Lathe Tools?

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
5,855
How do I tell what size tools to get for my lathe? I bought one of Harbor Freight's 8 by 12's and a set of 1/4" cutters but they're way too small. The holder looks like it would hold up to a 5/8" tool but I don't think I need em that big. Any help you machinists can give me will be muchly appreciated!!!
 
I wonder if you are missing a tool holder for your tool holder, so to speak. I have seen the lathes at work, and some of them hold the larger size tools, and some the 1/4" size. Machine company have any advice? The lathes at work had the proper size tool holders without any adapter to hold either size for an individual lathe, but I would think there would be some simple conversion tool holder. I will check in the morning to see if I have any of the larger size cutter bits. If so, I can't use them, will send them to you. Are you sure they aren't closer to 3/8" size? The "bits" I have for my lathe are the smaller size, but I think i still have some larger size I picked up at a yard sale that were mixed in with the ones I needed.
 
L6, it should be documented but obviously not and I have seen several machine documents from Harbor Freight and would be more suprised than not if it were documented well. I would guess it is 5/16 inch or 3/8. A 1/4 is rather small for that size swing. Thankfully the tool bits for lathes are inexpensive compared to such things as end mills for milling machines.

As stated above; do you have the tool holder with the machine ? If so you should be able to measure it for the proper tool thickness.

I'll try to get you a link to Varmint Al's website. He does quite a bit of lathing using these size machines.

Here, this might help or not: http://www.cctrap.com/~varmint/alath.htm
His is a little smaller swing, I think.

RL
 
L6, on all the lathes I have used other than mini's that is a normal.The holders are designed to take multiple size tooling.Just put the tool in and adjust the height of the toolholder to compensate.I have used some of my 1/4" tools on our lathe at work that normally runs 1/2" tools.Hope this helps,Dave.:)
 
Thanks for the tips guys!!
The link was great RL! I printed the entire page. :)
Some excellent info there!
That might not be the same model lathe as mine but I'm sure it's made by the same outfit and has the same problems and such.
My lathe does have a tool holder but it's made for larger tools than the 1/4" ones I have.
DC, I did what you mentioned. I shimmed the little 1/4" cutters till they hit the stock as near center as I could get em but it would be so much handier if I could just find the right size tools that would do this without shimming. It was a hemorrhoid and a half gettin all those thin pieces of brass to line up,lol.
John, I'd be thankful for anything you could send me and more than happy to pay you for them.
This forum is a grand source for information and help from a bunch of wonderful folks!!
 
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