Search found 13 matches

by MrWhoopee
Mon Jun 17, 2019 5:49 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Turning plastic on a metal lathe
Replies: 18
Views: 11739

Re: Turning plastic on a metal lathe

In "How to Run a Lathe" by the O'Brien brothers (South Bend Lathe Works), page 97 describes turning wood and plastics. They even made a wood lathe type tool rest and driving centers for their lathes. In my job shop we routinely turned plastics from UHMW to G10 glass reinforced epoxy and ev...
by MrWhoopee
Mon Jul 16, 2018 12:58 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: TGP for hydraulics
Replies: 21
Views: 10181

Re: TGP for hydraulics

The hard-chrome plating on chrome rod is principally for abrasion resistance. A little dust under a rubber seal with the shaft cycling back and forth will eat up the shaft in a surprisingly short time. In your case, this is probably not a major consideration. Thomson shaft is available in 1/4 in., a...
by MrWhoopee
Mon May 21, 2018 10:16 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Keyways
Replies: 15
Views: 11925

Re: Keyways

Always use the STANDARD size key in a shaft unless there is some compelling reason to do otherwise. For a 1-3/16 shaft that would be a 1/4 keyway. http://www.micro-machine-shop.com/Shaft_Hub_Keyway_&_Key_Sizes.pdf If you are using a standard, helical flute endmill, rough the keyway undersize to ...
by MrWhoopee
Mon Mar 05, 2018 12:12 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Plugging holes in aluminum
Replies: 16
Views: 5533

Re: Plugging holes in aluminum

In addition to thread and Loctite, leave the plugs long and peen them heavily to expand them into the threads, then finish flush.
by MrWhoopee
Sat Mar 03, 2018 4:20 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Indicating Carriage travel
Replies: 18
Views: 7767

Re: Indicating Carriage travel

Inspector wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 11:48 am MrWoopee do you remember where it was actually made? China or Russia or a mix? At those prices one could almost by a second for spares.
China. The options are to ship from China or Russia, but they can't ship to the U.S. from Russia.
by MrWhoopee
Thu Mar 01, 2018 11:09 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Indicating Carriage travel
Replies: 18
Views: 7767

Re: Indicating Carriage travel

After pricing long travel indicators for my Heavy 10, I just bought one of these.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-sh ... 0.0.PhPJNJ

No complaints.
by MrWhoopee
Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:47 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Category: Who cares?
Replies: 7
Views: 2462

Re: Category: Who cares?

I've noticed a continuing evolution of the products from HF. It's readily apparent in the feedback for items that they've carried for a long time. Complaints from years ago seem to have been resolved as they are no longer mentioned. After reading all the feedback on their 4x6 bandsaw, I bought one. ...
by MrWhoopee
Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:35 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Knockoff Bearings
Replies: 18
Views: 6521

Re: Knockoff Bearings

From my understanding business practices can vary widely from province to province in China from what some have told me who have worked or done business there. For some areas there's nothing like our western business methods and pulling a fast one or ripping off a competitor or customer carries no ...
by MrWhoopee
Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:26 am
Forum: Lathes
Topic: How I Ended up with a Machine Shop
Replies: 21
Views: 12925

Re: How I Ended up with a Machine Shop

Eighteen years ago I sold my shop to my business partner. Since then, I've had nothing more sophisticated than a drill motor, hacksaw and file. A couple of years ago, I bought a Lincoln tombstone welder for $50. Last year I bought an HF 4x6 bandsaw and and benchtop 10" drill press. Recently, I ...
by MrWhoopee
Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:04 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Cheap Tools from China....
Replies: 27
Views: 10495

Re: Cheap Tools from China....

What is of more concern to me is the purchases of whole industries by Chinese companies. They will get all the trade secrets and processes needed to replicate the whole thing in China. Better results than industrial espionage, for which the Chinese are world leaders. They are not interested in runn...
by MrWhoopee
Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:34 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Cheap Tools from China....
Replies: 27
Views: 10495

Re: Cheap Tools from China....

Chinese quality is coming up fast. I'm very happy with the 4x6 bandsaw from HF, still using the original blade even though I bought 2 bi-metal blades. I've recently bought numerous indexable turning and boring tools off AliExpress.com. All have been very cheap but well made. I purchased some CNMG 43...
by MrWhoopee
Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:05 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: grinding wheel storage
Replies: 14
Views: 6162

Re: grinding wheel storage

I just came across (and dismantled) a clever solution. This was a cabinet with 3 vertical panels of 3/4 plywood, each mounted on top and bottom pivots so the could be turned like the pages of a book. On each side of each "page" and the sides of the cabinet were steel "spools" wit...