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James Rathbun
The Gib Screw T-nut on the Lewis Horizontal Mill is a knuckle buster.

Gib Screw Locking Tool

Posted on July 11, 2022July 11, 2022

Over the July fourth holiday this year, I decided on an impulse project to build a gib screw locking tool for my Lewis Horizonal Mill. After a intro milling project, I discovered that the Gib locking bolts on my Lewis horizontal mill are absolute knuckle busters, due to their location. Depending on the axis, the locking screws are poorly be located. Some of the T-nuts I am unable to tighten at all.

The Gib Screw T-nut on the Lewis Horizontal Mill is a knuckle buster.
The Gib Screw T-nut on the Lewis Horizontal Mill is a knuckle buster.

I decided to build a T-nut locking tool, which will allow me to easily lock the ways. After a quick game of what size should I use, I determined that a 7/16 socket will be the correct size. I opted for a deep socket to allow the nearly built tool to completely seat down on the T-nut.

Milling a 7/17 socket to build a T-nut locking tool for the Lewis Horizontal Mill.
Milling a 7/17 socket to build a T-nut locking tool for the Lewis Horizontal Mill.

Quick Project

To complete this quick little project the socket is secured into a V-block squeezed in the vise. I used a 0.250 end mill secured in the 1/4 inch ER32 collet. Once I found the edge of the socket, I centered the end mill over the socket. Once the setup is complete, I made a quick plunge of 0.500 inches. The cut took about 1 minute for me to complete, and once done to new little took fit perfectly.

Gib Screw Locking Tool in use under the table of the Lewis Horizonal Mill.
Gib Screw Locking Tool in use under the table of the Lewis Horizonal Mill.

A sacrificial 7/16 deep socket turned into a nice little tool to help me lock the T-nuts. An eight inch extension allows me to tighten the T-nut underneath the table. This quick little project took just a few minutes to complete and will save my knuckles a lot of wear and tear.

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