Umm - I won't be buying that on ebay!
David Jenkins - 12/10/13 at 04:05 PM
Many years ago I bought a Colchester Student lathe for £200 from a school on the other side of town, on condition that I organised and paid for the
shipping (fair enough!). This beast weighs more than my Locost and sits in my garage. It has a 4-way toolpost that's a premium item on the
second-hand market, but it's something that I've always found to be a bit of a bind as I often use a range of tools, which means that I have
to spend time setting up tools each time I change from the usual ones. My little Zyto lathe has a quick change system that I made myself, and
it's a god-send, so I've been thinking about a similar system for the big lathe.
The other day I noticed a quick-change toolpost with a number of tool carriers on ebay - Dickson Quick Change Toolpost &'
Holders
- it had been up for a while with very few bids. I thought it would be ideal as it was a reputable make (Dicksons), and was
'used, but serviceable'. Was ready to go to £150, but in the end it went for £330! As this was a bit over what I paid for the lathe and
its 3-phase converter, I declined...
The moral of this story is - if you are tempted to buy a big lathe of 6" or more centre-height be aware that the cost of tooling is horribly
scary, even if the lathe is cheap! As for me, I'm going to continue with the existing toolpost as my time is cheap; if I have to spend an extra
10 minutes setting up a cutting tool then I can cope with that...
[Edited on 12/10/13 by David Jenkins]
big_wasa - 12/10/13 at 04:14 PM
Ahh but your lathe still works.
my little Chinese one does not 
Wadders - 12/10/13 at 04:42 PM
Perfect excuse to buy a milling machine and make one 
http://homepage3.nifty.com/amigos/qctp/qctp-e.htm
big_wasa - 12/10/13 at 05:01 PM
Some nice engineering work there 
David Jenkins - 12/10/13 at 05:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Wadders
Perfect excuse to buy a milling machine and make one
http://homepage3.nifty.com/amigos/qctp/qctp-e.htm
Right - that page has been bookmarked!
I may never have the opportunity to make it, but it would EXACTLY meet my needs... 
David Jenkins - 12/10/13 at 05:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
Ahh but your lathe still works.
my little Chinese one does not
My 3.25" Zyto has been working since the 1940's, and the Colchester since around 1953... but not solely with me, I hasten to add!
[Edited on 12/10/13 by David Jenkins]
big_wasa - 12/10/13 at 05:50 PM
The Chinese mini lathe has lasted several years and has now died of a variable speed problem. I didn't appreciate how much I used it, until I
couldn't.
rick1962uk - 12/10/13 at 06:03 PM
is it 25mm tools if so i have a box full you can have
David Jenkins - 12/10/13 at 06:04 PM
quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
The Chinese mini lathe has lasted several years and has now died of a variable speed problem. I didn't appreciate how much I used it, until I
couldn't.
The "variable speed" on my Zyto is a 3-position flat-belt pulley system, plus a back gear - a total of 6 speeds!
coozer - 12/10/13 at 06:08 PM
Not seen some at Stoneleigh?
Whats wrong with these:
http://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/Quick_Change_Toolposts__Complete_Sets_.html
[Edited on 12/10/13 by coozer]
ashg - 12/10/13 at 06:17 PM
I may have a spare one of those quick change tool posts sitting in a draw. I will have a look for it next weekend when I'm having a clear out.
It come with my 9inch Harrison but it doesn't fit the cross slide.
Send me a u2u next weekend to remind me to look for it.
ashg - 13/10/13 at 05:43 AM
Here is the one I have kicking about. Its a proper Colchester one. Can only find two quick change bits so far. Not sure where the others are, they
may turn up in the clear out next weekend.
David Jenkins - 13/10/13 at 11:09 AM
quote:
Originally posted by coozer
Not seen some at Stoneleigh?
Whats wrong with these:
http://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/Quick_Change_Toolposts__Complete_Sets_.html
[Edited on 12/10/13 by coozer]
The new ones available today are almost always made in India or China, and their quality can be... questionable. Also, that one is £200-odd with 2
holders, and extra holders are (a) currently unavailable, and (b) about £75 each when they are available.
There are other types of toolpost that are cheaper, but they can only take lathe tools of up to 16mm shank - I have a number of indexable tools (i.e.
the useful ones with interchangeable bits) with 20mm shanks that I don't want to have to replace, as the 16mm equivalents are upwards of £75 each
for similar quality!
As I said previously, the bigger the lathe, the more ridiculous the prices of accessories - understandable when you need to use them to earn a living,
but not good when you're an amateur who just wants new toys!
(but now I'm going to start a conversation with ashg... )
Wadders - 13/10/13 at 12:09 PM
You have u2u.
Originally posted by rick1962uk
is it 25mm tools if so i have a box full you can have
ashg - 13/10/13 at 12:35 PM
David I normally order tooling from rdg tools. The quality is reasonable and the price. Warco is another place I use but they are a little more
expensive. If you want some good tooling deals the model engineering show is on in Birmingham next weekend.