Lathe die holder

[J Shingler]

Saw this one on the internet so decided to make my own version. This is a die holder to use in a lathe or I guess a drill press. The rod fits in the tailstock and the large body is bored out to hold the tapping die. This body freely slides on the rod in the tailstock. This keeps the die perfectly straight to tap small parts like ram rod jags and such. Of course turn the die holder or the lathe chuck by hand. The cross bar is only needed for more leverage on larger sizes. Should have made one of these years ago. Comes in very handy.

[David R. Pennington]

That looks very handy for making screws.

[J Shingler]

Works better than I expected. Small screws don't even need the cross bar. Just turn by hand. My old one did not have the die holder sliding on the 1/2" shaft in the tailstock. That's a big improvement.

[Birddog6]

I did something similar during Covid. Was having a hard time getting some 6-32 screws
so I made a tool to make my own.  You can use a blank & turn it or buy some blanks from
Brownells to start with. I have a short video of it cutting, but it says this site will not support
it. This worked out really good & cuts a nice screw.  And the screw head is inside the chuck.
Once it starts threading it pulls the loose tailstock & screw blank to the die.  The Die Holder has
a hollow shaft, so the screw can 2-3-4" long.  Have not tried anything big. But it cute a 6-32,
8-32, 10-32 like a dream. Lil oil on the screw shank, turn it on, nudge the tail stock & it grabs
the shank & starts cutting. I have a foot control valve on the motor for On/Off.









That little Craftsman lathe I bought off someone on here few yrs ago, up in TN.

[Bob Roller]

That's a reverse of my threading system for lock screws.The screw was in the chuck and the die holder in the Jacobs chuck.I bought material the diameter I wanted cot the screw heads.I haven't made any for about 6 years and once thought about making cross screws to hold the locks on the gun in sizes from 4x 40 to 1/4x28 but nobody wanted to pay fr the time and material and when willingness of the machinist to make screws with hand slotted heads like the old ones.I made a few for Hawken maker Tom Dawson years ago that had the screw slots slightly off center just like the relic he was copying then.
  You have done a good job with your ideas and when something was needed and not easy to get then making it was/IS a good choice..
Bob Roller

[Birddog6]

Well, It will actually work swapping the die holder & screw around.  But I get more threads if the head is in the drill chuck.  And these were for 6-32 lock screws.
I needed a couple 6-32 screws for the front lock bolt of a couple of Youth rifles I made.  I go
to buy them & search all over, nobody had them. I was told Oh, just use a 6-32 from the hardware.
No, I am not using a cheapass looking hardware screw that doesn't match on a rifle I just put a
hundred hours in. 
You may well remember a few years ago, everyone on here was looking for them as well. Well, I
keep a pretty healthy supply of screws. Guys starting borrowing the 6-32's & I go to Friendship
to restock, & nobody has THAT lock screw.  I start calling al the ML vendors, they are out too. 

I go to a machine shop. Sure, they will make them on a CNC machine.  Minimum order is 500 
Lordy I could not even give 500 away.  I need 12.  Nope, not making 12.

I am not a lathe operator. I have a few lathes, but they are play toys I got cheap & like to mess
with. I have no idea how to do anything right.  I just piddle with them.  Cut a bushing, trim a pin for the tractor or farm work, etc.  Cutting threads on a 6-32 crew 3" long ? Oh no, that will never happen
for me.   
I was on a job at a plant & a guy was cutting threads on a 2" black iron pipe with a Rigid pipe cutting
tool & motorized driver.  ah.......  hold the die & turn the screw, or visa versa.  So I came home &
played on a lathe, cut off a piece of 1 1/2" bolt & turned it to where I could chuck it with lathe or drill
chuck, bored it out  yadda yadda yadda..  It worked.  Am I in production ?  NO.  But I can do the 2-3
 I need tho in 6-32 if needed.
Worthy investment for the lathe & all ? Oh heck No.    Just piddling & looking for something Different to do...

I told my son I need $25. a screw & sell 12 to break even !   

