Homemade Tailstock Die holder

[mr95gst]

Guys, this is my tailstock die holder I made over the weekend. It doesn't have the finesse of others I have seen, but it seems to work ok. I started with a cast aluminum blank that I made from scraps. It is counter bored to receive both small and large round dies. It uses the adaptor that came with my tap/die set to hold the smaller dies. The holder slides on a shaft clamped in the drill chuck with handles for hand rotation.


*****PHOTOBUCKET HIJACKED MY PICTURES SO I HAVE EDITED THE POST TO ADD THE PICTURES BACK. THEY ARE NO LONGER IN ORDER TO MATCH COMMENTARY MADE WHEN THE THREAD WAS STARTED.

[rossbotics]

Looks good to me, nice work

[Jim In Idaho]

Really nice work!
Jim

[John Durose]

Looks really impressive, having machined the rough cast aluminum so beautifully I would really have liked to see the handles cleaned up and polished. (Sorry I am being hyper critical) It looks really good. And obviously works well, I am impressed.

[Bartw]

Are all dies the same outside diameter? the three bolts hold tight the die as apposed to centering it.? How do you secure the holder to the lathe? Threaded rod?

[mr95gst]

Bartw,
The holder has a 1/2" through hole. It can slide and rotate on the 1/2" shaft clamped in the chuck. To operate, I push the tailstock close to the piece, then slide the die holder against the work piece, and then rotate the holder to begin threading. The holder spins and not the spindle. It works just like a T-handle die holder except it uses the tailstock as a guide to ensure the die travels concentric with the work piece. In theory, I could hold the die holder still and power the spindle for small pieces, but I haven't tried that yet.

[mklotz]

Bartw,
In theory, I could hold the die holder still and power the spindle for small pieces, but I haven't tried that yet.

If you do, be sure to remove those handles and substitute recessed setscrews for the screws holding the die. If you don't and it hangs up you'll have a first rate knuckle smasher.

Folks do what you suggest but with a dead smooth die holder. Fed by hand, all you need do when it hangs up or reaches the shoulder is release it and let it spin on the TS support bar. But, if it has any protuberances, watch out!

[Frank S]

Bartw Dies are generally 2" 1.5" and 1" in diameter or they are 1" and 1.5" hex. Hex dies are most usually for re-threading or chasing the threads
the 3 bolt system was developed to both hold the die and the pointed center bolt of the 3 can be used to gently spread a die ever so slightly to allow a thread to be a thou. or 2 larger in diameter to achieve a tighter fit as in a tapped blind hole and stud assembly.
Converse to this in better quality dies there will be a small slotted adjustment screw which limits the amount a die may be compressed.
I in the past have backed those screws out just a tad on some of my older worn dies trying to extend their life usability

[Jon]

Congratulations mr95gst - your Tailstock Die Holder is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

Starting from an aluminum blank that you cast from scraps really made this build stand out. I know we had multiple winning tool entries from you around June-July of 2015; very good to see your work again.

Some nice picks from this week: Mill Table Slot Insert Covers by bobs409, a Micrometer Carriage Stop by Al8236, an Angle Grinder Chop Saw by Bullet500, a Digital Height Gauge by Al8236, a Screwless Toolmaker's Vise by Al8236, a Shop Tent and Wind Wall Door by Frank S, a Differential Rebuilding Stand by TexBuxer, and a very simple Wire Trigger Guard by rgsparber. There was also a really interesting use of plaster for porting, spanning multiple tool builds by tonyfoale.


mr95gst - you'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, Giftrocket, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

That's win #4 for mr95gst! Here are all of your wins:

18" Bandsaw by mr95gst

tags: bandsaw, motor

T-Square Fence and Table Extension by mr95gst

tags: square, table saw, fence

Belt Sander Dust Collector by mr95gst

tags: belt sander, dust collection

Tailstock Die Holder by mr95gst

tags: die holder, tailstock

[John Durose]

I have always use the tail stock to hold my die holder square to the spindle and rotate the spindle by hand whilst supporting the handle of the die holder against a bar located in the tool holder, this allows me to have my right hand free to keep pressure on the die whilst rotating the spindle with my left hand, once the threaded section of the spindle comes through the die I support it with a live centre in the tail stock. I tend to power the spindle in reverse in order to back off the die from the threaded section on the spindle, if you want to cut the thread by powering the spindle make sure you have a hand on the clutch lever in case the spindle locks up on the die.

Good luck, your die holder still looks great.
Cheers
John