Ebay Boring bar - Good deal or waste of money?
- Thread starter Tekno_Cowboy
- Start date
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Thanks. I do remember that guy from ebay stating that with all his auctions. The local tool supply has the DTM AXA for $209. I don't imagnie these to be fast sellers so perhaps they might still have some. Too bad they don't have the BXA size. The Aloris BXA is $300 new on ebay. I think I'll get one of them & eventually a DTM AXA if they're still in stock.
For $209, run don't walk! To whet your whistle, here are a couple of photos.
The second one shows the stock part on the left. The lever version on the right has a lower segment with the bottom flange that is necessary to the clamping scheme. In this instance it had to be two-pieced to accommodate the extra diameter at the top, not to mention for ease of cutting the internal threads. The whole unit has to be disassembled to get the lower segment out, so I got lazy and didn't show it.
The second one shows the stock part on the left. The lever version on the right has a lower segment with the bottom flange that is necessary to the clamping scheme. In this instance it had to be two-pieced to accommodate the extra diameter at the top, not to mention for ease of cutting the internal threads. The whole unit has to be disassembled to get the lower segment out, so I got lazy and didn't show it.
precisionworks
Flashaholic
I haven't used a DTM, but both Aloris & Dorian feel like a bank vault. Everything else I've tried feels like a screen door on loose hinges
Will:
You might try emailing the guy who is selling the DTM stuff on eBay. He seems to be dribbling it out over time and who knows what he's got in the cupboard.
I haven't used a DTM, but both Aloris & Dorian feel like a bank vault. Everything else I've tried feels like a screen door on loose hinges
Who knows how old the Armstrong, Aloris, & PhaseII tool posts are in my class but the Aloris tool posts still seem to have great consistency. I can see the movement of tool holder when the tool posts are engaged. I don't notice this with the Aloris. I'm not a fan of piston tool posts. I also hear nothing but good about Dorian tools posts as well.
precisionworks
Flashaholic
Depends on the maker ... the Aloris AX piston (currently on my lathe) is much better than the Chinese AXA wedge it replaced. Aloris no longer sells that post, but they sometimes come up on eBay. They sold for about $250 new, but mine cost $65 on eBay :thumbsup:
What is the username of that guy you guys refered to?
OK, good, that is the same I listed above that is currently selling the AXA size. Hopefully he will have the BXA as well. Thanks :wave:
Update: I just exchanged a couple of emails with him, and even got to talk to him in person for about 10-15 minutes. His name is Michael, and he is a very nice guy, very down to earth, and comes across as a very honest man. He did buy all of the remaining inventory from the original owners of DTM, and he personally got the last BXA one for himself (just got a 5-yr old Clausing lathe!), so there is no more stock of the 75 series (BXA). He does have plenty of the 65 series (AXA), like the one he has listed on Ebay right now, and of the CXA and even larger sizes. He also has remaining inventory of replacement parts for all of them as well. He is in the process of setting up his own web site and will be offering these parts for sale soon 😉
EDIT: I have his email (which I am not going to post in the open!), so please contact him either through Ebay of send me an email and I will give you his email privately.
Will
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precisionworks
Flashaholic
Those can be shimmed, if needed, to reach center line on a slightly larger machine.
Nice, I'm sure most anything Aloris is well worth it. I always hear wedge type is the way to go but as I have always been, I'd like to know why & how? What are the advantages / disadvantages?
Although I know Aloris makes oversized AXA holders I would guess one main important reason not to step down to an AXA from a BXA (in Will's case) would be the 1/2" limit in tool size which also comes with the limits in available tooling (especially for those who want to use the largest tooling possible, again Will's fault).
precisionworks
Flashaholic
The mechanics of the wedging action work in favor of that design. Think about the way an adjustable parallel works and that same principal applies to the wedge type tool post. As the two angled mating surfaces are moved together, the two parallel sides spread apart - so the tool holder block is wedged into position. Both Aloris & Dorian claim repeatability of 0.00005" (50 millionths), but the import wedge that I had was no where near those numbers. Even so, a poorly made wedge will still tightly grip the holder because of the mechanics involved.
For a piston to work, it has to be dead on. That means that the piston to block clearance is almost size on size, which is tough to do. And all the rest of the parts have to fit better than a wedge. A poorly made piston post would be a nightmare.
All things equal, the wedge is preferred. But I'd never trade my Aloris piston for the piece of junk wedge it replaced 🙄
precisionworks
Flashaholic
Another option, if you have $42 and a few hours to spare, is to build the MLA tool post from their kit. A single lever is used to both lock the rotation of the post and lock the holder to the post. Pretty neat 😀
http://statecollegecentral.com/metallathe/MLA-23.html
http://statecollegecentral.com/metallathe/MLA-23.html
And you can look here for a kindred spirit to mine - he also like to photo-document his projects just as I do:
Machining the MLA-23 kit ...
Will
Thanks for the lesson. 🙂 Those MLA tool posts are interesting. I know what you mean, after using some "nice" tool posts I now see how bad my wedge tool post is that I have now on my 8x14. I've learned to live with it for now. I find myself having to make sure I engage it first when checking for cutter height. :shakehead
What about those 40 position QCTPs like these? I ask cause my new lathe comes with one. 😗Doesn't look all that great though. I'll probably end up changing it anyway but I've always been curious about them. The holders seem to be proprietary for these type of tool posts.
PEU
Flashlight Enthusiast
Here is a build log of said toolpost: http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/showthread.php?t=174336
This lady Paula documents the project like Will, Im sure they are related somehow 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Now that I read that thread for a second time (I think) I fully understand how it works, the cone plug puts pressure on the body making it to expand and keep the toolholder safe in place, but I wonder if the body holds the toolholder tightly along all of the body height, it seems the top part should spread open more than the bottom part, or Im missing something?
Pablo
This lady Paula documents the project like Will, Im sure they are related somehow 🙂 🙂 🙂
[edit]
Now that I read that thread for a second time (I think) I fully understand how it works, the cone plug puts pressure on the body making it to expand and keep the toolholder safe in place, but I wonder if the body holds the toolholder tightly along all of the body height, it seems the top part should spread open more than the bottom part, or Im missing something?
Pablo
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I bought a brand new Royal Versa-Turn live center and messed it up the first time I used it! I put a nice groove in it 🙁
http://www.royalprod.com/product.cfm?catID=8&id=8
Mac
