Info on this tool

[gambler]

What is this, and how do you use it?

[gzig5]

Which one? The stuff in the foreground looks like the start of a 5C collet block and collet. The thing behind that is a surface gage, used on a granite plate or machine for measuring and transferring marking and such.

[BCRider]

There's a whole lot of stuff in that picture that could be called tools. Which one are you asking about? The funky 5c collet with no splits? The funky looking holder? the height gauge just behind them?

[gambler]

There's a whole lot of stuff in that picture that could be called tools. Which one are you asking about? The funky 5c collet with no splits? The funky looking holder? the height gauge just behind them?

The collet thing

[gambler]

The collet thing

Now that you mention it, the surface gauge has 4 pins that slide down, what are those for?

[BCRider]

I believe the pins are to allow the gauge to slide along an edge. Use any two that do the job for your needs of the moment.

The solid collet is a stumper though. The surface finish is such that it appears to be a shop made collet. So it is very likely just the turned portion with threading to allow it to be put into the collet chuck and drilled then bored to suit and finally the splits would be cut. Or it may be that it would be drilled and threaded to take a threaded stud to hold parts with a thread already in them for additional shaping? As it sits now it's clearly not completed so it could be whatever you want it to be that starts with that shape.

[Toolguy]

The pins on the surface gage can be extended down to follow an edge or a slot to make a parallel mark. The 5C collet thing looks like aluminum. It can be used to make an emergency (custom) collet out of. The hollow piece in the middle looks like a collet block. The facets on the bottom can be used for indexing a part in various increments. The nut on the right side would be used to tighten the collet in the collet block.

BCRider types faster than me...

[RichR]

Maybe it's just the photo, but compared to the body, that collet blanks taper seems to have a pretty nice finish. Maybe it's meant to be blued up
for checking a mating taper.

[gambler]

the three pieces screw together, 5 c collets fit inside. it seems to have too many facets to fit a vise.

[EddyCurr]

the three pieces screw together, 5 c collets fit inside. it seems to have too many facets to fit a vise.

Appears to be an even number of sides, twelve in total.

My vote is that it is a shop-built fixture for indexing in 30° increments.

(Or it fits into a 12 point socket for some reason.)


Edit: 30° degree increments, not 60°

[754]

Say for example you have a piece of 1/2 in plate with a scribe line on it. You havevrough sawn it. Now you want to clamp to table and finish mill to the line. Use the pins on height guage to catch edge of table or T slot, then tilt the arm and scribe to pick up your layout line. You piece is lightly clamp, tap it around till scribe follows line, then clamp and mill.
Same thing in the vise, have your layout line above the jaws, then move it till scribe follows the line, clamp and mill.

[gambler]

Say for example you have a piece of 1/2 in plate with a scribe line on it. You havevrough sawn it. Now you want to clamp to table and finish mill to the line. Use the pins on height guage to catch edge of table or T slot, then tilt the arm and scribe to pick up your layout line. You piece is lightly clamp, tap it around till scribe follows line, then clamp and mill.
Same thing in the vise, have your layout line above the jaws, then move it till scribe follows the line, clamp and mill.

never thought of that use, thanks.

[JoeLee]

Probably some high school kids shop project. A 5C collett and block.

JL..............

[reggie_obe]

The solid collet is a stumper though. The surface finish is such that it appears to be a shop made collet. e.

The "color" makes me think it's aluminum.

[754]

If I have to cut a Morse taper stub, I usually cut an extra or two for future use, better use of setting a taper.
Run a few chalk lines on the taper, then twist 15 degrees back and forth, see if the taper is accurate.