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  1. #1
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    Default Lathe tool holder too thick - can I grind it down?

    I just bought an 'English style' lathe tool holder for HSS bits, which is 19.8mm thick, but my tool post gap is only 16mm. Bugger.
    It seems to me that if I were to get into it with my angle grinder I could whip those 3 or 4mm off the top surface and it really wouldn't matter given it is only the tightening bolts that bear down on it.

    Can't say I've ever attempted to grind down whatever metal the tool holder is made of, presumably something hard, but I do have a big angle grinder

    So what is the collective conscious? If a 15mm thick version existed, I'd return and swap it, but there isn't.
    cheers
    John

  2. #2
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    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Those holders are case hardened. I have milled them down before, I'm sure you could grind it down.

    Ew
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  3. #3
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    I did something like that when I had a smaller lathe and the tool holders for the QCTP did not quite fit. Can you use an angle grinder? Yes. Will it look a bit rough - probably. You may be better milling or after using the angle grinder cleaning up the surface a bit so that it looks like it's always meant to have been that way.
    Sing out if you need some help with that.

    Michael

  4. #4
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    Have you checked if you grind down the top that the HSS will end up close enough to center height?

    Stuart

  5. #5
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    If you can clamp some angle iron on the sides as guides for the angle grinder it will make for a neater job.

    Or see Michael G for a live demo of his surface grinder....

    RaY

  6. #6
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    In general when this situation arises the re-sizing is done by taking the material off the base of the holder. The main point to consider is the height of the tool tip. You may find that making it fit by milling the top leaves the tool tip too high. There should be no trouble taking it off the bottom, your lathe is no doubt smaller than what the 'large' tool shank would normally fit so a few mil thinner would not matter. As a matter of interest I have quite a few tools reduced this way and have had no problems over quite a few years. Another thing to consider is to take the same amount off the inside surface if your tool slot is designed for a smaller tool.

    Peter

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stustoys View Post
    Have you checked if you grind down the top that the HSS will end up close enough to center height?

    Stuart
    Yes, the measurements are from the bottom surface, so anything off the top won't matter. Yikes, this picture is really small - sorry but I hope you get the idea.
    English-Tool-Holder.jpg

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by RayG View Post
    If you can clamp some angle iron on the sides as guides for the angle grinder it will make for a neater job.
    Clever idea!
    thanks

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Michael G View Post
    I did something like that when I had a smaller lathe and the tool holders for the QCTP did not quite fit. Can you use an angle grinder? Yes. Will it look a bit rough - probably. You may be better milling or after using the angle grinder cleaning up the surface a bit so that it looks like it's always meant to have been that way.
    Sing out if you need some help with that.
    Michael
    Thanks for the kind offer. The lathe is a small chinese machine with a milling head as well, so that is a nice idea to finish it off. I bought the lathe of a local noticeboard from a guy who just wanted it out of his shed for $100, and now having done a WEA metal turning for beginners course for 5 nights I'm ready to, well, at least turn it on! I at least now know how to make a metal hammer.

    As yet I don't have any milling bits, or a milling vise, so in the short term I will angle grind it using one of the suggestions here to clamp angle irons each side as a guide.

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