Lantern tool for shaper

[Tim9]

My Rhodes 7” shaper came with a little stubby lantern tool holder. The lantern is a larger diameter than my unused lantern holders from the South Bend holders so I’ll have to make a Lantern tool holder if I want to use the extensions tool hold the tool bits. Actually, I figured I rough shape two lanterns.. shaper and lathe.

 

[Tim9]

This began because I wanted to use an Armstrong # 39 on my shaper. I found a 41 in my tool collection. Not sure where I got it from.... but it’s a 3/4” thick shank. I really need a 3/8” shank. That’s a #39 Armstrong. These things are way overpriced on EBay. So... time for modifications of the 41 and a lantern tool holder for a 3/8” shank.

 

[Tim9]

After face 3/8” milling a flat spot and drilling pilot holes I milled the 3/8” slot to depth.

 

[Tim9]

Here’s mock up.

 

[Tim9]

Welded and done. I reused the bolt and nut from the #41 and made the lantern tool holder long enough to accommodate a 3/8” x 1-3/8” tall bar since that’s the size of this bar in my scrap pile. It’s a pretty damned hard bar.....definitely not 1018 nor 4140 steel.

 

[Tim9]

I know that the bar is longer than needed. I plan on cutting it down to make a boring bar tool holder for the shaper. Similar to the Armstrong #46. Just want to make sure I have optimal lengths of each before I just whack the bar in half. And I don’t want to make more than one cut because this steel is tough on my bandsaw blade. It’s hard steel.

 

[Tim9]

Here’s the Armstrong #46 which will be next. I need something like this to do internal splines, internal keyways, etc...

 

[Martin W]

That is some great work Tim.
Cheers
Martin

 

[Tim9]

FWIW, AN ORIGINAL #41 Armstrong holds a 5/16” x 1/2” hss blank. I’m using 5/16” square hss blanks because that’s the size of old rex aa and aaa hss blanks I have on hand. I am using a stainless steel 1/8” x5/16”x 1-1/2” spacer to use the same bolt off of the #41

 

[Tim9]

Thanks Martin. I know I’m a bit slow. It took me a few days to do this. I was thinking that tool and die makers much be incredibly skilled and efficient to do their jobs. I’m in awe of their skill levels every time I’m in the shop and getting aggravated at the amount of time it’s taking me to do a simple job as above.