- Thread starter Exuptoy
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Dr.Al
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I can't comment on whether it would fit your lathe or not, but bear in mind that the type of tool post in that picture has a lot less height adjustment (for different tool thicknesses) than the AXA/BXA family (I'd guess AXA for your lathe, but others might correct me).
When I got my lathe it came with a Dickson tool post that looks a lot like the one in your photo and I found it frustrating enough to get a BXA wedge type one. The Dickson one was fine with 16 mm or 5/8" tools, but if you wanted to put a 12 mm tool in, you needed a shim to get it up to centre height. The BXA one has enough height adjustment to allow you to use tools with the cutting edge 16 mm above the base surface of the holder, or use tools with the cutting edge at the base surface of the tool holder (i.e. mounted upside down for use when the lathe is running backwards if your chuck is suitable for such things). Whatever size tool you want to put in the tool holder, you can adjust it to height.
The AXA/BXA family also has the advantage that the geometry is much simpler, so it's relatively easy (with a milling machine, or alternatively with a vertical slide on the lathe and a lot more patience than I've got) to make new tool holders. I wouldn't fancy the job of making tool holders for a Dickson style post.
AXA/BXA ones also have a built in tool locking handle so you don't have to grab a special spanner to change tools.
Just my opinion of course and I'm sure others can see lots of advantages in Dickson style tool holders like the one in your picture.
Hopefuldave
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Dickson copy - note that the individual toolholders may be a lot more expensive than the dovetail ones, I found that as I have a real Dickson as well as the Chinese BX (250-200) size, was cheaper to buy the dovetail quick-change and a bunch of holders than a couple of Dickson holders... So do your homework and look at what it'll cost to get enough to make it useful (I've about a dozen holders and want more!)
Dave H. (the other one)
Dave H. (the other one)
Dr.Al
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You can never have too many. Most of mine are home-made; I want some more too...
More photos: https://www.cgtk.co.uk/metalwork/m250/toolholders
Dr.Al
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That hasn’t been cheap!
It's not as bad as it looks. I think 6 of them were bought at the same time as the tool post. The other 28 were made from one (1 metre long, maybe?) length of 3" × 1.5" bright mild steel bar. I can't remember how much that cost me, but it was a heck of a lot cheaper than buying 28 tool holders would have been (and probably cost me less than the 6 commercial ones).
When I eventually move to a house with more space and then get a more capable milling machine, I'll probably make another batch of them.
Hopefuldave
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Pics from before mounting, sussing out whether it'd work OK - had to cut down the roofing bolts t o 20mm, drill a 10mm hole in each AldiLidl angle bracket. Some idiot grabbed the long-spring Zebedees and had to trim the springs to half their length, too...
The brackets are a bit sloppy in the dovetails (2 mm smaller?), but not so they can fall off without tipping it all on its front, once bolted to something solid not a problem.
You can just about see the trimmed springs - if you too are an idiot and get the tall ones, pay attention to where you cut so they don't hang up in the Unistrut slots - don't ask...
Once you've stabbed yourself with the springs, they slide in alright and can be put where you want
Didn't NEED to put brackets in LH and RH, but did anyway!
Dave H. (the other one)
The brackets are a bit sloppy in the dovetails (2 mm smaller?), but not so they can fall off without tipping it all on its front, once bolted to something solid not a problem.
You can just about see the trimmed springs - if you too are an idiot and get the tall ones, pay attention to where you cut so they don't hang up in the Unistrut slots - don't ask...
Once you've stabbed yourself with the springs, they slide in alright and can be put where you want
Didn't NEED to put brackets in LH and RH, but did anyway!
Dave H. (the other one)
Exuptoy
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Nice job. A pic is worth a thousand words and all that.
First thing we do in work when fitting any type of Unistrut is pull the springs off. Once slid into the strut the tightening action on the bolt turns them to the lock position anyway. You could Machine the 90 degree Unistrut brackets to have the correct dovetail width and angle to be an interference fit.
First thing we do in work when fitting any type of Unistrut is pull the springs off. Once slid into the strut the tightening action on the bolt turns them to the lock position anyway. You could Machine the 90 degree Unistrut brackets to have the correct dovetail width and angle to be an interference fit.
zx9
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Exuptoy
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Got my mounting feet drilled, tapped & attached then lifted the lathe on and welded them down before removing the lathe and painting the cabinet.
Very pleased. Top needs another coat and a few places I missed but it looks good and fits in with my colour theme. I have some unequal angle to edge to lower shelf then it’ll be done.
Very pleased. Top needs another coat and a few places I missed but it looks good and fits in with my colour theme. I have some unequal angle to edge to lower shelf then it’ll be done.
Arc Tourist
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Looking Good ! 
Hopefuldave
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Very smart! Looks a lot better than the commercial ones, too, and with all that storage you'll have no excuses for not finding stuff
Dave H. (the other one)
