- Joined
- Nov 8, 2013
- Messages
- 21
I have a 14"x 40" Harbor Freight lathe, and I know all the sad tales about Asian lathes are junk and whatever, but how many people get to have a new lathe in their life time. I did cut a 40" piece of mild steel stock, from 2 1/2" down to 2," and only had three thou run out over the whole length, without using a steady rest, so the Asian lathe is doing a fine job for me.
My problem is finding tool holders that have "straight" square holes for cutting bits that are absolutely horizontal. I can't use square holes that point, or angle, up. I need my tool holders to point the carbide, or tool steel bits straight out towards the work. As in being parallel with the floor. I admit to being somewhat retarded, but some one out there might be able to take pity, and clue me in on the science here. I have about 20 Ebay, and Craigslist tool holders (of varying tool bit sizes, that point the cutting bit up hill, and this is just hateful when I try to point the cutting edge just below the centerline of the stock. I like the old stuff, and have spent hundreds of dollars buying Armstrong, and etc., but for the most part have received these damn uphill tool holders. I can't regrind the tool bits, as the up angle causes too much metal to be removed from the cutting bits to be usable. What magic words do I need to know in order to buy tool holders that project the carbide bits out in a horizontal plane rather than this infernal uphill mess. I have both lantern and Aloris (sp) type holders for my tool holders.
My problem is finding tool holders that have "straight" square holes for cutting bits that are absolutely horizontal. I can't use square holes that point, or angle, up. I need my tool holders to point the carbide, or tool steel bits straight out towards the work. As in being parallel with the floor. I admit to being somewhat retarded, but some one out there might be able to take pity, and clue me in on the science here. I have about 20 Ebay, and Craigslist tool holders (of varying tool bit sizes, that point the cutting bit up hill, and this is just hateful when I try to point the cutting edge just below the centerline of the stock. I like the old stuff, and have spent hundreds of dollars buying Armstrong, and etc., but for the most part have received these damn uphill tool holders. I can't regrind the tool bits, as the up angle causes too much metal to be removed from the cutting bits to be usable. What magic words do I need to know in order to buy tool holders that project the carbide bits out in a horizontal plane rather than this infernal uphill mess. I have both lantern and Aloris (sp) type holders for my tool holders.