer wobbles. The tool trues the work... not the lathe or any component of the lathe.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Ed

[DIYer]

Thanks Canobi! We've added your Lathe Truing Tool to our Lathe Accessories category,
as well as to your builder page: Canobi's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Lathe Truing Tool by Canobi

tags: lathe, truing