After you’ve been using your metal lathe for a while, your thoughts may turn towards purchasing a quick-change tool post (QCTP).
Sure, the standard tool post that came with your lathe may be perfectly adequate and you’ve gotten used to shimming each tool to the perfect center height and angle. But, if you’re using your lathe all day, every day, you’ll probably want to save some of that set-up time.
That’s where a QTCP comes in.
With so many different quick-change tool posts on the market, how do you decide which is the best one for you and your lathe?
What is a Quick Change Tool Post and Why Do I Need One?
When you bought your metal lathe (or mini metal lathe), it likely came with a tool post holder that requires some set-up on your part. Often your tools will need shimming to get the correct center height and angle for your workpiece.
A quick-change tool post is used to clamp onto your cutting tools. Often made from steel or aluminium, it isn’t actually a cutting tool. It’s an alternative to the turret tool post that likely came with your lathe when you bought it.
This essential tool takes some of the headaches out of tool-changing, and does exactly what it says on the tin – it allows you to quickly set up your required cutting tools ready for your lathe.
Historically, QTCPs were considered expensive and there were not many designed for mini lathes. But if you have sufficient tool holders to maximize your tool capacity, then you’ll benefit from the convenience of changing tools without shims, save some time and improve the quality of your work – all wins!
What are the Types of Quick-Change Tool Posts?
There are two main types of quick-change tool posts: the wedge and the piston.
Wedge: Uses a wedge locking mechanism to pull the tool post holder towards the clamping surface
Piston: Pushes the tool post holder outward on the dovetail
The wedge style of quick-change tool post tends to grip the tool holder better, so you may find that your tools are held more securely. Metal workers in favor of the wedge type believe that it’s better for repeating the same position for the tool holder, over and over again.
That’s not to say that the piston type of quick-change tool post doesn’t have its place in the world. These tend to be cheaper than a wedge type, and are perfectly adequate, particularly for home machinists or hobbyists.
When you’re choosing a QTCP, pay for quality rather than the type of locking mechanism.
Quick-Change Tool Post Sizes
These handy tools come in a variety of sizes: OXA, AXA, BXA and CXA. The size you need is determined by the lathe’s swing over the bed size.
- OXA: This is the smallest of the sizes, at 1.75″ square x 2.5″ tall. It’s a good fit for lathes up to an 8″ swing.
- AXA: The AXA size should fit lathes with a swing over the bed between 7″ and 12″.
- BXA: The BXA style is designed for lathes with a swing from 12″ to 15″
- CXA: Designed for heavy-duty lathes with a swing over the bed between 13″ and 19″.
If you happen to have a lathe that falls between two sizes, then opt for the larger quick-change tool post.
A Quick Word about Tool Holders
Once you’ve determined the correct tool post size for your lathe, you’ll need to ensure that any tool holders that you buy also fit your chosen size. Standard tool holders include:
- No 1: Turning and Tool Holder
- No 2: Tool Holder for Boring, Turning & Facing
- No 4: Boring Bar Tool Holder
- No 7: Universal Parting Blade Tool Holder
- No. 10: Knurling, Facing & Turning Tool Holder
Best Wedge-Type Quick-Change Tool Posts
Even once you’ve worked out the size of QTCP that you need, you’ll still need to pick a brand that you’re comfortable with. Here are a few of our favorite wedge types to get you started!
1) LLDSIMEX Wedge-Type Quick-Change Tool Post: OXA-Style
- Perfect for 7 x 10", 7 x 12", 7 x 14" mini lathe
- Tool Post and Tool Holders No. 1(2PCS), No. 2, No. 4, No. 7, No. 5
- Advanced design provides built in quick tool changing versatility with positive rigidity to meet the most exacting working tolerances
- No time wasted with shims
- Wedge type tool posts are precision engineered to assure repetitive accuracy
LLDSIMEX has produced a wedge quick change tool that allows very easy tool changing, right in the middle of your project. Frequent machinists will recognize that this feature allows you to save precious minutes that would otherwise be needed to position your tools correctly.
By eliminating the need for shims to raise your tools accurately, you’ll not only save set-up time but also waste less material. It’s been built solidly and ensures that you get repetitive accuracy.
This tool is ideal for mini lathes with a 6″ to 9″ swing.
Pros
LLDSIMEX has delivered a consistent tool that works time and time again, ensuring your tools are always set up accurately and easily.
Quick Summary
- Can be used with any mini lathe with a 6″ to 9″ swing
- Includes the tool post and holders: No 1, No 2, No 4, No 7 and No 10
- Allows quick tool changing
- Save time from positioning shims
- Repetitive accuracy
2) All Industrial Wedge-Type Tool Post Set: AXA Style
The All Industrial Wedge-Type Tool Post Set is a USA-style set of six tools, including the tool holders. All made from steel, they’re extremely robust and durable.
They’re designed for lathes with a swing over the bed up to 12″ and are ideal for use on an engine, bench or turret lathe. With the included tools, you’ll be able to perform turning, facing, boring, part off and knurling with ease.
Pros
Solid tool, with excellent rigidity and great value for money.
Quick summary
- For use with lathes up to 12″ swing
- Can be used with engine, bench or turret lathes
- Includes the tool post and holders: No 1, No2, No 4, No 7 and No 10
- Made from steel
- Repeatable accuracy
3) Accusize Wedge-Type Quick-Change Tool Post: BXA Style
- Quick Change Tool Post Set (USA Style), Wedge Type Tool post set (6 Pcs/Set). Please be aware: The bottom plate of the tool post may need extra machining to fit your lathe.
