Wanted-quick change tool post for South Bend 9

[Watch'nmymetal]

Hello! Just wondering if anybody out there,(locally) has a quick change tool post for sale to fit a South Bend 9 metal lathe??

 

[Dabbler]

You can use an AXA QCTP toolpost. Widely available.

 

[Janger]

https://www.kmstools.com/magnum-12-quick-change-tool-post-3113

$160? Sounds pretty good.

 

[Dabbler]

great price - 90$ cheaper than busy bee...

 

[PeterT]

I don't know Southbends well, but check your center height. You might be able to use next size up (B). Probably some Googling will turn up common recommendations. Reason I mention is a) more meaty tool post can only help overall rigidity providing you have the footprint area on the compound b) the tool holders may be similarly scaled, so B might accommodate slightly thicker shanks which may benefit you with more tooling choices & again more rigidity. You would have to check the catalog specs if this is indeed true.

 

[Janger]

If it’s too big then you might have to shave down the bottom of your tool holders. This is because you can’t lower the holder enough to get the tool to lathe centre. I’ve done that. There are some pictures on the site somewhere of me discussing this problem.

 

[PeterT]

This is an example of dimension schematic (happens to be a B). Then check matching tool holders.
http://www.shars.com/quick-changing-tool-post-piston-type-200-bxa

The issue is the sizing guidelines are kind of overlapping & lathe specific. It might say use A for swing of X" and B for swing of Y". But swing just means clearance to bed. But the critical dimension is vertical distance from spindle centerline to datum surface where toolpost is to be mounted (typically the compound top). I think most of the USA lathes generally follow the guideline, but there are some oddball Asian lathes that have big swing but low gap distance & has knackered folks in the past.

 

[PeterT]

Also piston style vs wedge style. Various opinions, pros & cons. I have piston but I hear wedge is better.

 

[Dabbler]

I've heard the pistonvs wedge thing too. I have a piston, and it works.

Don't bother with a BXA on the SB 9A. AXA and 0XA only. My 12.5 X 37 has an AXA on it. I know that even smaller lathes than the SB 9A have managed to sport a BXA - but the lathe itself isn't very rigid in this context, and is a frightful waste, considering AXA holders are abuout 9-12$US, and BXA are close to double that. Eventually you will have between 6 and 16 tool holders.....

Remember the SB9a was originally set up with an Armstrong toolholder for 1/4" HSS bits in them. It just isn't rigid enough to take a big chip anyway. Used as designed, it is a fine lathe.

 

[Tom Kitta]

You should be able to get AXA on eBay or Amazon for around $100 Chinese set with 5 holders.
https://www.amazon.ca/Accusize-Turi...d=1531783634&sr=8-11&keywords=axa+tool+holder

$160 is way too much.
$250 at Busy Bee gets you into Aloris territory (maybe gently used)

 

[Janger]

You should be able to get AXA on eBay or Amazon for around $100 Chinese set with 5 holders.
https://www.amazon.ca/Accusize-Turi...d=1531783634&sr=8-11&keywords=axa+tool+holder

$160 is way too much.
$250 at Busy Bee gets you into Aloris territory (maybe gently used)

That might be just for the holders. I'm not sure it includes the tool post. The pictures don't show the tool post. The description is a little vague. The accusize web site is $199 for a toolpost and tool holders. https://www.accusizetools.com/quick-change-tool-post-sets-usa-style-piston-type/

 

[PeterT]

Was going to say same. They do list the tool posts separately if you want to compare price, or as combo kit set. How good they are I cant say.

https://www.accusizetools.com/search.php?search_query=tool+post
https://www.accusizetools.com/quick-change-tool-posts/

 

[Johnwa]

I use an axa piston type on my southbend. It works fine and is the correct size.




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[Tom Kitta]

I cannot access eBay at work or do some advanced "deal" searches but I paid $200 about 2 years ago (maybe 3) for wedge based BXA set (tool post + 5 holders) made by Chinese new. This was before I was digging hard for deals. Thus I think AXA being smaller should be quite less as they are smaller.

For real deals you have to look & they don't exactly appear when needed. For example through I don't really need it, I have a CXA piston made in Japan with 2 holders for I think $80 little used.