Thread: Cutting Down toolholders

I bought this lot at an auction today for $40 all the tool holders are 25 mm can I just mill these down to 18 mm to fit. In my tool post or 16 mm for a qctp I am yet to buy ?

You could (depends on how hard they are), although you might be better off asking whether someone with a larger lathe was interested in them. I don't know whether the boring bars will cut down - they might need to be sold on I think (or swapped).

Michael

PS - Did you want the lathe file I got for you?

That looks like good value for $40, you probably get that per item. I don't know about those particular tools but I have seen others machined down to fit smaller tool posts.

If you are getting a new QCTP and want to use these with that then I would wait so you can determine the best centre heights. Then machine the best side or sides to suit.

I've milled down similar indexable tooling and it works fine.

Have to use carbide and it will be very hard steel.

The other option is to grind them down.

Good buy.

Cheers

Rob

Originally Posted by welder

I bought this lot at an auction today for $40 all the tool holders are 25 mm can I just mill these down to 18 mm to fit. In my tool post or 16 mm for a qctp I am yet to buy ?

They're generally machinable with carbide tooling at worst. Hit them with a file and see if it cuts, that'll give you a starting point.

If the boring bars don't fit and can't be machined (and I personally wouldn't machine down the shank of a boring bar) depending on what tip they take I'd be happy to buy them off you. I don't have any TC boring bars for my Monarch.

WRT QCTP's I think the Swiss 40 position types are the best but the holders aren't cheap.

PDW

Thanks for the advice guys I have tested them with a file it cuts but they seem fairly hard. I am not going to cut the boring bars an. will make a holder for them, I want to mill down the threading and turning holders.

Just a thought?
The bigger size carbides and holders suit larger machines obviously. With the bigger machines and more horsepower,aren't the tool rake angles different from a machine that takes a 25 square tool to one that takes 16mm square?

If your lathe is an older one its not likely have the rpm and/or horsepower to run carbide inserts.

Grahame

I do agree on that respect Grahme, I have a McMillan lathe which might not have enough power/rigidity to run negative rake turning tool but I dont see why the threading inserts wont work or the positive rake boring bars I only hope I can use the new carbide parting tool

Looks very similar to the Dai-shin I used to have Andre. I could just get it going well enough to get blue chips although the finish was not great. Parting with carbide was a problem mainly because the rigidity was not present.

Michael

I acquired some nice holders and inserts, that were just several mm too high in my toolpost, so swung them in the 4 jaw, drilled a small dimple on centre, then faced them off with another good carbide tool. Very pleased with them. COmbustor.