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Thread: Occasional depth gauge for tail stock

  1. #1
    Supporting Member olderdan's Avatar
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    Occasional depth gauge for tail stock

    I felt the need for an accurate depth control for some counter bores so came up with an occasional digital solution namely a cheap tire tread depth gauge with 1 inch travel. My SB lathe tailstock has a round topped casting which is not ideal for this, I am reluctant to machine a flat on this old lathe so another way had to be found. I made a base from epoxy metal putty to fit the top of the casting and epoxied 5 neodymium magnets in the base which hold very well. These gauges are not spring loaded so a bracket and spring were added (I keep every spring I come across of any size) that just left a bracket to make for the barrel which apart from the bore was hand fashioned, good old hacksaw and file was much quicker than machining the whole thing. It only takes a couple of minutes to fit when needed and tooling still ejects with the bracket in place. I should add that the idea is not mine as many variants have been posted on HMT, this is just my take on the application.

    Occasional depth gauge for tail stock-1.jpgOccasional depth gauge for tail stock-2.jpgOccasional depth gauge for tail stock-3.jpg

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  2. The Following 10 Users Say Thank You to olderdan For This Useful Post:

    baja (Aug 10, 2020), bill46 (Aug 10, 2020), Carnel (Aug 4, 2020), CookieCrunch (Aug 4, 2020), goonergord (Jun 20, 2022), Jon (Aug 6, 2020), LMMasterMariner (Aug 3, 2020), Okapi (Aug 4, 2020), Paul Jones (Aug 4, 2020), SculptyWorks (Aug 4, 2020)

  3. #2
    SculptyWorks's Avatar
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    Cool! I love it! ❤
    I've been meaning to make something like this for my lathe, but other projects keep getting in the way.

    2000 Tool Plans

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to SculptyWorks For This Useful Post:

    olderdan (Aug 4, 2020)

  5. #3
    Supporting Member Paul Jones's Avatar
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    I have wanted to make something similar but have not done the modifications. I use a Kant Twist clamp as a cheap substitute. One of this days I have to do what you did. Thank you for the posting.

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    olderdan (Aug 4, 2020)

  7. #4
    Supporting Member mklotz's Avatar
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    I cheated and threw money at the problem. Bought a magnetic back for a 2" dial indicator, eg...

    https://www.amazon.com/HFS-Magnetic-...s%2C210&sr=8-3

    I'm fortunate in that my tailstock has a nice, flat top so the DI doesn't want to 'roll'.
    ---
    Regards, Marv

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    greenie (Aug 5, 2020), olderdan (Aug 4, 2020), Paul Jones (Aug 14, 2020)

  9. #5
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    Thanks olderdan! We've added your Tailstock Depth Gauge to our Height and Depth Gauges category,
    as well as to your builder page: olderdan's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:




  10. #6
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    Would have been far easier to chew another flat on top of the tailstock, the rats have already been chewing away at it with the lock-down system, so what's the problem with doing another chew at it ?

  11. #7
    Supporting Member olderdan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by greenie View Post
    Would have been far easier to chew another flat on top of the tailstock, the rats have already been chewing away at it with the lock-down system, so what's the problem with doing another chew at it ?
    Not enough meat on the casting to take a flat.



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  12. The Following User Says Thank You to olderdan For This Useful Post:

    Paul Jones (Aug 14, 2020)

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