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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    Perth WA
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    71
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    6,458

    Default A Simple Retractable Threading Tool

    I know there is the swing up tool and the much copied George Thomas retractable but the toolholder that appealed to me most was that offered by Multifix.

    img7.jpg

    A YouTube video showing the simple inner workings of the Multifix provided a couple of useful screen captures which served as a starting point.

    2.jpg 3.JPG

    I do not own a Multifix toolpost, I have a variation of a Dickson, so the greatest deviation from the original retractable was the mount. Another deviation was the use of a formerly 20mm square indexable toolholder, turned and ground to a diameter of 16mm. The body of the tool is 1045, the bushes, 4E cast iron and all the other components, excluding fixings, 4140.

    The tool works nicely. Until now nearly all of the metric threads I have cut on the lathe have been cut manually with a spindle mounted crank handle. Here is one of the tool's M8 height adjustment screws under power at 100 rpm -

    DSC_9133 1 (Large).jpg

    The tool...

    DSC_9163 (Large).JPG DSC_9152 (Large).JPG DSC_9164 (Large).jpg DSC_9154 (Large).JPG DSC_9155 (Large).JPG DSC_9157 (Large).jpg DSC_9158 (Large).jpg DSC_9159 (Large).jpg DSC_9168 (Large).JPG DSC_9142 (Large).jpg

    And finally, a special thank you to Peter Fou, Alan and Piers.

    BT

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    332

    Default

    Bob,
    What a beauty, the end result has justified the journey both visually and operationally I suspect, well done. Looking forward to what your next construction project will be. Alan.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Healesville
    Posts
    2,129

    Default

    That is a beautifully crafted tool Bob, and quite a few hrs of work and think time i'd say.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
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    71
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by C-47 View Post
    Bob,
    What a beauty, the end result has justified the journey both visually and operationally I suspect, well done. Looking forward to what your next construction project will be. Alan.
    Thank you Alan.

    The next thing will probably be something simple like an adaptor to mount the Ifanger threading tool in the retractable. I can think about that one while I'm painting the kitchen window!

    Quote Originally Posted by shedhappens View Post
    That is a beautifully crafted tool Bob, and quite a few hrs of work and think time i'd say.
    Thank you Shed.

    Work commenced on the 22nd of November last year with the transformation of the indexable toolholder.

    DSC_8493 (Large).jpg

    For me, this has been a short duration project!!!!

    BT

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Castlemaine
    Posts
    244

    Default

    Congratulations BT,

    A First class job and photography to match.

    There is only one thing missing.......You need a pantograph to add a "Makers mark"/Initials ala Stefan Gotteswinter.

    Cheers

    Piers

    P.S Once you have painted the windows, if you run out of projects for the shed the DSG has a size B Multifix.............

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Kyabram. Vic
    Posts
    632

    Default

    Beautiful job Bob.

    I do suspect that you may have a "problem" with all things Swiss. Then even to outdo their quality.

    Ken

  7. #7
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    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
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    71
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    6,458

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Piers037 View Post
    Congratulations BT,

    A First class job and photography to match.

    There is only one thing missing.......You need a pantograph to add a "Makers mark"/Initials ala Stefan Gotteswinter.

    Cheers

    Piers

    P.S Once you have painted the windows, if you run out of projects for the shed the DSG has a size B Multifix.............
    Something like this Piers? //metalworkforums.com/f65/t1568...31#post1531731

    005 (Large).JPG

    Thanks for the kind words and for the encouragement throughout the project's duration. As for the size B, the 13 had difficulty accommodating the boy's version so it's probably a job for the Maho. Sorry.

    BT

  8. #8
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    Nov 2008
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    Perth WA
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    71
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Toggy View Post
    Beautiful job Bob.

    I do suspect that you may have a "problem" with all things Swiss. Then even to outdo their quality.

    Ken
    Ha Ken,

    It's got to be the oil smeared on the camera lens. The Swissness must be because the oil's from a Reilang can!!

