Lathe tool post material

[God mode restorations]

Evening everyone.
Are lathe tool posts made of hardened steel. I will be after a lump of steel as I need to make one. Not a qc type. Just wondering on the material so I no what to ask for.

 

[Maker]

I don't think mine is hardened.

I definitely wouldn't want to drill and tap a load of holes in a tougher steel.

 

[God mode restorations]

I don't think mine is hardened.

I definitely wouldn't want to drill and tap a load of holes in a tougher steel.

I think my Mellor lathe tp is just normal steel.

 

[gaz1]

i might have one for that



70mm square x 35mm high 7 1/2mm x 21mm for the tools to fit into

 

[Hood]

For a small lathe it probably doesn't matter, for a larger one I would make it out of something like EN19 or EN24, the latter is what I used to make my turret plate from and it is standing up well.

 

[Screwdriver]

You definitely don't want mild steel, might just as well use plasticine. It would have to be a specialist higher carbon or exotic alloy I reckon.

Interestingly, one of the real problems I have is, having been gathering a ton of stock steels and alloys for "when I get around to it", it's tricky to establish exactly what you have got! Among some of the nondescript batches of metalwork I even found a huge bar of solid copper. While that was easy to identify after a bit of cleaning, there must be some interesting steel alloys in the collection just by virtue of where they came from. Identifying exactly what a given steel might be is the trick though otherwise you'd have to buy it from a reputable source and where's the fun in that?

 

[Richard.]

Evening everyone.
Are lathe tool posts made of hardened steel. I will be after a lump of steel as I need to make one. Not a qc type. Just wondering on the material so I no what to ask for.

A lump of En24T would be perfect. It’s a nice tough steel with a tiny bit of sulphur in it which makes it Machine beautifully.
It’s not particularly hard but it’s got good impact properties.

 

[God mode restorations]

A lump of En24T would be perfect. It’s a nice tough steel with a tiny bit of sulphur in it which makes it Machine beautifully.
It’s not particularly hard but it’s got good impact properties.

Thanks Richard. Will pop down my local suppliers and see if I can get a lump or en24t

 

[God mode restorations]

i might have one for that

View attachment 133575

70mm square x 35mm high 7 1/2mm x 21mm for the tools to fit into

Think it will be to small Gaz. The Mellor has a stout ol lump for a tool post. Measuring 100 square and 50mm high. Acording to my research they will take a 12mm to 16mm tool at centre height . But thankyou anyway

 

[Maker]

You definitely don't want mild steel, might just as well use plasticine. It would have to be a specialist higher carbon or exotic alloy I reckon.

Interestingly, one of the real problems I have is, having been gathering a ton of stock steels and alloys for "when I get around to it", it's tricky to establish exactly what you have got! Among some of the nondescript batches of metalwork I even found a huge bar of solid copper. While that was easy to identify after a bit of cleaning, there must be some interesting steel alloys in the collection just by virtue of where they came from. Identifying exactly what a given steel might be is the trick though otherwise you'd have to buy it from a reputable source and where's the fun in that?

Get a PMI gun, probably only a few thousand pounds.

 

[Screwdriver]

Get a PMI gun, probably only a few thousand pounds.

Will do, if I ever really feel the need for PMT.

 

[sako243]

You definitely don't want mild steel, might just as well use plasticine. It would have to be a specialist higher carbon or exotic alloy I reckon.

Interestingly, one of the real problems I have is, having been gathering a ton of stock steels and alloys for "when I get around to it", it's tricky to establish exactly what you have got! Among some of the nondescript batches of metalwork I even found a huge bar of solid copper. While that was easy to identify after a bit of cleaning, there must be some interesting steel alloys in the collection just by virtue of where they came from. Identifying exactly what a given steel might be is the trick though otherwise you'd have to buy it from a reputable source and where's the fun in that?

I could put you in contact with my godmother's husband. He's a self-described dinosaur (a.k.a. metallurgist as they're an extinct breed) - I'm sure he'd have fun trying to identify them for you.

 

[Screwdriver]

I could put you in contact with my godmother's husband. He's a self-described dinosaur (a.k.a. metallurgist as they're an extinct breed) - I'm sure he'd have fun trying to identify them for you.

Ooh, that's an interesting proposition. What I might do once the forge area is operational, is take a few slices off some of the larger interesting pieces or stock I have multiples of. I was going to do some spark tests and test hardening but if I get stuck, I'll give you a ping. It will all be played out on here I'm sure.

 

[sako243]

Ah but being semi-retired he likes charging consulting fees . Although if you have some weird stuff it might pique his interest. That or helping him with his perpetually causing problems Jaguar.

 

[gaz1]

reference for you as @Bsmith made a 4 poster using milling machine parts on his lathe

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/need-a-bit-of-milling-done.74930/page-2

 

[Bsmith]

reference for you as @Bsmith made a 4 poster using milling machine parts on his lathe

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/need-a-bit-of-milling-done.74930/page-2

Yep, mild steel and it suits all my needs, no vibration or chatter if that may be thought to be the problem with ms.

 

[Screwdriver]

Yep, mild steel and it suits all my needs, no vibration or chatter if that may be thought to be the problem with ms.

No I think the problem is it just isn't tough enough to survive in a machine shop environment. MS will ding easily or possibly even distort so forget about maintaining a flat surface or clean straight edges. Also it wears far too easily, holes will enlarge and distort especially with clamping forces applied, dust and grit can become embedded. Mild steel is just too soft imho.

 

[Bsmith]

No I think the problem is it just isn't tough enough to survive in a machine shop environment. MS will ding easily or possibly even distort so forget about maintaining a flat surface or clean straight edges. Also it wears far too easily, holes will enlarge and distort especially with clamping forces applied, dust and grit can become embedded. Mild steel is just too soft imho.

Yep i see what you mean, think mine will be ok as it's just used as a hobby lathe now. Cheers.