Bill Marvel’s Spindle Lock

Bill Marvel says, "Over the years I occasionally have seen the need for some sort of spindle lock.  I have seen several ideas but they were far more complicated than I needed.  Cutting threads with a Taig die holder in the tailstock is one of those times, especially if you are threading a hard alloy.  I don't seem to have quite enough hands to hold the pulley (or spindle wrench), put some positive pressure on the work and turn the die holder with a tommy bar. So, I took a length of 1/2" square aluminum rod and drilled some mounting holes for the headstock.  I centered a cross hole and tapped it for 10-32.  I drilled a hole in one of my steel spindle wrenches.  It ain't pretty but it is very functional.  Easy to mount, remove and store.

Ed Maisey's Compound Slide Modifications

Ed Maisey says, "If you are familiar with the Hardinge HLVs  the mod is a scaled down version of their eccentric top slide locking arrangement. Applying this feature increases the centre line height by .250 above centre, but I believe that problem can be solved by either making two 1/4 in riser blocks (my preference) it will not weaken the stability of the lathe to any extent, or the other alternative would be a drop down tool holder but there would be no opportunity to be able to move the tool bit.”

“The QC is 3/4 scale from an original set on my Drummond "M" type they are manufactured by KRF Omni-Post they work very well, and I had their permission, The Sensitive Knurling tool is in 3/4 scale from full size from Hemingways UK.”

Monty Remon Is Still Working On His Thread Box

Monty says,  "I had a frantic few days on my Thread Box, shifting the pitch input workings from the front to the back, making use of redundant fittings and applying some markings. I think the back plate has had about as much recycling as possible so a new one will be the last job on this project. I am going to put my feet up now."

"I succumbed to temptation and found another quick job on my Thread box, as the pic will show I turned down the large gear boss to accept the coupling system for the 20 - 80 tpi range. That brass pitch input knob is from my plumbing box again, just a step down adapter with a nylon insert."

“Just a small modification to the clutch thingy, I have gone from a radial grub screw to an axial one, the 90 deg. edge is better than the radius.”