Quick change tool post

G's Cues

G's Cues

Custom Cues and Repairs
Silver Member
I am in the market for a quick change tool post and am interested to know what style is best the piston or the wedge style? Thanks in advance George
 
G's Cues said:
I am in the market for a quick change tool post and am interested to know what style is best the piston or the wedge style? Thanks in advance George
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The wedge style tool posts are generally regarded as more rigid and offering a greater degree of repeatability. But on that note, I am a firm believer in matching the quality of the tool post to the quality of the machine it is on. Why waste $1000+ on an Aloris tool post and holders that are capable of greater precision than the lathe it is installed on? Or if you have a true high precision lathe and money is no option, consider a Multifix QCTP especially if you can locate a Swiss or German made unit. They really are a wonderful design and even the less expensive Chinese made ones work exceptionally well when compared to more expensive tool posts of differing designs.
 
I have the both the piston and wedge type cheap Chinese Aloris, BXA knock-offs on my lathes. I started with the piston type but read that the wedge type was supposed to be a little better for rigidity and repeatability so on my next lathe I put on the wedge type. Truthfully, I can see no difference as far as performance between the two types once the holders are in place but I have found the piston type as easier to use. It doesn't have as much trouble from dirt and saw dust impeding the opening and closing on the tool holders. If I was to buy another it would definitely be a piston type.

By the way, the tool holders are the same for either the wedge type or the piston as long as the same size tool post is used (AXA, BXA or CXA).

Dick
 
I use the Italian Style quickchange tool holders.
As long as they are clean, they are very accurate. I have all my lathes set up with them.
Any tool can go onto any lathe and they are all on Centre line.
You don't need to spend thousands, but don't buy cheap either.
Alot of people underestimate the advantages of rigid solid tooling and tool holders.
Ali is light, but does not absorb vibration like steel tool holders do. Steel is also alot more rigid.
I have an A2Z QCTP and about 4 or 5 holders. It is not as good as the Dickson Itailan type QCTP.I do not get the repeatability and on larger cuts it vibrates more, reducing tool life. I would not be happy about selling it as I know that they are not really as good as other systems. I have an old wood lathe and may just use it on there. It will be an orphan machine anyway.
Some say that the repeatable tool holders are not that important on a hobby lathe. But once you have used accurate tool holders and see the time savings associated with them, you will not want to use anything else.
All of my Italian style QCTP are not the same manufacturer but are all ground on the Vee Grooves and the Vee block. Avoid the ones that are not ground is my advice.
 
i have had both, currently i have the wedge and actually prefer it, but it is a constant battle with keeping the chips clear on the top at the exposed portion of the wedge. So, concerning cuemaking, i think the piston type would actually be more convenient.
 
whammo57 said:
I have this one........

http://www.mini-lathe.com/Mini_lathe/Reviews/A2Z_QCTP/a2z_qctp.htm

I requires an adapter to use it on a Hightower or any taig based lathe.

Kim
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Can I ask where you purchased it? Also I think the main body is made from aluminum, are the tool holders also aluminum? I want to put it on an old Craftsman 101 I bought a while back. What do you have yours mounted on?


Regarding the op original post, I have both and there is no difference from what I can tell. I bought the phase II piston from Enco years ago. Later I found an Aloris at a garage sale for like $40.00. I could not believe it when I saw it in the bottom of a box of junk.
 
http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=2461

I bought one from the person that was making and selling them in the Machinery section.
Very well made and a great price.
I put it on and took it off. Maybe I should have left it on longer so I could get used to it.

I just found I was either working over top of it or around it a lot of times.
I can put a tool post on and take it off in almost the same time it takes to put a cutting tool on the QC post.

Maybe adjusting them for a more precision cut is easier. I use brass shim stock
to set the others and haven't had a problem cutting.

Maybe its just me, I'm getting older and get set in my ways and resist change sometimes.
 
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