Hi Robin,

the cutter was a brand new Clarkson HSS 4 flute.
The column flexes as I have said previously, by 2-3 thou with a light pull on the head and 12-13 thou with a more substantial pull, at a height of 12” or so above the table.

Yes, the quill is worse the more it is extended, about 3 thou at max extension and un-locked.
I am not using flood coolant yet as I have not made a tray to collect it, so I am squirting the lube by hand.
I guess I should have expected these results.

I must add that I have not always been using the collet chuck correctly, as I have discovered that the cutter must be screwed into the collet a fair way before it grips the end of the cutter.
I have only learned this after the problem with the tapered bores.

Maybe I should treat this as a training exercise and buy a better quality machine after I have learned how to use this one.
It is difficult for me to have down-graded as I have.
At my previous house, I had a large workshop and had just bought a Bridgeport B2J CNC with the motors removed and was in the process of refitting it, when the house next door burnt down, leaving our rented house un-safe.:cry:
So we had to move and now my workshop is 6` x 4`!
Oh well, se la vie.

Thanks again for your help.
Cheers
Tweaky