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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Dunsborough WA
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    28

    Default Recomended Tooling for a Model A

    I am finally trying to get my Hercus Model A Rebuild finished after 4 or so years waiting to get finished, joys of moving and building a house

    As it had no cutting tools at all when I got it, I am after some advise on what I should be getting, will not be used a lot, mainly aluminium and plastic and some odd bits of steel et nothing commercial.

    What type use and size is recommended, I have the original square tool block.

    Thanks
    Michael

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    8

    Default

    Hi Michael,
    I would just start with a piece of 3/8" square tool steel and some shim material i.e. scrap bits of metal sheet ~0.5 mm thick(to get the cutting edge on centre)
    Put a rough grind on it (with some clearance grinds) and have some fun! You will soon get to refine your grinding. But I think it is a good way to learn!


    Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    62

    Default

    Hi Michael, it's a difficult question. I'm no expert, just a novice at best. A lot would depend on your experience I guess,tool steel comes in many sizes and is fairly cheap, but having said that it will depend on your grinding and tool shaping skills and of course the other thing is your eyes being good enough to see your finished product because the cutting edge needs to be sharp. I use a combination of tools, some tool steel some carbide inserts depending on the job and finish wanted. I've tried several tool holders and found the Lloris type (quick change tool post) to be best,they're strong ridged and easily adjusted. I guess one of the best tools available to novice uses is youtube, in short, so much out there from people who know who can give you a crash course.
    cheers

  4. #4
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    To start with some 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" square HSS pieces and some 1/8 x 1/2" or similar as parting tools.

    As SG says a quick change tool post and tool holders are extremely useful.

    One of the most useful types of tool holders are known as diamond tool holders - these are brilliant and I use these for almost everything
    Diamond Tool Holder

    The Crobalt tool bits and the stepped parting blades from the same website are also extremely good. i.e. can tackle hard stuff and don't go blunt as quickly

    If you are going to do hard stuff then carbide tipped tool holders and tips are useful.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
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    4,049

    Default

    I knew QCTP's would come up. Ask about tooling and you get advised to buy one.

    I am not opposed to them, but they can add up to quite a bit of expense. I suggest you learn about tooling first and decide whether or not you want a QCTP later. The cost of a QCTP and holders can buy a lot of tooling. You will learn that a lot of things are required as you progress. Remember that unless you have holders for all of your generally used cutting tools etc the convnience of a QCTP is lost, and you will need more holders than you think. Buy your lathe tooling first then decide whether you have enough money left. You will have a better idea of the eventual cost. I don't have one and I doubt I ever will because the cost of the tool post and the holders I would need is way more than I would consider paying for what is just a convenience in my opinion, but I have a large lathe and a QCTP for that size is very expensive. I mark the shim height required, on every lathe tool so it is a quick task to grab the right shims and put them in. I have also made a centre height tool that sits on the compound next to the 4 way tool post. It has a sliding bar that rests on the cutting tool tip and gives an exact centre height reading via an indicator mounted on top.

    I don't know much about Hercus lathes as I have never used one. I am more familiar with larger heavier machines, but if you are a beginner then the usual advice is to get some HSS and teach yourself to grind it into the shapes required. The Diamond Toolholder is quite a good tool with simple sharpening requirements, but unfortunately it is quite expensive.

    YouTube is a great resource. One set of videos I remember is by Tubalcain. Start here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrDr4rYLiAk

    He shows the process using a large piece of wood as a model so it is very easy to see the angles.

    Dean

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Dunsborough WA
    Posts
    28

    Default

    Thanks to all that replied,
    The HSS looks like the best option, am happy to have a go at grinding the tools, I will not be doing a lot of work with the lathe so a quick change tool holder not required.

    Don't expect to do much if any hard stuff either.

    Now as for the Parting tool is it worth having a holder for the tool blade?

    Thanks
    Michael

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    Yes.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    8

    Default

    Or gind a parting off tool from a bit of square HSS...

    Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    16

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by VK6BHY View Post
    Now as for the Parting tool is it worth having a holder for the tool blade?
    As another novice Hercus user, I'm interested in this too. What's a good way to hold a parting tool when using a four way tool post?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    239

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by joe88 View Post
    As another novice Hercus user, I'm interested in this too. What's a good way to hold a parting tool when using a four way tool post?
    Mal has a couple of parting tool holders on AMH, the biggest thing with parting tools is that they need to be square to the job and your gib needs to be adjusted correctly with minimal back play as that is what will normally give you problems and cause the tool to move in and grab and that's when the job comes flying out and your toolsteel breaks, also parting still needs to be run at a reasonable speed, too slow and that can cause grabbing as well and a good amount of steady pressure when cutting and coolant always helps.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    16

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tinkerer77 View Post
    Mal has a couple of parting tool holders on AMH, the biggest thing with parting tools is that they need to be square to the job and your gib needs to be adjusted correctly with minimal back play as that is what will normally give you problems and cause the tool to move in and grab and that's when the job comes flying out and your toolsteel breaks, also parting still needs to be run at a reasonable speed, too slow and that can cause grabbing as well and a good amount of steady pressure when cutting and coolant always helps.
    I'll give Mal a call. The only parting tool holder I can see on the website appears to the Armstrong type. I have something similar but that requires me to unmount the 4 post.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
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    4,049

    Default

    Have a look on EBay. This will show you what is available. Most are insert type, but there are a few HSS versions shown. Not sure if insert type would be suitable.

    Dean

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    102

    Default

    I'm also a novice Hercus owner, and although I have a full set of Armstrong tool holders for use in the lantern post I ended up buying a chinese knock-off AXA quick change tool set and haven't looked back. Very rarely does it come off, not so much for its quick change ability but because I can set the tool height so rapidly and it allows me to get very close to the chuck. And its rock solid. I also use indexable carbide cutters mostly. I'm lazy so I don't grind HSS very often But in answer to the OP I reckon get some Armstrong tool holders, cheap and very functional.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    melbourne australia
    Posts
    3,228

    Default

    I also fitted a AXA size QCTP to my Hercus 260. Best thing I ever did. The quick change parting tool holders set the parting blade at 7 degrees to horizontal making for much smoother parting. The blades are also thinner than the blades that fit in the Armstrong style holders which I reckon is better for the smallish Hercus lathe.
    Chris

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Dunsborough WA
    Posts
    28

    Default

    Thank you all for your comments and ideas.

    For now I have got some HSS tools which I have started to grind, not that hard when you know what to do and there is some good sites on the net that have helped,
    I especially liked the Tubalcain videos and have been slowly working my way through the list.

    I have also purchased a cheap parting tool holder with HSS from Ebay that will get me started.

    Longer term I may look at the quick change tool holder, more for the ability to set the hight easily than anything, just need to learn a lot more about the sizes and start using the lathe.

    Tanks again

    Michael

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