Flat ball clamping screw for spider?

[Shawnba67]

I have never been happy with my homemade lathe spider so Im going to redo it.
Has anyone used a clamping screw for thier rear spider? Pros? Cons?
Recomend a thread size, ie small would work or I need big for XYZ reason? My chuck spider is 20tpi I think Id like to stay 20tpi just for muscle memory on adjustments. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Danny1788]

Those are exactly what I made for my front spider. And then machined some smalle V blocks to match the balls. On the rear spider I just use brass tipped screws.

My screws are 3/8-24 and I used 1/4” ball bearings.

 

[butchlambert]

I use 1/2x20 on both sides of the headstock. I use copper tips. If you are using the shoes that bamban uses under his balls I still think the finer thread that you use makes it easier to dial in.

 

[Shawnba67]

I use 1/2x20 on both sides of the headstock. I use copper tips. If you are using the shoes that bamban uses under his balls I still think the finer thread that you use makes it easier to dial in.

I definately agree on the fine thread. I was nearly in tears trying to dial in 0.0002 on my super course 4 jaw!
Thought the clamping screws might have all the percieved benifits of the v block and balls with out the chance of dropping pieces.
On the rear side.

 

[Cloudrepair]

I definately agree on the fine thread. I was nearly in tears trying to dial in 0.0002 on my super course 4 jaw!
Thought the clamping screws might have all the percieved benifits of the v block and balls with out the chance of dropping pieces.
On the rear side.

They look like they would work good.
I use 3/8-24 screws with .375 diameter ball on both of mine and have never felt they were not up to the job in any way.
The flat ball though may be very nice if you have enough pivot and a big enough flat for hold.
What size of ball would be in the
1/2-20 screws?
Another concern would be marks in the barrel from the flats, it is very easy to put a lot of force on to the work piece with a good spider/cathead

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I made my own with some huge copper wire i cut and insert into 1/2-20 socket head bolts i bored out. Little 5min epoxy and it stays til i need to replace it

 

[Shawnba67]

I made my own with some huge copper wire i cut and insert into 1/2-20 socket head bolts i bored out. Little 5min epoxy and it stays til i need to replace it

The clamping screws are slightly different than a soft tip set screw The ball lets it grab at any angle. Tips always seemed to really rely on the rear spider to hold it all in place. Im not certain the ball v block set up really does. I dont have the paygrade to say if they are better than copper tips but I really like them better. For now at least.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The clamping screws are slightly different than a soft tip set screw The ball lets it grab at any angle. Tips always seemed to really rely on the rear spider to hold it all in place. Im not certain the ball v block set up really does. I dont have the paygrade to say if they are better than copper tips but I really like them better. For now at least.

You just gotta use what you get used to.

 

[sdean]

Barrel clambering sure is turning out to be complicated.

 

[ridgeway]

Barrel clambering sure is turning out to be complicated.

It's not. Only when you make it complicated...

 

[sdean]

It's not. Only when you make it complicated...

Can't get much simple than mine. I lay about a third of a bent over old copper penny across the jaws of my 3 jaw set-tru.

 

[Hal]

McMaster sells bolts/screws that have a couple different style feet that snap on and swivel.

Hal