Phase II QCTP. Not what I expected.

[7milesup]

No flame from me that is for sure. Like to hear what you think of it. I will say after cleaning my AXA holder up that came with the lathe, PM's is just as good as the Phase II.
I will say that Travers Tool took it back with no complaints so their CS was very good.

 

[mikey]

Don't see how anyone could justify flaming you for this, Mark. I don't know this for sure but I would guess Chinese tool posts outnumber Aloris and Dorian tool posts on the typical hobby lathe by a pretty wide margin.

And just to be clear, repeatability on an Aloris or Dorian tool post (I own both) is mostly a myth. Every single time you put the tool holder on the post the tool height can be slightly off. I am sure of this because I check tool height each and every time. It is close enough to use but it won't be dead on center without messing with it a bit. So use your post and enjoy the convenience.

 

[Larry42]

For my business I always bought high quality tools. They paid for themselves in reliable performance. For my hobby now that I'm retired I've bought used and Chinese. Even at their low prices they will never pay for themselves! I totally agree with Bob Korves in his assessment of Chinese tools. In order for me to have the equipment and tooling to do the things a hobby guy would like to it takes a lot of "stuff." I'm not a tool snob and an Aloris QCTP & holders won't make me a better machinist. It would be nice to have but right now I'd like to get an 8" rotary table with all the goodies. The Taiwan/Chinese set will cost less than an Aloris QCTP set. The QCTP that came on my PM1440HD plus the Shars holders I've added are better than my machining skills. So which would you choose? An acceptable 8" HV rotary table, dividing plates, nice tailstock, 7.6" decent 3 jaw or replacing my QCTP with an Aloris??? I realize my choice is putting me in a lower standing than some on this forum. That's OK, you can delete my comments.

 

[bfd]

I am happy with my Chinese tools why you ask? because I treat all Chinese tools as kits that need to be tuned to work correctly. my lathe from enco needed to be completely rewired and has worked perfectly since. I can afford these kits or go without. for me that's an easy choice bill

 

[mikey]

... I realize my choice is putting me in a lower standing than some on this forum. That's OK, you can delete my comments.

The tools you choose should in no way reflect on you or your standing on this forum. That is partly why HM got it's start. You do not need to defend your choices ever, Larry. Or Mark, for that matter. We all have our own philosophy regarding the tooling we choose, and we definitely have our own budgets.

For my part, I respect you for who you are, not what you own.

 

[darkzero]

Or you could consider a 40-position Multifix-type of tool post system, like from Create Tool in China. Their prices and shipping are very reasonable. I love mine and wouldn't want to go back to a "regular" qctp.

When I was shopping for a tool post I really wanted a Multi-Fix but I couldn't find an original since they were no longer made and at the time I couldn't find any reviews on the import clones on how good they were. They were also still pretty expensive & more importantly the tool holders were pretty expensive for the clones, not a lot of vendors carried them, & there weren't as many holder styles available like for the Aloris style QCTP.

The lathe I originally ordered was going to include a Multi-Fix clone but I changed my mind & purchased a bigger lathe. I searched for a DTM QCTP, I had one on my mini-lathe & it was very nice. Couldn't find a DTM in the size I needed so I went with the Dorian SQCTP, couldn't be happier but sometimes I do still wish I would have found a Multi-Fix or DTM.

 

[darkzero]

I realize my choice is putting me in a lower standing than some on this forum.

Nope, not at all, everything is welcome here. Sure there may be individuals who look down on China tooling & small hobby machines but so be it. If anyone does scruitinize you for buying inexpensive tooling, ignore them, those types of comments are not welcome here anyway.

I don't mind China tooling & machines. Sure some of it can be poor quality and/or need work to be useable but I look at it this way. If it weren't for the inexpensive/affordable stuff coming out of China, many people would not be able to have machining equipment in their home garages. Having small hobby machines & inexpensive tooling is better than having none at all.

I sure wouldn't have been able to get into this hobby if it weren't for China stuff. Sure I have splurged & bought quality stuff over the years but I do own a fair share of cheap stuff also & I'm fine with that, I don't care what anyone thinks or says about what I have. If I'm happy that's all that matters.

 

[mikey]

If it weren't for the inexpensive/affordable stuff coming out of China, many people would not be able to have machining equipment in their home garages. Having small hobby machines & inexpensive tooling is better than having none at all.

'Dis is true! Affordable machines and tooling makes it possible to engage in this hobby for many of us. It still ain't cheap but its doable and that's what counts.

 

[wrmiller]

Don't see how anyone could justify flaming you for this, Mark. I don't know this for sure but I would guess Chinese tool posts outnumber Aloris and Dorian tool posts on the typical hobby lathe by a pretty wide margin.

And just to be clear, repeatability on an Aloris or Dorian tool post (I own both) is mostly a myth. Every single time you put the tool holder on the post the tool height can be slightly off. I am sure of this because I check tool height each and every time. It is close enough to use but it won't be dead on center without messing with it a bit. So use your post and enjoy the convenience.

The flip side of that is my parting tool that I cannot remember the last time I adjusted it. After parting off something I even check it by running it all the way in to see if it leaves a nub and needs adjusting. It hasn't (needed adjusting) yet. Maybe some tool holders just register better than others? I'm using one of my PM holders for that cutoff tool. I own a few Aloris holders, but they don't really seem to do any better job of holding cutters than the imports I have do.

 

[mikey]

The flip side of that is my parting tool that I cannot remember the last time I adjusted it. After parting off something I even check it by running it all the way in to see if it leaves a nub and needs adjusting. It hasn't (needed adjusting) yet. Maybe some tool holders just register better than others? I'm using one of my PM holders for that cutoff tool. I own a few Aloris holders, but they don't really seem to do any better job of holding cutters than the imports I have do.

Aahh, but you have the magic PM holder, Bill, and that makes a difference.

Half my tool holders are Aloris, the other half are Phase II. All of them can sometimes register fine, sometimes not fine. I check center height every single time with a center height gauge made to fit my specific lathe and I am convinced that Aloris and Dorian tool posts and tool holders of any kind do not always seat at their preset height. They fit good enough to work; just not good enough for me so I have to fuss with it until it is.