Simplest of all tool setter

Why make anything at all when you probably have the ideal gadget already.
Namely a planer gauge (subject of much recent discussion) used with the same thumbnail method or slide a small parallel over the tool, once set to the exact centre line of your lathe you can reset it with a mike if used for something else. I have tried using an LED contact method but for me it is not worth the bother.
We all have our favorite methods and that’s just fine if it works.
Here’s one I made earlier as they say (about thirty years ago).

Attachment 16528

I'm not about to dedicate an adjustable tool to a fixed-height application. Besides, my lathe doesn't have flat ways so I can't use those as a reference and the planer gauge is way too long to be used on top of the compound.

Nice quality work Olderdan! Not to start a firestorm but what angle did you use? :p

Agreed Marv all tools should have multiple purposes within the range of their design structure...otherwise modify them if deemed necessary. :D

I'd also tend away from any adjustable form for a fixed height. HOWEVER; that and a step mic, caliper, or other means to gauge depth would be ideal to determine the spindle center line, having a more compact footprint than a height gauge. Refer to post about turning a diameter, measuring it and divide the result. Subtract that from dimension of reference surface to top of diameter.

Morning Guys; here as usual, getting morning fix of good clean XXX shop porn. Olderdan's rejection of LED contactor sparked me for an instant. There was a commercial version long ago. Saw ads, but never in person. My guess, designer failed in account variety of tool forms, especially positive and negative rake, not to mention any offhand ground bits. The little V with a spirit level is kind of lame too. V should be involute to accommodate a decent range of diameters; but OK solution when there isn't a conventional bed and slide.
This vocation shouldn't be so fun...it is though. I think it's same effect what drove the Victorian era, infinite detail, so much so it appears to change with each viewing.
We're lucky to be addicted, lucky to appreciate each other, and really lucky the 'net came along to feed it.
Thank's Jon!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PJs

Nice quality work Olderdan! Not to start a firestorm but what angle did you use? :D

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Just measured the angle and it is 25 deg in my case, the actual angle is not important it just affects the sensitivity of adjustment.
I have recorded all the dimensions I need using the method Toolmaker51 refers to.

Attachment 16542

olderdan,

Now that the usual suspects are adding their two cents, I will jump in. A few years ago I published on HMT a lathe tool height gage (http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/l...8587#post25937) that is a modified knock-off of one made by Hardinge. I like the over/under feature because I like doing any thread cutting to a shoulder by having the tool upside down in the QCTP and running the lathe in reverse. This lathe tool height gage is useful when setting the cutting tools upside down (and the more typical way, right side up).

Attachment 16585

Regards, Paul

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

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-tool-setter"> <img src="/uploads/165821/homemade-tool-setter.png"/> </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-tool-setter">Tool Setter</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/olderdan">olderdan</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/height-gauge'>height gauge</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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Originally Posted by Paul Jones

olderdan,

Now that the usual suspects are adding their two cents, I will jump in. A few years ago I published on HMT a lathe tool height gage (http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/l...8587#post25937) that is a modified knock-off of one made by Hardinge. I like the over/under feature because I like doing any thread cutting to a shoulder by having the tool upside down in the QCTP and running the lathe in reverse. This lathe tool height gage is useful when setting the cutting tools upside down (and the more typical way, right side up).

Attachment 16585

Regards, Paul

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I don't understand the ruckus for a lathe tool height gage. have not needed a gage for 50 years. I recommend to learn how to use a lathe

Toolmaker
You said: and really lucky the 'net came along to feed it

No the net is great but my list has gotten so long I will need and other 100 years to do it all.

Too many jobs, but aren't we having fun

Nelson

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ncollar

Toolmaker
You said: and really lucky the 'net came along to feed it

No the net is great but my list has gotten so long I will need and other 100 years to do it all.

Too many jobs, but aren't we having fun

Nelson

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:thumbsup::beer::clapping:

Hi All
This is a link to my web page showing how I have used the setting gauge to locate a casting on the lathe for fly cutting a 6 1/2" radius. This is a commercially bought setting tool so not as nice as your home made one, but it does the job.

Practical Engineering

The Home Engineer

Looks good but not every one has a cross slide like you on the lathe. I bean thinking of building one like you have. There was a seller of castings for that table. Do you know hew that was.

Hi G.Paul
Sorry I don’t know who makes any castings for the auxiliary cross slide plate.
I’m not sure if you have followed any of my other posts but I am bit of a skip diver/dumpster diver depending on which side of the pond you are. This was another one of those scrap yard finds, a nice piece of ground plate which I then machined to suit the Colchester cross-slide and then drilled and tapped the M12 fixings holes.
On finding items. This was in a skip yesterday a nice piece of cast iron. It’s from a desk lamp base, all I had to do was remove the plastic case which was only clipped together. Again, a very usable piece of stock I can cut pieces out of.

-Attachment 21907

The Home Engineer

Hi G.Paul
What sort of lathe do you have?, this is a pic of a Myford crosslide table fitted to a South Bend alongside the original, just had to make a new gib strip and a base for topslide. Many possibility's for adaption and mods.
Attachment 21908

I like it, I like it alot....:O)

If i make a cross slide table it would be for my 16" South Bend lathe that has a long enough bed so i could use it for line boring. There was i believe some one in the eastern part of the US that sold castings for smaller lathes. My friend ho is a model/pattern maker has a 16" lathe with T-slotes