LESSONS IN TOOL MAKING

Turning stock usually makes up the majority of lathe work. The work usually is held between centers or in
a chuck, and a right-hand turning tool is used, so that the cutting forces, resulting from feeding the tool
from right to left, tend to force the work piece against the head stock and thus provide better work
support.

TEST BAR

Before you start the turning operation, set the tail stock back to 000 using an 18-inch bar that is turned to
exactly the same diameter on each end. To make this bar, get a 1-inch bar 18 inches long, center it and
set it up between centers.

Make alight pass and check both ends to see if they measure the same. If not, adjust the tail stock and
make another pass. Repeat the above operations until the bar measures the same on both ends.

This bar, you save, as you will be using it again each time you true up the tail stock. Once you have the
bar completed, all that is necessary is to put it between centers. Clamp a dial indicator to the carriage
on the lathe.

With the plunger of the indicator on the bar, start from the head stock end (without the lathe being turned
on) and move the carriage to the tail stock end. If there is any difference in size, adjust the tail stock and
repeat until the dial indicator reads the same on each end.