Lathe Tool Height Gauge

[Rob Pulham]

Those with long memories may remember this.



I bought it along with a number of other hand tools which I have subsequently restored over the last year. But I actually bought the job lot on the basis of it containing this. My idea was to make a lathe Tool Height Setting Gauge from it loosely based on the GH Thomas example which is marketed as a kit by Hemingway Kits.

A fellow parish councillor recently gave me a few pieces of steel one of which was perfect for making the two height setting arms.







I have a second ‘arm’ partially made which I will finish off at some point. Finished off with a nice nickel silver thumb screw it works perfectly.

 

[Bob Essex]

Making tooling, jigs and fixtures can be a hobby in itself can’t it, and a bit distracting at times….

Bob

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

A late friend was building a large scale live steam Hunslet ROD 4-6-0T. He worked for years making special tools , jigs and fixtures to make building it easier. He never did get anywhere near finishing the model but he left an awful lot of special tools!

 

[Rob Pulham]

I am a self confessed tool junkie. I get a lot of pleasure from making, restoring and using tools that I have contributed to in some way.

I haven't shared it but in the same lot of what I believe were apprentice made tools*, there was a curved sliding bevel. Although it moved, you could neither fully tighten or fully slacken the thumbscrew. So at the same time as working on the height gauge, I cut the old one off and made a new stud and thumbscrew. I may never actually use it but if I do at least it will now work as intended

*They are all marked with the initials FC and are not quite refined enough to have been made by a master craftsman. Which is why I believe them to have been his apprentice pieces.

 

[NickB]

If the object is to set the tool on centre (which I believe it usually is), I use the age-old technique of lightly trapping a straight edge between the cutting edge of the tool and a piece of round stock, then visually checking that it is vertical. Surprisingly senstive.

Nick

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

If the object is to set the tool on centre (which I believe it usually is), I use the age-old technique of lightly trapping a straight edge between the cutting edge of the tool and a piece of round stock, then visually checking that it is vertical. Surprisingly senstive.

Nick

My method too.

 

[Rob Pulham]

If the object is to set the tool on centre (which I believe it usually is), I use the age-old technique of lightly trapping a straight edge between the cutting edge of the tool and a piece of round stock, then visually checking that it is vertical. Surprisingly senstive.

Nick

Hi Nick,

That was my method too but having watched a really good video on making the Hemingway kit. Then picking up the scribing block and a number of other tools for just over £10, I couldn't resist making one, for the pleasure of making it.

 

[David Mylchreest]

It's a scribing block. It has a number of uses but it can be used most effectively on lathes.

 

[Matt Rogers]

I was always taught to stick a dead center in the tailstock, and then center my lathe tools to that, never faffed around with anything else and certainly not a surface gauge\ scribing block (which is the device pictured).

Regards

 

[Brian McKenzie]

For me, it is far quicker to make a quick skim across the end of material, and adjust tool height if necessary, relative to any pip left at the centre.

I'm not keen on using a 6inch steel rule (as many do), for setting tool height - when it's trapped vertically between tool and workpiece. This can harm finely honed edges on HSS tools. Should be OK with carbide tools and tips though - as they are not normally produced with a ground finish.

-Brian McK.

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

For me, it is far quicker to make a quick skim across the end of material, and adjust tool height if necessary, relative to any pip left at the centre.

I'm not keen on using a 6inch steel rule (as many do), for setting tool height - when it's trapped vertically between tool and workpiece. This can harm finely honed edges on HSS tools. Should be OK with carbide tools and tips though - as they are not normally produced with a ground finish.

-Brian McK.

I have used a strip of brass etch waste for years. Does the job and is no danger to a honed edge. It hangs on a nail wth the other frequently used tools. It was one of those wide pieces that surrounded the sheet. I think it came from a Jidenco kit so been in use for many years!

Ian.