[Bob Roller]

Keith,
THAT is an interesting letter.I have 2 Atlas/Craftsman 6x18 lathes and used them every day since 1864 when I had my shop built and they still work.Very little support from Atlas/Clausing for them now but I have made 2 lead screws and like the machines,represent the technology of the 1920's. I did a lot of automotive bits and pieces that were mostly bronze bearings for older transmissions.Half nuts for the 618's was a cause for concern but I went AWNLINE and found several sources at decent prices.There are steel supply company's that will sell any amount of 12L14 needed and I still have a good bit if it in 5/32" that Was used for lock screws as well as 3/8"for cross screws to hold the lock on the gun and for 6x40 screws to prevent the hammer from falling off the lock.I have no idea who is making the type of screws used in an authentic muzzle loader now.I offered them but nobody wanted to pay for material.skilled labor,and willingness to make them.I have a tap&die for 0x80 and used them ONE time to make a screw for glasses for the son of an old friend who was legally blind without them. 
My 2nd 618 Atlas lathe was a gift from the son of an old friend who passed away and he wanted me to have it.I have 2 other larger lathes,both Atlas and they are a 10x36 from the 1930's with babbit spindle bearings and 12x36 "Craftsman"with Timken bearings.I should have bought a better lathe with a bigger spindle bore but now I don't need one.My shop days are just about over now.
The high quality Jacobs spindle chucks are long discontinued and apparently were unique to the Atlas/Craftsman lathes that use 1x10 threads for the 618's and 1 and 1/2x8 for the 10 and 12 inch models.One more thing,when asked about minimum orders I say "I can't make less than ONE"
Bob Roller

[Birddog6]

Bob.  The  Lathe I mess with the most is a Atlas/Craftsman. I can work a 19/20" piece in it & about 6-9" dia. I don't know the model#  below is a take a photo of it.  May be the same thing. I bought it from Jerry Crawford on here ? prob 15 yrs ago. I am told the Yorktown has one on it like it, but I have not been there to see.

I have a real nice smaller Craftsman lathe I have never set up, got it from N. Gatz gun shop in Ky. It looks like brand new & has all the threading gears & etc. to change speeds.

The lil Craftsman lather I got from a guy in ? Marysville TN. It has a box of gears & etc to.  I put a new head shaft in it as it didn't have a hole thru it. So I got a new one of ebay & it fit perfectly.

I have  old South Bend 48" lathe that N. Gatz had in his gun shop he did barrels on. All kinds of gadgets for it I know nothing of. 2-3 dif chucks. It was a belt drive & he converted it to a elect motor & V belt. It runs & all, I just don't need it.   

And I have a Jet machinist lathe, with about a 42" bed. I was at a motor shop I use allot in business & saw it by the scrap bin.  I asked the owner why ? Scrapping it because the 100 rpm speed gear was out.  I asked if I could buy it & he said I could have it.  It sat outside with a tarp over it for 10 yrs. & cosmoline on the bed.   I didn't have a place inside for it.  I decided when I sold my business I would run it or scrap it.   Cleaned it up & it runs like a dream.  So its in the shop & if I have to chuck something large I use it.

I am lathe poor & know nothing about them. 

The one I use the most.


Have never set up this Craftsman


It runs but have never used this South Bend


Too many Toys, Not Enough Time........

[Bob Roller]

Keith,
That one with the switch on the belt cover appears to have Timken bearings.I think it may be a Craftsman Model 10107403.They were 12x24 and 12x36 and had a 1&1/2x8 spindle thread for the now obsolete big Jacobs chucks.Owning these relics made it possible to make whatever I needed in locks/triggers and car parts.My biggest car job was for Canadian who had me make copies if almost every nut and bolt used in a Model "J"Duesenberg.The screws that held the finned aluminum plates over the water passages were 1/4x24 instead of 20 or 28.He died from cancer before the restoration was finished.I am a relic of America's Industrial Age and many of us signed up for trade schools and now I really wonder if ANY of these boys now can read a yard stick or a tape measure.Huntington WVa's East Trades School stands as an abandoned relic of Old Industrial America and I try not to look at it when going past it.
Bob Roller

[Birddog6]

Bob.  The one with the switch on the cover you refer to is the one I play with the most. 
It is a pretty good lil machine I feel.  Well, good enough for my playing. Several people have told me some WWII aircraft carriers had a couple on them, & they are on a hinged plate & they fold up against the wall. I personally have not seen them.

But I have made some of ML parts on this.  Made prob 50  SS 5/16" dia range rods &
drilled & tapped the ends of them. (I used to offer a range rod in a ML Essentials Package I used to offer with each rifle I made & sold)  Made the tool to hold the screw making dies for the other lathe.  Needed something to do when Covid started & the screw making thing was something to do.  I will prob never give this lathe up. They can scrap it when I am gone. I can't tell you the hundreds of bushing, bearings, pins & etc. I have made on it.

The other day a friend of the family, young guy came over. " Keith, can you make this lil ball for this rod ?  Toyota wants over $200 for it, as I have to buy the entire assembly) All I need is the ball".  An hour later it was made, heat treated & installed. Heck once in a while I make something worth while