Search found 65 matches

by Long Tom
Sun Apr 12, 2015 11:48 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Drilling thru stainless steel?
Replies: 11
Views: 4037

Re: Drilling thru stainless steel?

I'm not aware of a stainless that CARBIDE won't cut. You must've work-hardened it in the early going rubbing HSS against it with too little pressure to start a cut... How are you fixturing it? A diamond tip masonry bit might be the easiest solution at this point. Available in various sizes at you lo...
by Long Tom
Fri Mar 21, 2014 11:31 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Rotary Table setup
Replies: 30
Views: 6182

Re: Rotary Table setup

It is a quick thing to indicate in my 10" rotab with a coax indicator, either chucked up or in a collet. I guess I'm just surprised to hear it described as time-consuming. A decent coax isn't that expensive and it's a very useful thing to have. That said, some good fixturing ideas on this threa...
by Long Tom
Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:28 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Procunier tapping head
Replies: 20
Views: 5226

Re: Procunier tapping head

Yeah, but not in a production format. More like prototyping. I'd just pop a dead center in the drill chuck that I just used to drill the hole what needs tapped, use it to catch the dimple on a larger tap or the centering divot on any decent tap holder, and tap by hand right then and there, while I'm...
by Long Tom
Tue Feb 11, 2014 4:09 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Opinions needed! VFD, what brand and where to buy?
Replies: 83
Views: 36045

Re: Opinions needed! VFD, what brand and where to buy?

Post the exact model number of the Hitachi VFD and I'll match a braking resistor(s) of some inexpensive type for you. You can't just "add two" in parallel with some computation wrt the min resistance. It's dead easy to add the external pot and switches for your Hitachi. The vfd keypad or ...
by Long Tom
Tue Feb 11, 2014 1:11 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Opinions needed! VFD, what brand and where to buy?
Replies: 83
Views: 36045

Re: Opinions needed! VFD, what brand and where to buy?

Hey folks! Great thread. I have a 10 HP Hitachi VFD derated to give 5 HP with single-phase input. It is powering a Webb lathe with a 5 HP motor. Anyone know if the $25 engine block heater would work as a braking resistor for a 5 HP unit? Maybe a couple of them? I priced the resistor from DW and MAN ...
by Long Tom
Mon Feb 03, 2014 3:21 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: I spun a collet . . . I think
Replies: 20
Views: 5594

Re: I spun a collet . . . I think

An inch and a half dia. at .05 depth just sound like a WAY too much cut to me. Maybe I'm just too "conservative" . :-) Especially in steel. ...lew... My R8 integral-shank 2.5" Glacern facemill would do that depth of cut in a very low-drama fashion, once it fully engaged the work. It'...
by Long Tom
Sun Jun 30, 2013 1:05 pm
Forum: Lathes
Topic: Success at making a backing plate for a new chuck.
Replies: 3
Views: 1868

Re: Success at making a backing plate for a new chuck.

Congrats! Got pics? I've got a lathe with an 8 TPI spindle that I've been tempted to make a plate for. Did you have any trouble re-finding the thread when you took your HSS bit out to sharpen it, or did things index back? Did you get the thread fit you were shooting for? Seems like a shot in the dar...
by Long Tom
Sat Jun 29, 2013 1:22 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: New vs Used
Replies: 17
Views: 5879

Re: New vs Used

Hey, if I'm sweepin', I'm workin'.

I love sweepin'! :)
by Long Tom
Sat Jun 29, 2013 1:08 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: New vs Used
Replies: 17
Views: 5879

Re: New vs Used

All good points, Russ, and all correct AFAIK. When I saw American Pacemaker mentioned earlier in the thread I figured the gloves were off. :) I love my Whacheon Webb. Spectacular machine, and purchased with a bunch of high-quality tooling for what a 12x36 Grizzly costs new. And the footprint isn't T...
by Long Tom
Sat Jun 29, 2013 12:40 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: What is needed for a 5C chuck
Replies: 16
Views: 7118

Re: What is needed for a 5C chuck

I am planning on getting a 5C chuck for my lathe but I am a bit confused about what I need for it. I have never used one and I see mentions of collet closers, depth stops etc. Do 5C chucks use a key like a 3 or 4 jaw? Do I need a collet closer? Also, one of the main reasons I want one is because I ...
by Long Tom
Sat Jun 29, 2013 12:28 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: New vs Used
Replies: 17
Views: 5879

Re: New vs Used

In the new China/old USA lathe debate, there's always Option C..... find a Whacheon. Very high quality, modern era, Korean built machines. I must say, the whole "new China/old USA" debate has turned out to have some LEGS! It's eaten some real bandwidth, but keeps coming back for more. :)
by Long Tom
Wed May 29, 2013 12:43 pm
Forum: Lathes
Topic: What are your thoughts on Trav-a-dials?
Replies: 17
Views: 4880

Re: What are your thoughts on Trav-a-dials?

My Webb (Mori clone) came with a Trav-A-Dial installed. I've come to like it; it's certainly accurate "enough" for operations where I'm using the carriage in Z like that. I had to make a new crystal for mine out of mumble mumble the bottom of a water bottle mumble. Holding, I dunno, +/- .0...