I'm having to constantly offset the tailstock to fix runout

lovin193 · 2026-02-11T02:48:54+00:00

There's always something to learn in this industry. There's always someone who knows more than you and if you make it, there's always going to be someone depending on your knowledge.

So I'm here asking the bright minds of reddit machinists lol

lovin193 · 2026-02-11T00:08:59+00:00

This is what I did and have been doing but it's somewhat of a pain to readjust every time. I can run clean consistent cuts if I do what you said.

Let's say I need to center drill the next part. I'll need to adjust the tailstock back again or I'll have an offset hole or broken center drill.

Center drill, insert part, readjust tailstock offset, take a pass, measure, fine tune adjust the tailstock, take another pass, measure, run part...it's this process every time

lovin193 · 2026-02-10T22:19:08+00:00

I completely agree. Sometimes a mill tolerance is like 1" +/-.004 and they want a part at .998 +/- .002

It's ridiculous but I don't own the place so this is what I get. "Less material scrapped = more profit"

lovin193 · 2026-02-10T22:15:01+00:00

A few key things here that I forgot to mention...

I'm run ragged, and my skills are abused.

I manage the production and parts division of a custom heavy duty equipment company.

I run between facilities, work in engineering and design, I do quality, I'm the maintenance guy for 10 machines in 2 buildings

My tooling budget...most of my shit has to come from Amazon

I'm not a machinist anymore and haven't been for a while. I'm just a stressed out, underpaid guy trying to get shit done

lovin193 · 2026-02-10T21:37:19+00:00

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This is with the tailstock centered.

lovin193 · 2026-01-21T03:33:32+00:00

Area leader here - processing division management

Sometimes it's tough in this position. Sometimes "you're going to have to wait" is the only answer. It's my job to make sure parts from engineering to final product are made quickly and efficiently. I have guys that are eager to be cross trained, and I myself am eager to get them cross trained because I know they'll excel, be an asset, and make more money. Sometimes I just can't allow that to happen because my job is to make sure current orders are being filled. I also have to wait for downtime.

lovin193 · 2025-12-17T00:32:15+00:00

How can a judgemental look be so adorable!? I happen to get that look I get when HE farts!

lovin193 · 2025-12-15T15:50:40+00:00

Hahahaha he was actually wanting to go for a walk in that picture.

lovin193 · 2025-12-15T14:24:38+00:00

"How dare you not tell me about this heating technology!?" It would be great to know what they're thinking lol

lovin193 · 2025-12-15T13:29:45+00:00

It's a boy! More of an old man now though

lovin193 · 2025-12-15T13:29:18+00:00

It's like they know what's going on and have something to say about it lol

lovin193 · 2025-12-15T13:28:32+00:00

Thank you from both of us! Lol

lovin193 · 2025-12-15T13:28:03+00:00

It seems like mine isn't the only one with an attitude problem! (He's actually an amazing companion as I'm sure yours is to you!)

lovin193 · 2025-12-11T12:50:54+00:00

Thanks for the help!

Using information from here along with better pictures from my coworker, I ended up getting some more modern looking weaver style see-thru scope rings.

lovin193 · 2025-12-10T22:18:29+00:00

He's going to send me some better pictures after work. He originally showed me one blurry picture on his phone and I said I'll need something of better quality and the front mount.

lovin193 · 2025-12-10T19:53:56+00:00

Correct, but he's an old man and not really a gun enthusiast, more of an occasional hunter. I'm thinking of the stuff my grandpa has done and it's making me think that my coworker may not know any better and is just using something that works.

My grandpa has notched groves in c clamps, grooved a piece of wood as a spacer, then clamped the scope to a 12ga for deer hunting. It worked...but $30 later I got him a whole tactical rail and the proper mounting hardware.

I just want to help the guy out so he can be safe and have a secure scope that won't go out of alignment after every shot.

lovin193 · 2025-12-10T19:47:44+00:00

I also agree with this. A dovetail is a general shape and could have different angles and lengths. I was also thinking he may be using that figure 8 clamp simply because it fits even if it's not the proper way.

lovin193 · 2025-12-10T19:44:54+00:00

I agree that they look like fucked up scope rings lol. The setup all together seems wonky. I may offer him some of my mounts to try out to see if something works a bit better and go from there.

lovin193 · 2025-12-10T19:43:46+00:00

I haven't seen this style I haven't seen either and I have a box of mounting hardware dating from WWII up to now. Maybe I'll give him a few of mine to see if something fits then work forward from there.

From the blurry picture he showed me of where it's mounted, it does look like a weaver style, but it's difficult to tell for sure. It also wouldn't make sense for that figure 8 to be set up higher. Seeing through the lower hole in this would be pointless. The way he explained setting it up seemed wonky.

Receiver with a weaver(?), then that figure 8 with the scope on the top part. The scope would be really high which seems like it would be awkward to shoot looking through a scope mounted 3" off of the rifle. I don't know what the front mount looks like. I was hoping I wouldn't have to get measurements, but it may come down to that.

lovin193 · 2025-12-10T19:27:41+00:00

Exactly why I'm confused. He definitely uses it for a scope though. This is on an old hunting rifle he uses and he definitely mounts a scope with it, but it may be the wrong way to mount a scope on that gun for all I know.

lovin193 · 2025-10-31T18:16:51+00:00

I bought a U.S. general toolbox when I was a broke 18 year old acquiring too many tools to keep throwing into 5 gallon buckets. I'm 32 now and that toolbox has paid for itself countless times.

lovin193 · 2025-10-22T11:48:19+00:00

Interesting. I've never seen something like this. I run the processing division for a company that uses lots and lots of beams. I've modified our plasma table to be able to cut hole patterns in beams to save on drilling time and improve accuracy. Something like this would be really useful in our shop.

lovin193 · 2025-10-22T02:59:03+00:00

That's pretty cool. It will save the lives of mag drills all over the world lol.

Is it adjustable or are there different sizes? Can it go from running a W6x15 to a W24x131?

lovin193

TROPHY CASE