Grizzly G4000 9x20 4 Bolt Compound Clamp Mod 

Why

Agreed, sometimes i get lazy tho.

I got me this same lathe (Central Machinery) last year 2021 from some scrapyard in KY for right round the same price... this was the first mod I did after fixing up the poor thing which had been banged up rough from its time in said yard.. and even I was quite surprised that I even managed to pull it off even with the most basic of tooling and a ‘Meetotoyo?’ digicaliper.. Still there to this very day. As for the graduated dial slot, I had to mill that on the lathe with a vertical milling adapter table thing. That, and I had to turn it from a 5/8” thick plate, which turned out real nice as it was thick and solid, though thinking in hindsight, I could have made more space for the bolt heads, but it all worked out in the end despite it being a rather tight fit.

Thanks for the feedback Robert

T-nuts aren’t exactly a buy whatever you need item, sadly. The way my lathe came as-is already had standard bolts shoved into the t slots to hold the compound assembly in place using the original clamp, and of course it sucked, but had to make do until I managed to mill t nuts for it using a lathe milling adapter table and a toolmaker vise (yes, I put endmills in the chucks, and no, I didn’t have any choices at the time) - that, and the stock lathe t slots weren’t standardized stuff, or at the very least weren’t some item one could just order and be done with - one had to make them to fit these slots, and it was doable, albeit not easily. That being said, those t nuts combined with this 4-bolt compound clamp I had made as shown in the video (thanks also to Steve Bedair) was not only a much better and more rigid setup, but also had the advantage of having the nuts in a different location than the original, which were already sort of busted by the time I bought it.

Hi Dorian, Thanks so much for the comment. It really means a lot to me; hearing people that appreciate my videos and understand clearly what i'm attempting to do with them. At the time i put this video together, i was trying to be perfect in form. Since that time, i have drifted away and no longer attempting this level of quality; and it make me sad. Perhaps if more people showed appreciation that you did, i would still have the same level of focus. As it is now, it is difficult to even sit behind the editor or raise the camera. I have much footage going to waste as i have not found the audience i was expecting. Have a great day sir!

@@DonBrandt Well I'll mirror Dorian's comment. Outstanding work. Thank you.

I did not, but my lathe is different model although it is pretty much same size.

Hi Keith, i can always trust that you come over and say hi. It means a lot to me..Thanks for your comments -Cheers

Stiffening the toolpost is the first thing that you should do. All cuts that you make with it will be better than you can produce with the factory mount so all of your subsequent work will benefit from it. This mod helps but IMO a better solution is to make a Pitkin Donut compound base, which stiffens the toolpost by a measured factor of 5 and is easier to make than the 4 bolt clamp. My first facing test cut on some aluminum using mine looked and felt like it was polished. coleman-family.org/Files/Donut%20Compound%20Mount%20for%20the%209X20%20Lathe.pdf

@@CapnCrusty thanks for the link. That's a great idea.

Hello there, the quick change tool post came with the lathe.. Check out the video of me picking it up here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CkePxIUMBSQ.html I think you can buy it here: www.grizzly.com/products/Quick-Change-Tool-Post-Set-Mini/T10167?Page&.com I am still using the same belt, i did order a few extras however.. Thanks and cheers!

You can find Stan driving the golf cart around.. LOL

Good question, i find that i have to set my tool heights for every tool to be on the center line of the work. Some Quick Change tool holders have an adjustment screw that helps. A good way to find the center-line is to move the time to the live center and have the top of the tool meet the point of the center.

Hi Cullen. Thanks for watching the video and leaving a comment. Sorry no not selling. Its a project that you can do, but it will take some time. Good luck sir and cheers

Thanks for watching

I can't wait to see you bushings video. If you want to cross promote sometime, let me know.

Don Brandt I'd love to! I'm actually going to be doing a video like that this week on my other channel. You can email me at connellkevin76@gmail.com I really like your new lathe. I have an old 7x10 that I have been learning on. I'm still very much a novice with it but they really open up a lot of possibilities for diy'ers. That Grizzly looks like a much nicer machine. I'm more experienced with woodworking so I'm always learning new things watching how other people do machining work.

