Thread: Help with turning steel tool post

25.4mm is 1inch. You should be able to buy some bright steel round in 1inch dia, which would be cheaper than getting some machined to size.

Check with your local steel merchants, I can buy it off the shelf at a few of my suppliers.

Yes, tried that DJ but it wouldn't work. I'm guessing that the actual diameter is 25.someting? and there is virtually no tolerance. It will need to be machined using the exact diameter of the actual tool post. No idea why Laguna would make it so precise but the locking mechanism isn't the screw-in lock found on most lathes.

Originally Posted by doragus

Yes, tried that DJ but it wouldn't work. I'm guessing that the actual diameter is 25.someting? and there is virtually no tolerance. It will need to be machined using the exact diameter of the actual tool post. No idea why Laguna would make it so precise but the locking mechanism isn't the screw-in lock found on most lathes.

You may need to measure the shaft you bought as often the suppliers stuff up

Originally Posted by doragus

Yes, tried that DJ but it wouldn't work. I'm guessing that the actual diameter is 25.someting?

• Find the centre on one end of the required length of rod and centre punch it.

• Mount the other end in your self-centering chuck on your (wood) lathe.

• Place revolving tailstock centre in the centre punch divot.

• Run the lathe slowly and apply a file to the tailstock end of the rod until the required diameter is achieved.

• Rest the file handle on the tool rest post to help stabilise the file while filing down the rod.

• Extend that diameter for the length required to fit down into the tool post.

• If you have a Vernier caliper that will help with measuring progress towards the required diameter.

• Tool rest posts don't need to be a tight fit (just parallel) and, I find if too tight, will jam up with the fine sawdust feeding down into between the post and post hole.

Thanks Neil. I'll give it a go.

Originally Posted by NeilS

• Tool rest posts don't need to be a tight fit (just parallel) and, I find if too tight, will jam up with the fine sawdust feeding down into between the post and post hole.

Unfortunately with the Laguna lathes, I have the 24-36 lathe, the tool rest post diameter is super critical. It must be exactly 25.4mm.

I had a few rests made by Vicmark, they are superb and I will be getting another one to supplement the 100mm, 200mm and 400mm rests I had them make up for me.

They don't look anything like that now, they have wear marks and paint is missing, but the important bit, the 10mm hardened steel bar on the top, are all dent free. The original 300mm black rest is included in one picture. I have hardly used it since getting the Vicmark tool rests; they really are very good. Their price is not as expensive as one would imagine and getting three delivered is not three times a single delivery cost.


Mick.

Vicmarc_Toolpost_Group_IMG_20190731_092329 (002).jpgVicmarc_Toolpost_Group_IMG_20190731_092212.jpgVicmarc_Toolpost_Group_IMG_20190731_092408 (002).jpgSpotted_Gum_IMG_20190801_161914 (003).jpg

Originally Posted by doragus

Yes, tried that DJ but it wouldn't work.

Was the round bar black or bright.

Bright steel bar is a carbon black steel which has had the surface condition improved by drawing, peeling, turning or grinding the black steel finish to produce a “bright” finish with a tighter tolerance and an improved surface without scale.

25mm/25.4mm/1" is one of the worst sizes engineering. A typical use is as chrome plated bar used in hydraulic cylinders. Many people have come undone by just taking a rough measurement but coming undone in manufacture or repair of an item. The difference in the three measurements is only 0.4mm between all three, so easy to make a mistake. The three are equally used in engineering purposes. And yes suppliers mix them up also.

Originally Posted by Optimark

Unfortunately with the Laguna lathes, I have the 24-36 lathe, the tool rest post diameter is super critical. It must be exactly 25.4mm.

OK, I can see by looking closer at the Laguna tool post holder method why you say that and Doragus did spell that out in his initial post, which I managed to sail right past.

Given that, carefully filing down the round bar to fit in and clamp in the post holder is still an option. In which case the Verniers will be essential to maintain uniform diameter and avoid undersizing.

Getting the divot dead centre in the end of the rod will also be critical to ensure there is enough meat in all radius directions to avoid areas of undersizing anywhere on the circumference.

BTW, Laguna has a very unimaginative lot of tool rest shapes on offer... any length as long as it is straight...

Yes Neil it's a Laguna feature that I could do without as I have a good collection of tool rests for the other type of post receptacle. I have tried some 25.4 mm bright before and it was actually too small but I have come accross another source online and I'm going to try a short section of it. Hope it does the job.

There are two brands lathes that I have used where the tool rest is virtually immovable, or at least feels immovable, any Vicmark lathe with a 30mm tool post, and the Laguna 24-36 tool post.

The rigidity of the Laguna tool post holder via the fully enveloping type of clamping method, has to be felt to be believed; rock solid. I can only speak for the Revo 24-36 lathe and although the Revo 18-36 lathe uses the same full clamping method, the banjo is physically much smaller.

Mick.

Yes Mick. I have the 12-16 and that post certainly locks solid. I just wish I could use my other rests with it.

To get bright steel bar exactly 25.4mm or 1" you will need to buy centreless ground bar. All cold drawn bright bar is a few thou under the nominal size.