Sort of a combination between "What I acquired" and "What I made".
Last weekend I picked up a few little niknaks at a local car boot sale. In among said items were 3 big ring spanners (whit) and an odd one thrown in for free. 50p each so £1.50 the four.
The smallest of the big whit ones fitted the toolpost nut of my Willson and the freebie (13/16" AF) fitted the tailstock nut.
Anyhoo, I spent a bit of time this afternoon cutting down the spanners and cold bending them in my press for a more customised fitment.
The tailstock wrench was shaped so it slips cleanly under the tailstock handwheel and when locked can pass under the compound slide handwheel. Plenty of hand clearance to grab it when under the tailstock handwheel and not foul on the tailstock base casting.
The toolpost spanner had a big offset, which allowed it to pass over the top of the toolholder eccentric nuts. I had to grind some clearance but still plenty strong enough. I then shaped it in the press to come a bit lower and to sort of mirror the tailstock spenner. The offset is not too high, the eccentric wrench passes over it with plenty of clearance. The bend down at the end passes over the tailstock easily too.
Not a biggie, sometimes it's just nice to be able to come up with something that is customised for a specific purpose, costs literally pennies and makes good use of other peoples cast offs. The material is top quality and really took some heave ho on the press to bend them. they sprang back quite a way, too.
Just thought I'd share.
Last weekend I picked up a few little niknaks at a local car boot sale. In among said items were 3 big ring spanners (whit) and an odd one thrown in for free. 50p each so £1.50 the four.
The smallest of the big whit ones fitted the toolpost nut of my Willson and the freebie (13/16" AF) fitted the tailstock nut.
Anyhoo, I spent a bit of time this afternoon cutting down the spanners and cold bending them in my press for a more customised fitment.
The tailstock wrench was shaped so it slips cleanly under the tailstock handwheel and when locked can pass under the compound slide handwheel. Plenty of hand clearance to grab it when under the tailstock handwheel and not foul on the tailstock base casting.
The toolpost spanner had a big offset, which allowed it to pass over the top of the toolholder eccentric nuts. I had to grind some clearance but still plenty strong enough. I then shaped it in the press to come a bit lower and to sort of mirror the tailstock spenner. The offset is not too high, the eccentric wrench passes over it with plenty of clearance. The bend down at the end passes over the tailstock easily too.
Not a biggie, sometimes it's just nice to be able to come up with something that is customised for a specific purpose, costs literally pennies and makes good use of other peoples cast offs. The material is top quality and really took some heave ho on the press to bend them. they sprang back quite a way, too.
Just thought I'd share.