- Each set consists of one Wedge type tool post and one of each of 5 tools holders:
- Style 1: Boring & Facing. Style 2: Boring Turing & Facing. Style 4: Boring, Heavy duty. Style 7: Universal Parting Blades. Style 10: Knurling, Facing & Turning.
- Lathe Swing: 10-15'' 1 piece of each: 0250-0222, 0250-0201, 0250-0202, 0250-0204, 0250-0207, 0250-0210. Customer may need to machine the base plate size to fit their lathe.
- Made of steel. The Rockwell Hardness of the tool post is HRC 40 - 45; The Rockwell hardness of the tool holder is HRC 44
The Accusize Wedge BXA style is designed for lathes with a swing between 10″ and 15″. In other words, it’s aimed at professional metal turners using larger metal lathes.
This USA-style tool post includes 6 pieces as standard but there are various sets, some of which offer 10 different pieces, so you have a lot of tooling options to use with your lathe. The parts are hardened, ground and completely sealed for maintenance-free operation. This tool is also a great choice for engine, bench and turret lathes.
Pros
Solid steel construction, durable and functions well.
Quick summary
- For lathe swing between 10″ and 15″
- Can be used with engine, bench and turret lathes
- Includes the tool post and holders: No 1, No 2, No 4, No 7 and No 10
- Some sets offer 8 or 10 pieces, which gives you extra tooling options
- Maximum rigidity to minimize vibrations
- Tool post is made of steel with a Rockwell Hardness of HRC 40-45
- Tool holder has a Rockwell Hardness of HRC 44
Best Piston-Type Tool Posts
If you’re leaning towards a piston-type of QTCP, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few that are available on the market.
1) All Industrial Quick-Change Tool Posts: AXA Style
- Our part # ALL-47126
- For use on lathes with up to 12" swing (defined as the diameter that can be turned over the bed)
- Precision-engineered to assure repetitive accuracy
- Quickly and easily installed on an engine, bench, or turret lathe for a wide range of operations
The All Industrial QTCPs set costs a little more than the average piston-style tool post. But you get what you pay for – the quality of this set is better than many of the other piston styles available.
This versatile component can be locked in place with a center-hole piston. The rigidity of this tool post means that you can achieve smoother turning without excessive vibration.
Pros
A relatively inexpensive quick-change tool post set that holds its own against the wedge-type tool posts.
Quick summary
- For lathe swing up to 12″
- Quick, easy installation
- Repeatable accuracy
- Includes the tool post and holders: No 1, No 2, No 4, No 7 and No 10
- Excellent rigidity for minimum chatter
2) Aloris 10-15″ Piston-Type Tool Post: BXA-Style
- No. 1 Turning & Tool Holder with 1/4-5/8" Tool Capacity
- No. 2 Boring, Turning & Facing Tool Holder with 1/4-5/8" Tool Capacity
- No. 4 Boring Bar Tool Holder with 3/4 & 1" capacity
- No. 7 Universal Parting Blade Tool Holder with 11/16" blade height
- No. 10 Knurling, Facing & Turning Tool Holder 1/4-5/8"
The 10-15″ piston-type tool post by Aloris is of decent quality, given its price point. It’s durable and easy to use.
Designed for a lathe with a swing between 10″ and 15″, the Aloris tool post can fit any 3/4″ boring bars.
Like many of the QTCPs reviewed, you may find that you need to manually adjust the tool to ensure it fits perfectly to your lathe. For this BXA-style, you’ll find that you can enlarge the hole in the bottom plate in order for it to fit over the original stud. Use a 5/8″ bolt that matches the metric thread on the stud to secure.
Pros
Good value for money and takes just a few seconds to change tools.
Quick summary
- For lathe swing between 10″ and 15″
- Takes a few seconds to change tools
- No time wasted with shims
- Includes the tool post and holders: No 1, No 2, No 4, No 7 and No 10
3) Shars 300 Piston-Type Tool Post: CXA-Style
- Part# 202-9463
- Interchangeable with Phase II and Dorian same series
- The locking mechanism of piston tool post is to push the holder out against the angle gib ways of dovetail by the center hole piston
- Precision ground and hardened on the piston contact surface and the dovetail to ensure rigidity and repetitive accuracy
- Can be quickly and easily installed on an engine, bench or turret lathe for a wide range of operations, from precise work to heavy duty cutting
Shars is a true piston-type, which pushes the holder against the angle gib of the dovetail via the center-hole piston. Similar to the other tool posts, it’s been precision engineered to ensure rigidity and enables you to assure repetitive accuracy quickly.
The CXA style has been designed for heavy-duty lathes with swings between 13″ and 18″. Like many of the other quick-change tool posts mentioned, the bottom plate may need machining to fit the T-slot nut to the compound slide.
Pros
Robust and durable, the tool post securely holds tools and reduces vibrations.
Quick summary
- Designed for lathes with swing bed between 13″-18″
- Includes the tool post and holders: No 1, No 2, No 4, No 7 and No 10
- Rigid and accurate, ideal for heavy-duty usage
Should You Invest in a Quick Change Tool Post?
After you’ve been working with your lathe for a while, at some point you’ll want to make some upgrades. Every machinist is different and so they’ll want to customize their lathe differently. Ultimately though, we all want to spend less time setting up the lathe and more time turning!
A quick-change tool post is a perfect upgrade to save you some valuable time (and frustration!) since after you’ve set up the tool for the first time, it’ll be ready and waiting with all your preset adjustments.
Provided you don’t remove your QTCP from your compound rest, you can easily switch tools in and out, with the tool returning to exactly the same place as the last time you used it.
There’s no doubt that a quick-change tool post is a convenient addition to your metal turning tool kit, and with a range of different sizes and types, there’s a QCTP for every lathe and budget.
See also: the difference between a wood lathe and a metal lathe.