The Universal Pillar Tool

The Universal Pillar Tool includes four iron castings, namely the Base , 2 Arms and the 6" diameter Table . The base is secured to a base board and supports the ground steel column . This column carries the two arms, which are quite free to slide up and down or rotate about it. The table will fit either arm.

When tapping a component the table is located in the lower arm and supports the item to be tapped. The upper arm then carries the tap holder.

If riveting is desired, then the lower arm carries the stake, while the upper arm holds the dolly.

Along with the castings, the kit includes a ground steel column and all steel, brass and fasteners to complete the Universal Pillar Tool and most of its attachments.

Please note however: The drawings and notes for this project are contained in George Thomas' book "Workshop Techniques". Please make sure you have a copy of this excellent book!

This kit is intended for export customers and contains ONLY the four main castings for the UPT.

With the advent of very cheap Far Eastern drill presses we had naively contemplated dropping this attachment from the product range. Such a lot to learn! This attachment is prized by the small workshop owner perhaps more that any for its sensitivity in producing smaller holes (No.80 to around 5/32"). Larger pillar drills, with worm and wheel downfeed, cannot begin to provide the feedback of the Sensitive Drill attachment.

The picture shows a simple indexing attachment developed by Dr. L.J. Taylor. All drawings and instructions for construction and use of the Sensitive Drill Attachment are contained in Mr. Thomas’ book, Workshop Techniques.

The Sensitive Drill Kit is supplied complete with the drill head casting and all bearings, spring, belting, steel and brass. It slips easily onto the column and can be driven by a 1,450 rpm. motor of minimum 1/12 hp. Since many of us seem to have at least one suitable motor that has been sitting on a shelf for many years, Hemingway has decided not to supply these motors. We can suggest suppliers if necessary.

As envisaged by George Thomas to complement the Universal Pillar Tool.

The Smaller 5/32" chuck perfectly suits the Sensitive Drilling Attachment whilst the larger 3/8" chuck will hold a majority of taps below 1/4" BSW.

An aluminium casting replaces the iron base, allowing the UPT, complete with Sensitive Drilling attachment to be rigidly mounted on either the cross slide or, more usefully, the lathe bed.

Mounted on the bed between the headstock and cross slide, the Sensitive Drill can be powered by the lathe at a variety of speeds. Work placed on the cross slide can then be co-ordinate drilled (or spotted) to accuracies of 1/1000". The kit includes the casting and other material to complete the foot and its anchorages.

Staking can be done in a manner similar to riveting, but the Rotatable Stake will no doubt appeal to most users. 15 holes from 3/64" to 3/8" can be quickly indexed from a common PCD.

This kit includes the iron casting, 2 blanks for the top plate and all other bar sections required. Ideally, the completed top plate should be hardened then ground. Great results can be obtained with only simple equipment.

This attachment pack is intended to reduce weight to the bare essentials for export shipping.

We are indebted to Mr James Batchelor for allowing us to make available this design. The lower arm of of the UPT accepts a jig to hold the clock plate. After centring the appropriate hole in the clock plate, a Bergeon type reamer, guided in the upper arm, corrects the worn hole. The reamer is then exchanged for a small press which pushes the bush accurately into position.

Kit includes materials for jig, press, reamer holder etc. drawings and instructions