Bolt holding fixture

[mike mccormick]

Old timer Smith's made a mandrel that threads into the rear of the bolt and used the steady rest, I have done it that way and I have around 5 or so threaded mandrels to fit various bolts. But I am making a Viper style fixture soon.

That's how I do it. Takes about 5 minutes to get it dialed in and ready to work.

 

[Fast14riot]

Like most things. Yeah, it's been done before. I knew I had seen it at one point and went and found it. Instead of the boring bar you could do the annular cutter in the chuck.
View attachment 1643925

Yeah, I didn't expect it to be original, again I've only ever looked over the shoulder of real machinist and smiths, but was just thinking logically that instead of spinning the angled part and using a tool straight in, the tool post can clamp and be angled to match a cutter axis.

 

[V35]

I simply use the mill vise to hold the bolt and a Houghan annular cutter then thread with a die. If you need a special size diameter, use a boring head to finish.

 

[jkohler]

That fixture allows you to dial it radially but axially.

I agree the LaBounty fixture leaves a lot to be desired. Good for radial work but not good axially. Other ways to skin that cat.
One eye opening way is use a rotating 3 jaw chuck in the tailstock holding the nose. BTW handy piece of equipment to have. Use a trued, threaded mandrel in the other end, held in a 4 jaw. Then run an indicator back and forth, adjusting the 4 jaw to get the bolt sides running axially true. That will keep some of you up at night.

That fixture allows you to dial it radially but axially.

I agree the LaBounty fixture leaves a lot to be desired. Good for radial work but not good axially. Other ways to skin that cat.
One eye opening way is use a rotating 3 jaw chuck in the tailstock holding the nose. BTW handy piece of equipment to have. Use a trued, threaded mandrel in the other end, held in a 4 jaw. Then run an indicator back and forth, adjusting the 4 jaw to get the bolt sides running axially true. That will keep some of you up at night.

Dave it’s not a three jaw but it s a rotating spider with a ball bearing stud on the chuck side.

 

[DaveTooley]

Dave it’s not a three jaw but it s a rotating spider with a ball bearing stud on the chuck side.

Yea that works. I can do the same thing with the rotating 3 jaw chuck I can put in the tailstock. I'll be using it today to work on a few barrels. I'll take a picture and post it. The LaBounty doesn't do anything for axial alignment.

 

[DaveTooley]

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/09673021

Pretty damn pricey these days. But it sure is handy for what I do.