Chris back in the late 1990’s or early O0’s the Taiwanese came up with a smaller quick change tool post. This one was 75% the size of the AXA tool post.? I was able get a couple of these I put on SB 9 inch workshop lathes I built for friends.? But they were only available for about a year.? Then they changed to the OXA size that is 65% the size of the AXA tool post.? These are the ones you can get today.? I have setup these on not only Daltons but also the SB 9 inch.? Just did one a couple of months ago.? At that time they were really cheap and you could get the basic set with five tool holders for just under a 100 bucks.? The last set I got was $120 for the basic set plus three extra number 1 holders.? Such a dealJ? I was looking on eBay the other day and I don’t see any for this great price any longer.? At the time I got this upgraded set there were a number of them on eBay for sale.?

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Now when the Taiwanese came out with this OXA set it was aimed at the mini lathe market that was exploding in the early OO’s.? The OXA is a wedge not the piston type.? Chris you don’t want the? piston type you want the wedge type.? The OXA tool post along with the inexpensive sets of 10 MM insert tool holders are a great setup for any lathe under 9 inches in swing. ?Also the last three or four sets I have gotten these are really made exceptionally well.? The fit and finish is ever better than the original Aloris that years ago I? purchased a number of these for my company.? As our Daltons and small SB lathes were designed to use the lantern tool post that I hate when I put the OXA on a SB or Dalton I use a 5/16 inch disc under the tool post to space it up so when one a SB lathe I use the 12MM insert tool sets but on the 7 ? inch swing Daltons I use the 10MM size set of insert tools but still use the spacer under the tool post.? The spacer does two things number one is it spaces the tool post up just enough so the insert tool holder is at about the midpoint in the height adjustment of the tool post.? Two it also adds a good ridged base for the tool post to rest on and takes some of the stress and strain off the compound top slide.? Here are some pictures of this tool post set setup on a SB as well as a Dalton but will work on your mini lathe as well.? Now with all these sets no matter who makes it yu have to machine the Tee nut to fit your compound.? So be aware there is some machine work to do to install one of these tool post. ??I will also post a link to the insert tool holders I recommend you use on your mini lathe or Dalton or even the smaller SB.? Heck I use these insert tool sets on my Hardinge as well as my Standard Modern shop lathes.? ?Dennis

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Been looking into getting a qctp for my Chinese mini lathe and eventually for the Dalton.

Been researching them and it appears the aluminum ones that are inexpensive are only really good for machining softer metals and plastics, but you really need a steel one for machining steel.

Came across a guy on ebay who is making them named metalcharger.? His price seems pretty competitive with the Chinese steel ones and he makes them with dual buttons.

Thought maybe someone here would be interested.? I don't know the guy and haven't purchased one yet, but it appears to be a nice quality item and a reasonable price - has good feedback on ebay.? Don't know if his are compatible with the standard OX type inserts.



Had thought about maybe making one myself, but by the time I got the tooling and materials I'd need at the prices today, it would probably cost me more that just buying one.

As for the paint it’s not really that color.? I? have all florescent lights in my shop and I cannot get a natural colored picture if I take it in the shop.? The color is the same paint only on a different lathe.

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Chris I have a friend that works for the local lumber yard and he is there paint guy.? John has been mixing paint for me for almost 20 years now.? He is a master at it and I am sure you can check around your area and come up with a guy that really knows how to? mix paint to get the color you want. ??I have been using a Pittsburg enamel that you see on all my lathes that are not black.? On black Daltons I have always used semi gloss black Rustolium.? Well all except two Daltons I did them with 65% gloss black powder coatJ?? This is one of them that was powder coated.? This is my lathe 1920’s TL that was setup for electrical shop repair.? The original TL was a wood pattern makers lathe that ran at much? higher speed.?? Also the Electrical shop lathe has a different spindle nose than the wood working TL.

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Darn.? I liked the first one.

I know it's weird, but turquoise is my favorite color and I like the brightness it gives to my shop.? I had some Rustoleum spray that I really liked but they discontinued it.? Now it's looking like I'm going to have to learn how to custom mix paint myself.

You might want to look at the OXA for your Dalton.? I would only? consider the AXA the correct size for the Dalton 9. The AXA is a bit large for the Lot 6 and way to big for the Lot 2 3 4 and 5 lathes.? Dennis

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I got a wedge style bostar QCTP for my Chinese 9x20 lathe, it is very rigid, and it definitely improved the surface finish. I am
still restoring my B6 and plan to keep it completely original, even going as far as japanning instead of painting, but if i did decide to go with a QCTP, i would definitely consider this one. here is a link to ebay: