The cobbled-up tool post I've been using for the lathe is sorely lacking. It's time to bite the bullet and make something. I used this page (link: Deans Tool Post) as inspiration. I didn't bother using measurements from his page but just got out the dial calipers and jotted down some dimensions.
This first photo is of the main body being cut from some scrap steel.
Here I'm squaring up the sides of the block with a fly cutter in the Smithy mill.
This next photo shows the tool post taking shape. I'll be using 5/16" tool bits, so I made the slot the appropriate size to accept them.
The next photo shows all the pieces completed. I found a 3/8-24 bolt to clamp the tool post to the compound. I could only find metric (!) socket head cap screws of a suitable length and diameter (M6-1.0) to clamp the bits into the tool post but the lathe doesn't seem to care much.
Here's the old tool post I'd been using. It's not anything to write home about, although it worked well enough to get the chuck backing plate hewn into shape.
Here is the tool post mounted to the compound. Someday I may cut down the two extra-long socket head screws. Maybe...
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