Occasional depth gauge for tail stock

[olderdan]

I felt the need for an accurate depth control for some counter bores so came up with an occasional digital solution namely a cheap tire tread depth gauge with 1 inch travel. My SB lathe tailstock has a round topped casting which is not ideal for this, I am reluctant to machine a flat on this old lathe so another way had to be found. I made a base from epoxy metal putty to fit the top of the casting and epoxied 5 neodymium magnets in the base which hold very well. These gauges are not spring loaded so a bracket and spring were added (I keep every spring I come across of any size) that just left a bracket to make for the barrel which apart from the bore was hand fashioned, good old hacksaw and file was much quicker than machining the whole thing. It only takes a couple of minutes to fit when needed and tooling still ejects with the bracket in place. I should add that the idea is not mine as many variants have been posted on HMT, this is just my take on the application.

[SculptyWorks]

Cool! I love it! ❤
I've been meaning to make something like this for my lathe, but other projects keep getting in the way.

[Paul Jones]

I have wanted to make something similar but have not done the modifications. I use a Kant Twist clamp as a cheap substitute. One of this days I have to do what you did. Thank you for the posting.

[mklotz]

I cheated and threw money at the problem. Bought a magnetic back for a 2" dial indicator, eg...

https://www.amazon.com/HFS-Magnetic-...s%2C210&sr=8-3

I'm fortunate in that my tailstock has a nice, flat top so the DI doesn't want to 'roll'.

[DIYer]

Thanks olderdan! We've added your Tailstock Depth Gauge to our Height and Depth Gauges category,
as well as to your builder page: olderdan's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Tailstock Depth Gauge by olderdan

tags: magnet, depth gauge, tailstock

[greenie]

Would have been far easier to chew another flat on top of the tailstock, the rats have already been chewing away at it with the lock-down system, so what's the problem with doing another chew at it ?

[olderdan]

Would have been far easier to chew another flat on top of the tailstock, the rats have already been chewing away at it with the lock-down system, so what's the problem with doing another chew at it ?

Not enough meat on the casting to take a flat.