How To Make a Lathe Tailstock Digital Scale | Tail Stock DRO

How to make a lathe tailstock / tail stock digital scale or digital readout. This a very useful tool on the lathe. I use this everyday. Six inch range capability and attaches to the tailstock / tail stock with ease.
Some of following links are Amazon Associate links.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Link to the Digital Scale: amzn.to/2LXb1TV
Playlist: • Lathe Digital Scales
Subscribe: / catfish6945
To support the channel Buy a Dovetail Cutter and Scribe.
Send an Email To: [e-mail]
Follow me On Instagram: / rrintheshop
#lathedro#tailstockdro#digitalreadout

[@silverbullet7434]

Long time watcher , finally subscribed. I'm somewhat older then most on here. But I had thought this idea up about 25 years ago. Making videos so people can learn to do things on there on. But my disability never allowed me the funds to act on producing videos and a web sight to show and sell build and repair videos. The a several they formed this KZbin . I thought wow if I only borrowed a few thousand to start when I thought it up. Oh well I sure enjoy all the types and world round exposure. Thanks for yours I'm really an old machinist , apprenticeship was almost fifty years ago. I too made all my own tools and tooling , have several inventions few on the market after trying to get patents through . Don't pay for patents unless your rich , lawyers will eat your money with long drawn out suits.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you Silver Bullet for coming to the shop.

[@rengecko]

Randy, I've gotten a lot out of many of your recent videos. Many thanks for all the ideas and opportunities to learn. Best, Tom

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you Tom for watching.

[@RGSABloke]

Really awesome work. Much appreciated. Kindest regards. Joe.

[@JohnBare747]

Thanks Randy for adding another one for the ol' ToDo list, gotta have one of those, don't need it all the time but when it is useful it is really handy.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you John, Works great.

[@6NBERLS]

Extremely clever. I will have to do this for myself. Many thanks.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you, Sure works great.

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

You have made some very handy tools. I am sure eventually everyone will make some of those.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you Harold for stopping in.

[@mikedelam]

Handy projects!

[@petemacrae5982]

Plain, simple and practical, nice!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Pete.

[@EmmaRitson]

that looks pretty useful! like how you can take it off

[@tcpbox]

Great idea... Im impressed...-

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks tcpbox, i use it everyday, works great.

[@ChrisB257]

More inspiration for my planned approach to similar results - when the heck ever I can resume shop time! NICE Randy - love it. :)

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Spring will be here soon.

[@glmf]

Very nice work! Enjoy your style and presentation, just subscribed! Thanks

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Welcome aboard! Thank you.

[@1970chevelle396]

That turned out perfect.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Ken.

[@lookcreations]

Lovely job that Randy. especially the collar. All the best Mat

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Matt.

[@mxcollin95]

Awesome idea and awesome job! This is the first video I’ve seen of your but I’m definitely subscribing! Always cool to find a good new machining channel. 👍

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you Colin for joining the group. The way digital scale work great also.

[@BickDE]

,Nice work Randy, and useful too! Bob

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Bob.

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Now that is slick , I like it Randy !! Thumbs up man..

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you Shawn for the visit.

[@billdlv]

Nice job Randy, looks good.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Bill.

[@danielmorgan4445]

Ingenious design!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@davebarcelon]

So much talent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you Dave.

[@reideichner8597]

Very nice Randy. You do good work and looks VERY easy to remove if needed. Take Care, Reid

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Reid, works great.

[@RyanWeishalla]

Nice addition to the lathe.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Ryan

[@cuttingtooldesigner]

Very Very nice Randy. Great job my friend.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you Dennis.

[@freighternutnz]

Nice one again Randy!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you Roger.

[@skiptracer8703]

Nice tool Randy, I likey. Great video Buddy Jim

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Jim.

[@Tools4Machines]

I agree, "Doesn't get much better than that!".

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Can't beat it, works great Gary. Thanks

[@hebrewhammer1000]

Thank you for sharing.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you for watching.

[@tinkermouse-scottrussell3738]

Nice project Randy, just may have to make a set. Enjoyed this content.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

They work great, Thanks for watching Scott.

[@DavidMilum]

SWEET!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

That is what I thought. Thanks for watching.

[@greatdane3343]

Nice job mate 👍 I like how your setup is removeable using magnets. Very clever. Subscribed.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Works great I use it every day.

[@josephmagedanz4070]

Pretty cool, Randy. You may have to start selling those... I already have a dovetail cutter and scribe from you! Thanks for sharing. Joe

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Joe for stopping by.

[@tattoos1988]

This was a great video bit late on my part watching it lol sure you could have gone the easy way but where’s the fun in that and it made a interesting video plus you have a strong item really enjoyed it thanks for sharing stay safe god bless

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you. Stay safe.

[@charruauno386]

Thank you for sharing, good work, good design and idea, nice video. I would make me one for my little G4000 if I had a little mill but that will have to wait, Have a nice day.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Find a milling attachment for your lathe. This project is well worth it. Thanks.

[@scottlundy257]

Very nice its a thing o beauty. I must have one

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Scott, works great.

[@RaysGarage]

Nice addition to the tail stock Randy, your going to put DRO PROS out of business! Nice machine work!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Ray, Not my intent but it does work great.

[@tjnak]

good idea

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you TJ.

[@PeteBrubaker]

Sell those, I'll buy one. If I don't get one made first! :) Fantastic idea dude.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

These both sure work great. thanks for watching.

[@jimzivny1554]

Nice project, I don't have a mill yet but I could make the block out of plate and shape on the grinder. Thanks for sharing

[@metalworksmachineshop]

I just added a DRO to my Colchester, my tail stock is a bit different. Ill need to figure out how to add your idea to it.

