Bill,
You're absolutely right about the 4 way toolposts - they're hopeless! I tried using them for a while and gave up, even with short-shanked carbide tools. The tools not in use always get in the way, and are a really easy way to gash your hand wide open. Plus, if you put a boring tool of any length in there, you only have one other useful station. I chucked my 4 way toolpost out, best mod I made to the lathe!
For hobby stuff, as you say, one tool at a time works fine. You soon get to know your shim packs, and having a small height gauge living permanently on the topslide (if it's a flat topped one) helps a lot. I'd guess that tool changing & sharpening takes up about 10 - 15% of total lathe time.
For anything more productive, get a proper quick change toolpost - my present lathe has a T3 Dickson system. These allow really quick, dead accurate tool swaps. Trouble is, you never have enough toolholders...
I guess it comes down to how fast you want to work, and how much cash you have over to achieve that.
Ian
You're absolutely right about the 4 way toolposts - they're hopeless! I tried using them for a while and gave up, even with short-shanked carbide tools. The tools not in use always get in the way, and are a really easy way to gash your hand wide open. Plus, if you put a boring tool of any length in there, you only have one other useful station. I chucked my 4 way toolpost out, best mod I made to the lathe!
For hobby stuff, as you say, one tool at a time works fine. You soon get to know your shim packs, and having a small height gauge living permanently on the topslide (if it's a flat topped one) helps a lot. I'd guess that tool changing & sharpening takes up about 10 - 15% of total lathe time.
For anything more productive, get a proper quick change toolpost - my present lathe has a T3 Dickson system. These allow really quick, dead accurate tool swaps. Trouble is, you never have enough toolholders...
I guess it comes down to how fast you want to work, and how much cash you have over to achieve that.
Ian