PeterE's Pillar Tools

[PeterE]

Yes, it is pillar tools in plural.

I started out by doing this simple one from a cheap drill press stand:
PeterE's Pillar Tools

It worked quite well but was only for tapping and I wanted a bit more versatility. I began to make a pillar tool more closely to the GHT drawings. But at the time I only had the micro lathe and the small bench drillpress so the build was to be a joint machine-hand work task. The arms were sawn out of a piece of 38x75 steel and the larger holes were drilled using a large countersink that was ground for through drilling. The foot is 70 mm diameter which is about as large as can be pressed into a Unimat size lathe 

A lot of filing later the tool looked like this:
PeterE's Pillar Tools

Some of the accessories are already made and a letter stamping holder is on the list - any day now ....

BR

/Peter

[Rob.Wilson]

Nice bit of MODDING Pete 


Rob

[PeterE]

Thanks Rob!

Btw, the table is a former Black&Decker power drill faceplate now serving well for tapping.

BR

/Peter

[PekkaNF]

Would have needed something like that today. I was making some T-nut and had to make M12 thread. I'm only equipped to make manual threading....the tap refused to start straight and finally I check the bugger with a magnifier. One tooth was chipped. Had a go with a spare tap and that started every thread fine.

How big threads you can do with that one? Or how small?

Pekka

[Rob.Wilson]

Thanks Rob!

Btw, the table is a former Black&Decker power drill faceplate now serving well for tapping.

BR

/Peter

   good use for  an old bit of kit   


Rob

[PeterE]

...
How big threads you can do with that one? Or how small?

Pekka

The chuck is a normal up-to-10-mm-chuck and it can therefore easily handle any tap put into it, although I tend to use it for taps between 3 and 8 mm. and those are not any problem at all.

When it comes to 10 and 12 mm taps I normally just start the tap using the tool and then change to a larger handle as the tapping stand handle is only about 10 cm across and for 10 and 12 mm taps it is very useful with a bit more leverage.

For taps below 3 mm I have made smaller chuck which also is lighter to avoid breaking taps just by dropping the tool onto the workpiece. The small tap tool looks as shown below.

PeterE's Pillar Tools

Of course I did one other thing - a work light attachment from an old wall "spot light" from IKEA together with some bushes and voilá a useful lighting source. The pillar tool is mounted on the fitting/measuring/marking out table.

All in all, the pillar tool is just as versatile as stated in GHT's books and it works a real treat!

BR

/Peter