Tool-less Lathe Carriage Lock Bolt

walterwoj

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Dec 26, 2019
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Today I finished my Tool-less Lathe Carriage Lock Bolt! A little backstory: The Carriage lock bolt on my lathe has a 7/16" square head bolt. I haven't been enamored with this because I don't like using and open end wrench (that I keep loosing!) on the square head and the cost of buying a square wrench is outrageous ($13-$50) so in true hobbyist fashion I wasted a lot of time and even more money making a better bolt. I started out with 3/4" 12L14 and did everything by hand. I used the upside-down and backwards threading technique I saw from Joe P on youtube to single point the thread without a shoulder, worked like a charm. The bolt part is a 7/16" Square just in case something goes wrong and I need a wrench to get it out. the Knurled handle is held on with a roll pin and can flip over to stay out of the way.

Just so you know: I only ruined 3 (really cheap Chinese) end mills making this!

Here's the old bolt:
IMG_20200607_131049.jpgIMG_20200607_131104.jpg
And now the new one (pre-bluing):
IMG_20200607_125154.jpg
New one blued and oiled:
IMG_20200607_130955.jpg
Old and new side by side:
IMG_20200607_131115.jpg
New installed and loose:
IMG_20200607_131229.jpg
New installed and locked:
IMG_20200607_131248.jpg
I had planed on the locked and loose positions to be 45 degrees to the left, I even threaded the bolt in and marked the side I wanted but it came out wrong. It's still on an OK position so i'm happy.
 
Now that would be a very handy upgrade!

Nicely done!
-brino
 
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