[@robertkutz]

randy nice work.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Bob.

[@outsidescrewball]

Nice build, I did one on my Clausing (no magnets) years ago and I just love it, so simple and accurate! I hate trying to read the scale on the scribe! Funny, been trying to design/build one for the 10ee...nothing square/parallel on that tailstock😡

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Chuck. Tough when they are like that. The Logan looks nice but same problem.

[@wallacesaan]

I really like both of these and will build versions for my lathe in the near future. How do I go about ordering one of your beautiful dovetail cutters?

[@Gauge1LiveSteam]

Yep. That's going on the mighty Atlas 6" lathe as well.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Robert.

[@EdgePrecision]

Wow turned out good! If I can be so bold to make one suggestion. If you extend the part that has the magnet you could use more of the scale's travel and keep it farther back away from you lock handle.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Peter. Yes I want to, it is just a matter of attachment to the scale, I will come up with something.

[@stargatefred]

Hi Randy, I have been thinking about this kind if thing for over a year. I even have the ring started 3 or 4 times. know I have a prototype so I can Get R Done . Thanks Randy. See you at the bASH.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Good deal, sometimes a little kick can get you going. See you at the Bash.

[@martinolesen9930]

Super nice, i want to make one similar! :-)

[@RRINTHESHOP]

You should! Works great.

[@nuritugla823]

Çok güzel, eline sağlık

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you.

[@jimbarbara1704]

*** COOL ***

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thank you Jim.

[@razorworks9942]

I see I'm the first one to comment.. Wish my mentors would comment on my vids.... Nice job as usual... by the time to drew it out, you could have made it, yes?

[@JoshKilen]

very nice job, i got new videos up.

[@jmh8743]

for my mill quill

[@harlech2]

Randy, did you ever find out what kind of steel that is?

[@aserta]

Very, very nice. I wonder if something similar could be setup via a rotary encoder, i'm wondering because my lathe's tail stock is fusiform in shape, kinda hard to mimic this.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

There are so many different shapes makes it hard for something that will fit all. Thanks for watching.

[@seapy2398]

A rotary encoder for the drive wheel wouldn't show backlash or deflection, this method does, it's the basic advantage that a DRO brings to the party.

[@AmericanMakerCNC]

Nice job Randy. I'm adding this to my project list. I'm a beginner hobby machinist and this is certainly a great stretch goal! Quick question ... what cutting fluids are you using in this video to keep the cutting tools cool?

[@RRINTHESHOP]

On the Lathe I use Mobil , Mobilmet 766 Cutting fluid, On the Mill I use WD40 on the Alu. Thanks AMG.

[@AmericanMakerCNC]

@@RRINTHESHOP awesome. Thanks for the helpful reply. Have a great week!

[@jdsharp5036]

You could have just drilled and tapped a 1/4-20 in the ring and milled a little flat on tailstock quill to clamp it to.

[@seapy2398]

Yea, but he wanted to do it properly...

[@razorworks9942]

Very nice Randy, especially for those of us that don't have any scales on the barrel or a dial. Yours has both, so why make this? Are they not accurate? Or do you just like the digital readout? Regardless, this is a great idea, and having the option of removing it and installing it in a split second is Awesome! Nice job.... Razor!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

No real need for this lathe Ray. But due to several viewer request I put something together. It does work well and it is fast and easy to use when you need it. Thank you Ray for stopping in.

[@russellpurdie]

Most times when I have not drilled far enough my tail stock has slid back or the same with the drill in the chuck, got any solutions for that? Nice work

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Make sure your chuck is not worn. Try to install your drills all the way in when you can. Lock down the tailstock tight. Thanks Russell.

[@russellpurdie]

@@RRINTHESHOP Thanks for the reply, I do this however marking the drill seems to be the only way especially on deep holes (might look at a mod for the tailstock clamp).

[@tedsykora1858]

I think a longer drill may be needed when drilling the hole for across the slitting or the drill chuck would have hit the work (the ring)?

[@RRINTHESHOP]

It was close.

[@tedsykora1858]

I don't see how to order a dovetail cutter

[@pieterbotes8938]

May I suggest using two pieces of flat bar for support (one on each side of component to be split), and split it with grinding blade or band saw and then use your slitting saw blade - much less stress on the blade and quicker!

[@g-codeonedesign9578]

no dont

[@ClownWhisper]

Lol that's what I said when I saw that piece of metal I said it looks like 4150 to me

[@RRINTHESHOP]

LOL. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

[@TraditionalToolworks]

Pretty noisy bearings/gears...nice job on the VFD box!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Getting better, new belt for the variable speed will help.

[@OldIronShops]

snazzy rig why havn't you made one for the cross slide yet ?

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Yes there is a few things I want to do to this lathe. Thanks Chris.

[@OldIronShops]

Hay need to get up to your place to bring the angle plate castings when is a good time you think?

[@RRINTHESHOP]

This weekend is good, home both days.

[@OldIronShops]

Randy Richard In The Shop OK sat is no good I'll have to talk with the boss lady and see if she has plans for me sunday. is the snow gone yet?

[@RRINTHESHOP]

No snow, should be very nice on Sunday.

[@shannonboedicker5959]

What kind of dro did you use

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Link: amzn.to/2LXb1TV

[@shannonboedicker5959]

@@RRINTHESHOP thank you

[@brockkokopelli]

You left out a lot of details, like how did you attach the rule to the block? Where did you get or how did you make the rule? Need help because I need this on my tail stock.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Did you check out this video. It may help, kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYnHfoRpisiWeJY

[@brockkokopelli]

Ya, ok, that helps. Thank you.