    Thanks very much for the kind words though. The surface finish is courtesy of my little Douglas shaper and the cheap as chips imitation Korloy inserts Joe put me onto. The little mill probably added a bit too.

    Bob.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
    Posts
    208

    Default

    Bob,
    What a marvelous tool! Well done. It is on my project list also, but since I have an original AI retractable toolpost it has not earned a high place yet ( and given the length of my list.....).
    Any plans for its cousin, for internal threading? I was was thinking it might be possible to just make a modified toolholder and swap them out?

    Peter

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Riddells Creek, Vic.
    Posts
    831

    Default

    That is absolutely magnificent Bob, I like the simplicity of it's design so much that it is now on my "to do" list also. Does it perform as you expected?

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by WoodBee2 View Post
    Bob,
    What a marvelous tool! Well done. It is on my project list also, but since I have an original AI retractable toolpost it has not earned a high place yet ( and given the length of my list.....).
    Any plans for its cousin, for internal threading? I was was thinking it might be possible to just make a modified toolholder and swap them out?

    Peter

    Thanks Peter.

    I have seen two versions of the internal tool, one very similar to the external and the other with the lever mounted towards the front.

    ae55_1.jpg 2.jpg

    I did make a pair of blank toolholders when I had the mill set up to replicate the Boeni mount but they don't really lend themselves to becoming internal retractables due to the absence of material to house the pivot mechanism.


    IMG_20180129_124043_01 (Large).jpg

    A new clamping block for my existing tool would definitely be the easiest means of making an internal version. The handle is easily repositioned at 30 degree intervals. Worth some further consideration.

    Bob.

  12. #12
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    Nov 2008
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    Perth WA
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    Quote Originally Posted by Techo1 View Post
    That is absolutely magnificent Bob, I like the simplicity of it's design so much that it is now on my "to do" list also. Does it perform as you expected?
    Thanks Lex.

    I had to have the thing virtually completed before I could test it to see if it was a failure or a success. A ring in rotating pivot with a brass pin and Vise Grips for a handle proved that it would work hence the later three attempts at a proper handle.
    The final pivot features a turned down 6mm dowel pin and initially it was quite tight in the clamping block's milled 6mm slot. Movement of the hardened pin in the softer 1045 block has created some play when the pin is in the bottom of the slot, the position where the tool is pushed completely forward for cutting. I feared that the play would be its downfall but with the tool clamped rigidly in my 8" bench vice and a 0.01mm dial indicator touching the indexable toolholder, no movement could be detected when the toolholder is fully advanced.

    The completed tool works extremely well. The ability to instantly withdraw the cutter up to 5mm from the work surface and to straddle the workpiece beyond the thread if opportunity allows means higher cutting speeds might be possible.

    In my mind the results justify the effort. With your ability to harden and grind you'll end up with a masterpiece.

    Bob.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
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    64
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    4,887

    Default

    Hello Bob,
    just out of curiosity did you cut all the chamfers on the shaper?

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    Hello Bob,
    just out of curiosity did you cut all the chamfers on the shaper?
    Hello Peter,

    The Douglas was only used to cut the 1045 to size and to impart a reasonable surface finish. I was fortunate to be generously loaned a 3/4" wide 90 degree milling cutter so that was used to cut the vees and the large chamfer after step milling the vees roughly to shape. I used the optical micrometer to accurately locate the vees 60mm apart. All the minor chamfers were hand filed.

    I know people use shapers to cut similar toolpost mounts but the Douglas' lack of micrometer feeds along with the knowledge that mine cuts a slight taper made using the mill an easy choice.

    DSC_8683 (Large).jpg DSC_8803 (Large).jpg DSC_8690 (Large).jpg DSC_8808 (Large).jpg

    Bob.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
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    N.W.Tasmania
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    Default

    I'm a bit late to this thread Bob, but like everyone else, I think that your work is just stunning, as are the photos illustrating it. Very nice Swiss style engineering - jewellery more like it. Thanks for sharing your work with us and I hope that you enjoy the benefits of using it for a long time to come. Cheers and best wishes,
    Rob.

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