Perhaps other lathes are not like mine. But my tailstock barrel does nothave a means of gripping the tang on Morse taper shanks. Assuming that thisis common in lathes (and not just an indication of poor design by my lathe'smanufacturer), why is that? Is it supposed to intentionally allow the taperto slip if subjected to excessive forces?

I think it's a crime not to have a tang slot in a lathe. I must say that itseems like a relatively simple job to install one. I have looked at mine and itis simply a cross drilled and threaded hole in the right spot on the barrelwith a set screw inserted to the correct depth on either side of the barrel.Bill D

Why do lathe tailstock barrels not grip the tang (on MT shanks)?

Oct 20, 2003 22 Replies

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Mark Rand 22 years ago

Bend a piece of iron wire into a loop for reinforcement, oil the thread, inject Bondo or equivalent into the hole, insert the reinforcing wire, allow Bondo to cure, unscrew, measure Bondo with micrometer and thread gauge. (note to self) Learn to use full stops instead of comas.

regards Mark Rand RTFM

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DoN. Nichols 22 years ago

Thanks! That would have worked if I had any Bondo (or equivalent). But I've already done it all -- sparked by this very thread. It turned out to be M12x1.75, and the live center now ejects cleanly with less than a turn left in the leadscrew. (I wish the others worked as close as that one does. It would save wasting some tailstock ram travel. :-)

Enjoy, DoN.

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Doug Goncz 22 years ago

No, it's poor design. On a Clausing Colchester 15 I ran for a year, the tailstock ram was like a drill press spindle; you used a key and a drift to knock out the tapered accessory.

Yours,

Doug Goncz (at aol dot com) Replikon Research, Seven Corners, VA

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