shimming a tailstock

[andrew]

So, what kinds of things have you used to shim a tailstock? It just so happens my tailstock needed 15 thou of shim and my trusty coke cans run almost exactly 5 thou. One coke can later and hopefully my tailstock will be back and running level (or close enough).

[e Markle]

This terrifies me. What kind of lathe are you using?

[Sasquatch]

I shimmed my tailstock with a single piece of that high temperature aluminum tape they use on ducting. So.... I fixed mine with duct tape.

[Gershom]

I shimmed my tailstock with a single piece of that high temperature aluminum tape they use on ducting. So.... I fixed mine with duct tape.

Metal tape has helped me a time or two as well.

[andrew]

So far things are good (I haven't snapped off drill bits or anything). I'll know if the alignment issue is solved tomorrow afternoon. Everything measures in just fine, but we'll see what happens when some real pressure gets put to it. Might just blow up, might not, I'll risk it. My lathe is an old Atlas, so I think the bed and tailstock are just worn down.

[andrew]

I shimmed my tailstock with a single piece of that high temperature aluminum tape they use on ducting. So.... I fixed mine with duct tape.

Duct tape was invented by geniuses that traveled back in time from at least 1,000 years in the future. It's true, because honestly, can you think of anything that cool invented lately?

I'm sorry, the Prius/volt don't count, they don't even count as cars. They're more like a fashion accessory, like a shiny hair clip.

[andrew]

This terrifies me. What kind of lathe are you using?

It's an old Atlas. Think of one of those old farm trucks, the ones that keep running and no one understands why or how... that's my lathe. I like it, it works. Someday it will fail me, but today is not that day! Once it goes I'll be forced to find some Precision Matthews piece of crap to replace it

[wdteipen]

I'm sorry, the Prius/volt don't count, they don't even count as cars. They're more like a fashion accessory, like a shiny hair clip.

Hey, I drive a Prius and I'm from the future.

[Charl]

Brass shims. Got 4 rolls of the stuff in different thicknesses when I had to shim mine.
Now I have pretty much, yep, 4 rolls minus bits left. Cost me a fortune. Should have thought of coke cans!