Gunsmithing For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

[cwood3]

This is kind of a strange request. I have "acquired" a G4003G. What I want to know is this:

If it were just a bare machine, no chuck, toolpost, etc., and you had to outfit it, and you had a large budget and wanted to "Cadillac" (as much as it can, being what it is), what brand, model, etc., would choose for:

1. Chuck (3-Jaw & 4-Jaw)

2. Tool Post

3. External Single Point Threading Tool

4. Internal Single Point Threading Tool

6. Boring Bar

There are so many "tools" out there, I want to eliminate buying things repetitively to find out what is the best. I'd way rather pay-up big the first time than pay small a bunch of times.

Thanks.

 

[wtopace]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

I have a 4003G and (like others have said) I have spent lots of money on tooling (way more than I would have expected in the beginning)... but each tool serves it's own purpose and it's nice to have what you need.

That being said, I have had very good luck with my Iscar boring tooling and my Carmex threading tooling. I have also had good luck some threading and boring tooling from Shars (branded 'Shars' on the tool, not sure who made it, but so far all of the Shars branded stuff performs really well for me).

If money isn't an issue, I would recommend going with a real Aloris tool post (the 4003G comes standard with a 200 series QCTP if you are curious about the size).

 

[sixtwoeightyfour]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

Bison Chuck (since buck has gone to China)
dorian or aloris tool post
kennametal, sandvik, valenite, carmex, circle and any other top brand holder and inserts should work

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

1. Chuck (3-Jaw & 4-Jaw) (Bison)

2. Tool Post (Phase II but size it to your machine)

3. External Single Point Threading Tool
Carmex SER 0625 H16 Tool Holder
16ERAG60MXC/GOLD V Partial inserts

4. Internal Single Point Threading Tool
I use Grizzly & Iscar
Grizzly Tool Holder H8305
16IRAG60MXC/GOLD V Partial inserts
Iscar Tool Holder SIR 0375 K11
Inserts 11IRA60

6. Boring Bar (MSC has them on sale right now, .250 and up with 10 inserts)

 

[cwood3]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

Awesome, I was thinking along the same lines. Bison makes a 8" and 10" 4-jaw independant chuck that has the d1-5 configuration. Is there any benefit to a 10" considering barrel and action work? Is heavier a plus in such use? I have a GTR Action Blueprinting jig, but it would fit fine in the 8".

 

[Papagrizzly]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

<span style="font-weight: bold">Chuck </span>- Bison or Buck, or South Bend (Buck is now made in Taiwan and the factory is amazing. Same factory makes the South Bend chucks).
<span style="font-weight: bold">
Tool Post</span> - Dorian.

Several good brands available for threading tools. More important is the quality of the inserts. Mitsubishi, Iscar, Walter. Same comment on Boring bars.

Finally, use an 8" 4 jaw chuck. 10" is too large for that lathe.

 

[cwood3]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

Any of you guys use a DRO on your lathe? The crossfeed on the grizzly is kind of finicky, usually have to wing it with a dial caliper. For threading, I'd like to get as close as I can. I'd like to know if I am really takinga .002" cut or a .001"cut.

Thoughts?

 

[bptactical]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cwood3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any of you guys use a DRO on your lathe? The crossfeed on the grizzly is kind of finicky, usually have to wing it with a dial caliper. For threading, I'd like to get as close as I can. I'd like to know if I am really takinga .002" cut or a .001"cut.

Thoughts? </div></div>

I am not familiar with the Grizzly but if you cannot tell what increment the crossfeed is then you have a BIG problem. Square that away right off before spending money on a DRO. They are a convenience, not a neccesity.
Don't waste your money on a 3 jaw. You get good with a 4 jaw and it is just about as fast as a 3 and more accurate.
Collet closer is a good addition.
Boring bars, indexable tool holders.
Make sure to get some HSS and learn to grind your profiles, carbide is not happy unless your feed and speed is up there, generally too fast for gunwork.

 

[JimT]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

I added a DRO. Money well spent. Bison collet chuck.

 

[cwood3]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

BPT, the lathe is new and I haven't had a chance to really take things apart, inspect,clean, and set. My hope is that once I do that, the crossfeed backlash will get to where it needs to be. I understand the part about imports needing a good going over before they are "correct". I'd be interested to hear from others what they did for crossfeed gib adjustment brass nut etc.

 

[waste_knot]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

Every screw thread in the world has some backlash, even ball screws. Standard technique is to back off some distance and then take up the backlash and set the zero after the screw is loaded. If you have gib and way play that is a different issue.

 

[OnyxSkyDV]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

Get some magnetic based dial indicators and set them to show crossfeed and carriage travel. I can show a pic if you need some ideas.


Onyx

 

[cwood3]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

I have seen that before. I will "tune-up" the machine before I do anything. Back to an earlier post about threading tools. I have read that HSS is best for threading at slow speeds. I am thinking to myself that cutting the internal threads on a rifle action is going to be a slow speed operation, at least for me....at least for a while. If you could go to "Internal Thread Cutting Tool Super Center" with a bucket of money, how would you set up for this particular operation? Let's assume I have an Aloris BXA tool post with the tool holder that can take up to a 3/4" shank tool. What am I going to order?

Thanks!

 

[wtopace]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cwood3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have read that HSS is best for threading at slow speeds. I am thinking to myself that cutting the internal threads on a rifle action is going to be a slow speed operation</div></div>

I have had great success with standard carbide threading tools (16 IR/ER series) at slow speeds. I have always read online that carbide performs so terribly at slow speeds that everyone should just avoid it... but low and behold, first hand knowledge tells otherwise. There is some very slight tearing of the metal if you look extremely close, but overall the threads come out looking great.

One thing to consider... not all carbide is the same! Buy decent inserts before expecting decent results.

 

[colchester]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

I had a DRO kit on the shelf in my shop for several years. This past winter I finally got the time and put it on my lathe, I am kicking myself for not doing it sooner. As stated above it isnt a necessity but it sure is nice. As to the chucks I would go with Bison 3 jaw I like the adjust true feature. Bison four jaw is also a fine chuck. I have an adjust true buck 6 jaw I use this chuck alot downside to these is they only go down to about 5/8 dia. Consider a collet chuck, they are also available in an adjust tru style that allow you to dial in the chuck. I have a pratt burnerd ec collet chuck it is very accurate and repeatable. Toolposts I have aloris they are very good. I use the aloris threading tool for outside threading under most circumstances. I have a small tool and cutter grinder and ground my own tool for internal threading. If you use carbide for internal threading you must be very careful when picking up the thread too much pressure and the insert will chip, HSS is much more forgiving and performs well for me.

 

[my human host]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

If you can afford the DRO do NOT hesitate to buy it. I went a long time without one. When I bought my 16 x 40 I bought a DRO from Grizzly. It still gives me wood everytime I use it.

 

[cwood3]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

Dang! I all for every excuse to "obtain wood" nowadays. Anyhoo, I will look into that as I like things with LEDs and stuff.

On another note, I just got done looking at AR Warner's site. They have HSS indexable threading inserts and tools, even laydown HSS inserts. Very reasonably priced too. Anybody speak from experience on this?

Thanks again

 

[sixtwoeightyfour]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

I would also seriously consider a bison 6-jaw or 3-jaw set-true chuck instead of a 3 and 4 jaw. I prefer using a set-true type chuck and reserve 4 jaws for if I am turning something odd shaped or square.

 

[OnyxSkyDV]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

The AR Warner's HSS insert threading tool is very nice. I picked one up to see if I could thread towards the shoulder at a slower speed, and it works very well.

Onyx

 

[Dave Berryhill]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

Has anyone ever tried one of these threading toolholders?

http://www.aloris.com/index.php/pages/no.8.html

It looks like it just takes a quick grind to "refresh" the top of the cutting tool, re-adjust the height and you're back to cutting threads again.

 

[colchester]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dave Berryhill</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Has anyone ever tried one of these threading toolholders?

http://www.aloris.com/index.php/pages/no.8.html

It looks like it just takes a quick grind to "refresh" the top of the cutting tool, re-adjust the height and you're back to cutting threads again.</div></div>

I use this threading tool for most threading I do I like it. I touch up the top surface with a diamond hone as needed. One note I picked it up on the cheap if your paying full price there may be better choices

 

[Jeff Crissman]

Re: For You Grizzly G4003G Lathe Owners

I may be being old school but I definitely recommend a four jaw chuck.
You can indicate something on to have no runout, or if you want you can offset turn it.
With practice you can be nearly as fast as chucking in a 3 jaw.