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Tool Using 1/4" lathe cutting tools in a holder made for 1/2" tooling

Tool
Larry_C9

Larry_C9

Super User
Premium Member
I was recently machining some very small parts in the lathe and decided I could only access it with 1/4" cutting tools. I want to have a good rigid mount for the 1/4 cutting tool so I squared up a piece of mild steel stock I had to fit the full length of the 1/2' slot in the AXA tool holder. I then milled a slot in the top of new adapter to fit the 1/4 cutting tools . I centered the 1/4 slot under the center of the tool holder set screws. A couple of things I ran into - The so called 1/4 HSS cutting tools I bought from Accusize only measured .144" square so cut the slot to fit them fairly close leaving the 1/4 tool sit about .015" high so the set screws would get a good hold down on the tools and adapter. 2nd - the 1/2 square adapter did not fit right back against the back of the slot in the AXA holder because there was a slight radius in the inside bottom corner. A little chamfer on the inside bottom corner of my adapter solved that problem.
 

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Larry_C9 said:
I then milled a slot in the top of new adapter to fit the 1/4 cutting tools . I centered the 1/4 slot under the center of the tool holder set screws.
Click to expand...

I have had to do something similar a few times. I put a thick shim behind the tool and another under it. Works the same as what you did without the machining.

I think your approach will be much more rigid. The main reason I did it differently is that I didn't have a decent mill yet.

When I get out to the shop I'll take a photo and add it here.
 
Larry_C9 said:
I want to have a good rigid mount for the 1/4 cutting tool so I squared up a piece of mild steel stock I had to fit the full length of the 1/2' slot in the AXA tool holder.
Click to expand...

Susquatch said:
When I get out to the shop I'll take a photo and add it here.
Click to expand...

I took the photo Larry, but forgot to post it.

I think I got the shim set at Busy Bee ages ago. I don't know if they still carry it. It has saved my bacon a hundred times. The tool in the holder is a 7/32 HSS bar mounted so it can be on center. However, the tool itself is for chamfering and doesn't need to be on center.

20240721_162320.jpg
 
I have some of those shims also along with few others I have made up along the way. My wife used to buy some British candies in a small round tin with a lid. I salvaged them when they were empty. They are a perfect size for storing these shims and other small items.
 
wmetfab said:
A person could get an old set of feeler gauges and use them as shims?
Click to expand...

I do that too. Just not old ones. I bought 3 sets on Ali and took the set apart. VERY HANDY! I use them all the time!

They are not big enough for this job though. The ones I use for this job are 1/16 through to 3/8ths.
 
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Ive taken bits of flat stock eg 1/4 or 1/8 x 1/2 and smoothed off the mill scale both sides and used that. Also used steel banding it comes in a couple thickness that works real good
 
wmetfab said:
Ive taken bits of flat stock eg 1/4 or 1/8 x 1/2 and smoothed off the mill scale both sides and used that. Also used steel banding it comes in a couple thickness that works real good
Click to expand...

That would work. It was handy as hell to just buy an assortment all in one package at Busy Bee.
 
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