Tool steel holders

rodmkr

Temecula California
I have a large amount of 3/16 tool steel I would like to use on
my mini lathe.
Need an idea on making the square hole through a 2 inch long holder for the tool steel.
Or would a round hole suffice?
Looked at broaches but didn't find any the right size plus what I did find was
too expensive for a one time project.
Filing in an option but 2 inch long ?
Any help appreciated

rodmkr
 

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
Are you trying to make a lantern style tool holder? Or is it for a more modern tool holder?

Do you have access to a mill? Can you build a simple tool holder like this, with a milled slot. Disregarding the dovetail.
48D1B400-2B9C-4846-A295-1EC877D5BEF1.jpeg

Many years ago I worked for a company that made marine refrigeration units, mostly recirculated seawater systems. We never had a dedicated Machinist while I worked there, so a collection of fitters, welders, electricians, and mechanics abused the lathe and mills. We only had one tool holder like the one above. We had three bigger pieces of tool steel. And a tuna can full of 1/4” tools steel. One of the guys had taken a piece of bar stock and milled a .250” wide groove by 3/16” deep the long way and this held those little pieces of 1/4” with another piece of flat stock on top. Basically a little sandwich. It seemed to work well for light cuts.
Josh
 
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Ian

Notorious member
A vee-block will work just fine to hold it if you have a way to make one.
 

FrankCVA42

Active Member
Round would be ok just use some cup pointed set screws to hold the tool bit in place. My little sears lathe used a piece of flat stock with a channel milled in it. set the tool bit on top and clamp in place with set screws mentioned before.