Tommy Bars

[jjr2001]

The lathe chuck for the Sherline uses small tommy bars to tighten the chuck. The tommy bars are used on the mill spindle also.
They like to bite me when snugging things up. So I added some surgical tubeing that I had from my model airplane days.
Needed to put some vaseline on them to get the rubber hose all the way on.

Works great...reduces the bite.

Cheers, JR

I found this tip on the Sherline web site where they sell these as a tool.
The Sherline site is a great reference for tool tips that apply to any lathe or mill but of course
most of them are shown as they apply to the Sherline product line.

No, I do not have stock in the company but I think it would be a good stock to have.

Cheers again, JR

[old_toolmaker]

jjr2001,

Nice tip!!! Thanks! How do you like the Sherline? I know you have Unimats also. How would you compare them to one another?

[jjr2001]

The Sherline lathe and mill have done everything I have asked of them. They are repeatable and built with close tolerances. Work fine right out of the box.
Made in USA is a plus for me and parts/accessories are available from California.
I like the new setup quite well.
The only other lathe/mill that I have is the mini lathe and mini mill from MicroMark and of course many accessories from Littlemachineshop. That is where I have done most of my work out in the garage. I put the Sherline equipment in my "in house" shop/computer room. Nice to work on projects inside when it is 110 degrees out in the garage.

Cheers, JR

[PJs]

Nice JR! Used that trick many times. Use to soak the tube in warm to hot soapy water first...slips on easy after a few minutes and easy clean up.

[DIYer]

Thanks jjr2001! We've added your Chuck Tommy Bar Modification to our Machining category,
as well as to your builder page: jjr2001's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Chuck Tommy Bar Modification by jjr2001

tags: lathe, chuck

[old_toolmaker]

jjr2001,

I forgot to ask. What type of steel did you use for your Tommy bars?

[jjr2001]

I have made Tommy bars from 5/23 drill rod for another project. Not hardening or tempering.
The Tommy bars for the chuck were the original supplied from Sherline. They are also 5/32 dia. but I don't know what steel they used.

Cheers, JR

[old_toolmaker]

jjr2001,

Thanks for the steel info, JR!

[jjr2001]

My pleasure Dick,

Cheers, JR

[old_toolmaker]

jjr2001,

The reason I asked about steel type is because the tommy bars that came with my Unimats were bent when I got them.