Lathe Cutting Tool Height Gage

[mklotz]

I still have trouble understanding why people want to design tool height gauges with the reference plane hidden under an overhang. In my design, the reference plane is on the top, exposed to sight...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/d...ht-gauge-57996

While I use my sensitive thumbnail (well, the nerves it presses on are sensitive) to detect alignment, I suppose one could slide a small block on the top of the gauge to detect the tool position relative to the gauge.

[jjr2001]

I just re-read this tool build and must admit I am going to copy it.
I have been using a cylinder with a scribe mark on it for aligmment. Anyone doing that with a mini lathe
and QCTP knows that it requires two steps one of which is loosening the QCTP and rotating it. That base is the
cat's meow....no QCTP rotation. Thanks Paul for a fine tool for the shop.

Cheers, JR

[Toolmaker51]

Nothing wrong with a redux, why classics are so named...And may well be first time a lowly hose clamp morphed into drill fixture.
An old job shop had a Hardinge HLV. No one ran it but I. After a few setups, need for a pirated copy of the Hardinge gauge was realized. Basically like Paul Jones's, no magnets. Three small socket cap screws as 'hardened' feet, intended machine and reference dimension stamped on post.
New shop; 5 lathes and no gauges...guess what's on tap?

[Paul Jones]

Marv,

The cool thing about the Hardinge style gage is the gage can be used either the way like you do with thumbnail feel on the open surface to check the tool height or checking the tool under the upper lip to feel when the top surface of the cutting tool just touches the gage. I like this style of tool height gage because I do thread cutting on the lathe with the cutting tool set upside down and the lathe running in reverse. It is a universal way to check tool heights and probably something Hardinge realized long ago.

Regards,
Paul