A simple tool holder for HSS.

[John Hill]

Real simple tool holder...

Having come to the conclusion that HSS will be the turning tool of choice from now on I needed to get some tool holders,  so, nothing to do but make a couple of them...

Start with a bit of steel, nothing special just mild steel rectangular....


IMGP9402 by aardvark_akubra, on Flickr

The mill vice was set to about 6 degrees...

IMGP9404 by aardvark_akubra, on Flickr


Now I thought this was a good idea,  two very strong magnets holding the workpiece flush with the top of the vice jaws...

IMGP9403 by aardvark_akubra, on Flickr
.............well, it seemed to be a good idea at the time.

I started milling a slot using a two flute milling tool and a dribble of cutting fluid....

IMGP9405 by aardvark_akubra, on Flickr
..............you can see the problem already, the chips are magnetic and dont want to be brushed aside!  Oh dear!

Slot cut and a bit of a tidy up of the metal..

IMGP9409 by aardvark_akubra, on Flickr
..... the tool is a slide fit in the slot.

A bit of precision work with the aptly named hack saw...

IMGP9410 by aardvark_akubra, on Flickr

Some cold blue makes it look somewhat presentable...

IMGP9413 by aardvark_akubra, on Flickr


And it works a treat.....

IMGP9412 by aardvark_akubra, on Flickr
..... the tool post clamp puts enough pressure on to close the saw cut a little and grip the tool.

I am so pleased I think I will make another one..

[Marauder]

Very good.I think i will have ago making one.

[saw]

Nice. 

[Stilldrillin]

Now. That's simply clever! 

Well done/ shown John..... 

David D

[Russell Nash]

Simple and elegant. 

[andyf]

Very neat, John 

Making a few of them to take different tools would give you most of the convenience of a QCTP, using the amount by which the tools project to get them to centre height, rather than using a screw adjustment as on a QCTP. And one can never have enough tool holders for a QCTP. Additional ones are either expensive or time consuming to make, whereas your holder is simple and doesn't involve dovetails or even any drilling and tapping.

Andy

[Aestus57]

   I like that.  Simple, neat and effective, got to make a couple myself.

Thanks for sharing that one   

[Powder Keg]

Good job!! I really like using HSS on smaller machines. I tend to get better surface finishes and less chatter. I think it has to do with the rigidity of the machine.

~Wes~

[John Hill]

Thanks for the comments!

[black85vette]

Very nice.  Love the idea.  I am thinking about adding set screws so the tool won't shift when out of the tool post.  Maybe come up from the bottom so they don't interfere with the tool post bolts holding down the tool??

Anyway, well done.

[dickda1]

Clever of you to remove the necessity of set screws.  I have to try this.
-Dick

[John Hill]

black85vette, I give the holder a little squeeze without the tool in place then the spring of the metal holds the tool so it does not move around when out of the tool post.