A few years ago (M.E. 4366, 4 Dec 2009), I described how I made a new mounting for the Dickson QC toolpost for the Myford Series 7 lathes. This replaced the topslide assembly. (The original idea originated from Tom Walshaw, the late lamented Tubal Cain, with his 'Gibraltar' toolpost.) It was made slightly lower in overall height than the topslide and it enabled the fitting of the Dickson Quick Change toolpost at a slightly lower height to permit the use of 12mm tooling. (Although the Myford size Dickson toolholders will accommodate 12mm tools, it is not generally possible to position them at centre height on Series 7 lathes.) In dispensing with the topslide, it increased the rigidity of the tool by eliminating the clearances present in the topslide assembly. I have used it extensively over the years and it is almost always in place on my lathe; I only fit the topslide on the rare occasions that I need it for taper-turning.
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