Non-marring toolrest clamp

[Isaac Fisher]

The kipp handle that locks the toolrest on my midi lathe was leaving marks on the toolrest post, so I modified it.

First, I disassembled the kipp handle and chucked up the bolt in my lathe. I drilled a hole in the end that’s a slip fit for the male half of a brass rivet (the kind used for knife handles).



Then I chucked up the rivet and turned down the head with a file so that it would clear the threads inside the hole in the banjo.



I put a little paraffin on the shaft of the rivet, slipped it into the hole I just drilled, and re-assembled the whole thing.



The clamp grips the tool post tighter now, with less pressure, and no longer marks the toolrest post. Total time about 10 minutes.

 

[robo hippy]

When I got my 3520A, many years ago, the set screw had some brass on the tip of it. I guess I could say it held a little better. I don't like the soft pot metal that they use for a tightening lever. Since it is so much softer than the cogs on the set screw, they strip eventually. I had a friend make one of the sliding T handles like we have on vices. That worked much better. Can't remember any more, but I think I rounded off the end of the set screw so I could tighten it up pretty snug. I do like the Robust and now PM locking wedges, which works better than any other variation I have seen. I don't have much experience with the Oneway set up, which is a vertical piece of metal which presses into the tool rest post. I think Robust used to have a split post on the banjo and you tightened that up it was supposed to clamp together. I kind of remember seeing that on a Laguna lathe. It didn't seem to work as well as the wedges.

robo hippy

 

[hughie]

As I make most of my own toolrests and post. I use fairly hard steel for the posts and hardened high tensile locking bolt this is for the small lathe. The big lathe I use a cam lock and collet set up and this avoids the damage