Shars vs Enco vs Aloris wedge QCTP

Kim Bye

Kim Bye

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The title says it all I guess...
I`m looking for a QCTP wedge type toolpost.
Shars and Enco costs about $200 Aloris about $500, is the Aloris woth the 150% extra cost?
 
I bought a cheapo no-name brand new AXA set on eBay for I think $120. Extra tool holders are about $11 each. (This was 10 years ago).

At my day job, we have Aloris, Dorian, and Phase 2. The Aloris is definitely better, but only marginally IMO.

If I had to do it again for my personal machines, I'd 100% go back to eBay.
 
I have shars and for working with wood which is what we do is fine. :)

Mario
 
It's just me, but I don't like the wedge type tool posts. I prefer the Italian type myself.
 
I bought some cheapo BXA extra holders one time . Piece of crap. The locking screws slip all the time. Had to use thread lock.
Shars is pretty good for Chinese import.

Make sure you go with BXA at least .
AXA is just too light imo. Heaven help you if you use an AXA holder for a gun drill.
 
I had a Swiss, Italian type, and the wedge type. With my testing, the Italian type was the most consistent. The wedge was good if you had a good consistent torque on the tightening lever. The Swiss was not as consistent either, but I did like the convenience of the various angles with the way the mechanism works.
So I settled on all machines having the Italian type as a result.
Neil
 
JoeyInCali said:
I bought some cheapo BXA extra holders one time . Piece of crap. The locking screws slip all the time. Had to use thread lock.
Shars is pretty good for Chinese import.

Make sure you go with BXA at least .
AXA is just too light imo. Heaven help you if you use an AXA holder for a gun drill.
Click to expand...

The use of thread locker isn't the end of the world lol. I think most of my stuff is Phase 2
 
JoeyInCali said:
I bought some cheapo BXA extra holders one time . Piece of crap. The locking screws slip all the time. Had to use thread lock.
Shars is pretty good for Chinese import.

Make sure you go with BXA at least .
AXA is just too light imo. Heaven help you if you use an AXA holder for a gun drill.
Click to expand...

Going with BXA. Not decided if I go for Shars or Phase II yet.
 
conetip said:
I had a Swiss, Italian type, and the wedge type. With my testing, the Italian type was the most consistent. The wedge was good if you had a good consistent torque on the tightening lever. The Swiss was not as consistent either, but I did like the convenience of the various angles with the way the mechanism works.
So I settled on all machines having the Italian type as a result.
Neil
Click to expand...
I have the European style QCTP on my small lathe and I dont really care for it.
 
conetip said:
What do you not like about them ? Just curious and I might learn something at the same time.
Click to expand...

just minor stuff like changing a wedge type toolholder is a in - out thing, the European style you often have to wiggle in place. It`s not more accurate than a wedge type setup and the 40 angle function you really don't use that much.
The toolholders them selves are great though.
 
Thanks Kim. The wiggle thing you talk about is a symptom of a cheaper copy and the clamping unit is too loose in the main block hole, and the spring does not keep the clamp square. With the Italian type, they are more sensitive to dirt / swarf/ wood chips etc.
 
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