On Jun 10, 11:45*pm, "BillM" wrote:
...
I can do it with a 7" or so long bar. *chunk of
1 1/4 CR, turn one end to 7/8" to fit my
largest R8, slot the other for a single point
tool. *No biggy. *What I would LIKE is to
have the ease of adjustment the boring head
provides. * ...
Bill

You could put a set screw behind the bit in the slot to adjust it
outward. Put some paper tape around the setscrew head and graduate at
least 1/6th of a circle with a protractor, using the Allen wrench
handle for a pointer. A 1/4-20 setscrew feeds 0.050 per turn. 5 degree
marks would indicate 0.0014" increase in diameter.

If the end of a 7" bar is hard to hold steady enough to slot, drill a
hole for the bit and use setscrews crosswise to guide it. Then you
wouldn't lose your lathe center hole if the taper needed adjustment.