Rear Tool Post Spacer Block Sherline Lathe

They say the Sherline Lathe is at it's best with a rear cutoff tool and I always wanted to try that on my mini lathe.
So, I made a spacer block for the Sherline supplied front cutoff tool and got a longer hold down bolt for use on the rear of the cross slide table.
Nothing special about this at all, just a 1/2" high block of aluminum with a hole in the right place. It is not in the center but offset.

We won't know how this works for a while.

Lots of smaller machines with the cutoff tool mounted in reverse works better than the conventional method, eliminating chatter

That should be a great improvement that set up works for me on my SB, is the reverse position just for the photo shoot?.

I hope to have some material ready for my next model engine soon and then we will see how well it works on the Sherline.
Cheers, JR

I have a rear mounted tool post and I find parting to work about the same as when using the front one. No advantage nor disadvantage. I also have a 4 way indexable tool holder on that rear post which always has 3 tools mounted, 1. the parting tool, 2. a small drill chuck with a short spotting drill bit and a normal turning tool.
The advantage that I find with the rear tool post is that I don't have to change tools on the front one as often and the permanently mounted spotting drill saves quite a few tailstock chuck and/or drill bit changes. Unless actually drilling for a centre I prefer a spotting drill to a centre drill for a pilot hole.
Sometimes the rear post gets in the way on certain jobs but I made it to be removable quickly and I machined register surfaces so that it goes back into the same place when fitted again. I don't have to take it off often.

Thanks for the info Tony, I did not think to put a 3 or 4 way tool holder back there. Could bring some extra versatility to the lathe.

Cheers, JR

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Thanks jjr2001! We've added your Rear Tool Post Spacer to our Lathe Accessories category,
as well as to your builder page: jjr2001's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-rear-tool-post-spacer"> <img src="/uploads/213372/homemade-rear-tool-post-spacer.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-rear-tool-post-spacer">Rear Tool Post Spacer</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/jjr2001">jjr2001</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/tool-post'>tool post</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/spacer'>spacer</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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