Quick Change Tool Post. AXA, BXA, or CXA. What size is right for me?

Join me in some musing about quick change tool posts. What size is right for a 13 inch swing lathe? BXA my friend! This video is for people who are in the process of deciding which size to get.

[gwkdad]

You took 7 minutes to show more than most guys who spend 20+ minutes just unboxing. Thanks!

[dennisvestby]

A BIG INFORMATION DROP FOR ME HUGE THANK YOU.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[dresser]

I have been a Machinist for 44+ years never knew or cared to know about the difference in the tool holders but often wondered what they were with the different letter designation now I know great video very informative on selecting the correct one for your application

[thorsbyguy]

Thanks Richard. I'm shopping for a tool post. I figured BXA was the size I needed. Nice to have a visual confirmation. I have a Standard-Modern Series 2000 11-20. I think it's the next generation newer, 11" version of your machine. Cheers!

[markpfeiffer]

I am a complete novice when it comes to lathes and milling machines, but I am a great lover of machine tools. I have very nice Atlas lathes, a 618 and a 12x36, both with rocker/lantern style tool holders. I want a QCTP, but I was unsure as to the considerations I should resolve. This presentation has significantly increased my knowledge of QCTP. Thank you sir.

[melgross]

Many years ago I bought a Dorian BXA for my Southbend 10L Heavy. It worked just fine. I bought the Dorian because I was familiar with them and liked the design. Their tool holders were also the first, as far as I could tell, to have a 3/4” height for the tool. They were using a higher quality alloy for the holders so were able to cut the bottom thinner. That made it easier to get to center height with a 5/8” tool. When I bought my current Southbend FOURTEEN, I moved it there. With that, I was able to use 3/4” tooling. A friend has a 15” LeBlond. He decided to get a CXA. I don’t see any real advantage for most people. The only one I know of is that he can buy the abundant used tooling in 1” size on eBay. The manufacturers are pretty accurate about the sizing for their tool posts. Aloris and Dorian give slightly different ranges, but it doesn’t matter. A definitely agree about buying a wedge post rather than a piston post. If you’re going to make heavy cuts, if your lathe allows it, or drill a big hole, the piston post can allow the holder to twist a bit, while the wedge holds it solidly along the entire length of the dovetails.

[clutchsp]

Piece parting a lathe back together to be Atlas 12"x54" regular ole machine. Having the slide compound from a 10" lathe, the BXA is perfect. That extra inch makes it all work.

[anthonycash]

This was a very interesting video, I have never seen the comparison laid out as well as you did. I purchased an AXA wedge style last year and I am well pleased whit it for what I do. Thanks for taking the time to lay it out this well I am sure it will help many others that are in the market to buy one.

[djberg]

Thank you for some very key info for those of us planning on buying a q.c. post in the future.

[bradsmith]

Very helpful video Richard for those of us just venturing into the world of lathes. Many thanks

[actorzone]

The correct size tool post is determined by and should be as close as possible to the compound width so you can utilize the full cutting capacity of your lathe.

[wk]

Thanks for your clear explanation, getting ready to add one and was not sure what size.

[JohnBobRoger]

Just luvs those Standard Moderns...: ) Great vid....explaining all those ! ....: )

[jerrypeal]

I use a BXA on my 12 for the same reason, limited otherwise .

[farmlessfarmer]

Thank you so much for this video. It saved me so much time with research. I worked as a machinist years ago for a short time but all the tooling was already there so I never learned what any of it was called or what meant what. I just purchased a 10” Atlas Lathe and I know it will work for most things I want to do but probably only well enough that it will make me want a better one like yours.

[UncleKennysPlace]

Certainly, if you are "between sizes", consider getting the larger of the two. Increased mass never hurts!

[johanneslaxell]

At work I have put some 3/8"-1/2" "shims" under the tools where needed. We have a Parrot QC. If REALLY odd tool I've sometimes mounted it upside down and "reversed" the lathe, a Harrison Alpha 460. The lathe is quite ok, but the cam-part (AlphaCam) is crap! And almost no other cam speaks "Harrisonian" 🤨🤬.

[TinShackVideos]

The hold down bolt on the BXA that I have is metric- 16 x 1.50

[georgeowen]

I just bought a 13x40 turnmaster and the company that he bought it from threw in a Aloris CA-1 and I just found out that tool holder costs 2 grand new. It’s worth as much as or more that I paid for the lathe.

[brustar]

Something not dwelt upon in detail was the ability to choose larger indexable insert tool holders with the larger throat size of the BXA size holders. The same issue of tool height and range of adjustment exist but with your Stand. Mod. compound rest height to center line, you've got the ability to use full 1/2" or even 5/8" HSP steel cutting tools or shank size indexable carbide insert holders for most procedures. This is valuable when using boring bars/holders for the rigidity offered by the extra diameter. I have personally found the only issue with the BXA came with trying to use insert style parting tool holders and trying to get the holders low enough to pick up center line of project. I have had to revert to using smaller parting tool holders if desiring to use my insert styles than I would have chosen otherwise just to get the tool down low enough. This is not a problem if using the dedicated parting tool holder that comes with the BXA kit other than you're now reduced back to using high speed steel parting tools.