Funny i have used this machine for years with no modifications.Did you tighten the base unequal with debris under it?Did you make an excessively deep cut or did you crash the tool post into the chuck?Parts can break but if you find yourself modifying your machine you may need to get back to basics.When i write programs for our Haas VMC”s or lathes at work I am trying to be efficient and maximize profit.When i make parts with my home Jet 920n I understand that i have to work with a different set of parameters.The vast majority of all modifications i see on these small hobbyists machines are totally unnecessary and are the results of poor set up and tooling use by the user.I have hundreds of hours on mine and have used it most of the time on 304ss and 316l .If you exceed the limits of any machine you are going to have issues.Poor machining practices / improperly sharpened tooling are the root of the majority of problems with non professional Machinist.Food for thought.

Hello Dale, awesome, glad to hear.. Below i'm sending the links for two products, the i want and the one i have. I would surely get the one with the handle, as it is, i'm using the one that came with the lathe. Thanks and Cheers The one I would Recommend: www.grizzly.com/products/17-Piece-Quick-Change-Tool-Post-Set/T10166 The one im using: www.grizzly.com/products/Quick-Change-Tool-Post-Set-Mini/T10167

Thanks. Truly enjoy the channel. Please keep them coming.

Just a quick note: Grizzly.com states that the T10166 does not fit the G4000. I'm no expert, but from my research the G4000 takes an AXA type QCTP, LittleMachineShop.com and Shars.com both have reasonably priced units.

Thanks

if you can t go any lower, you could grind the bottom of the tool.

Translation:Very good square box that hardness has 4041 or is another gauge softer Congratulations master. Thanks Faustino!!

Cheers Rolando!

Hello Tomoko, thank for the comment. I've got a bunch of cool videos planned, Have a great day!

Looking forward to them bud. Tomoko is my silver pouring channel. I am otherwise known as Dean Lorman and have been around your channel for a while now. We have a lot in common and if you like it would be great to see you come by Tomoko and a thumb up or down will be just fine fella !

Yes, I recall talking to you and seeing your videos! I love casting, and I've enjoyed your pour vids. Thanks for watching! I've subscribed

Dean here and you are doing yourself a fine service bud. Stay doing just what you are fella !

Translated text: Congratulations very good your videos easy to understand. I'm in love with mechanics. I'm still comparing a mechanical lathe for me. Could you please tell us the size of your lathe. And make a video showing your tools like lathe, drill, etc. Thank you very much in advance.

Thanks for you comments, the lathe is 9x20 Grizzly lathe I have been thinking of doing a short video of my workshop for a while now; if I did what would you like to see?

Hi mike, I'm sure you will be happy with the upgrade yes, I get much better cuts. Thanks for the comment.

Don Brandt I noticed in the video you stated “3/4” bolts.” I know this wasn’t 3/4 diameter but rather the actual length of the bolts. It seems nothing larger that a 1/4” bolt will fit into the slots once the head is ground a bit. Can you confirm you used 1/4-20 bolts or did you use a metric size? TIA👍

@@mikemike6096 Hello Mike, yes there 1/4-20.. I had to modify the heads to make them fit as shown in the video. Im pretty excited for you!! Its cool to hear someone following the video. Cheers Buddy

Don Brandt 👍

mike mike I just made this mod to a 21 year old Central Machinery 9x20 that was given to me. Had been sitting in a barn unused (except by mice & wasps!) for 20 years, and was still in the original rotted out box! I printed out the drawing from Steve Bedair website, which shows three different bore sizes instead of 2. I screwed up and made the 1st smallest bore too big, and wound up only having 2 bores like yours. I’m not really sure why they added the third bore anyhow. The drawing shows the hole offset on the plate, but I centered mine up on a 4” square piece. After the bores were done, I marked a cut that opened up a 3/8” (+ or -) window to see the degree wheel similar to the original clamp, but much smaller. No problem seeing the degrees when done this way. The end product is rock solid! Thanks Don for the vid! It takes this lathe to the next level!

I used high tensile steel bolts and nuts. Been working perfectly for many years.

Do you have a lathe? It's a fun project to do.

Hello Peter, congratulations on the New lathe. I appreciate you taking the time to write a comment here. Have fun with the new toy!

Check Here - bedair.org/clamp/9x20clamp.html

Let me know how i can help?

Thanks, I'm after a quick change tool post, will the ones for the smaller mini lathes fit? they seem to be very common.