The Home Machinist!

Since milling one part is the most time consuming operation, starting with a long flat bar would be my choice. As soon as the piece is parted off, I will center drill or turn the round part so the stock can be advanced in the 4 jaws chuck and still have a centering reference. If you are worried abou...

Actually the 9/16 can be trued up because all it has to do is to stop from going through a 1/2" hole. Will keep that as an option.
Straightening shaft is way beyond my pay grade.

I need to reduce an 8" long 9/16 drill rod to 1/2 for half the lenght. I want the the two section to stay coaxial and think that some heating before machining may be helpful. What temperature and time would be appropriate? All I have is a toaster oven that can be dialed to 400F. A propane torch seem...

Makes sense

Just relieve the female part with a major dia for a couple of threads to make room for the unfinished threads on the male part.

Does it have cutting teeth on both sides or are they driving teeth?

Variac's are autotransformers. No isolation. If the input leads are reversed the set up is even more dangerous than usual since both output leads are hot when set at zero.
Is important to have the plug polarized, and wired right. A GND prong connected to the metal case is highly desirable.

Variac will work fine on Universal Motors (AC/(DC) motor with brushes) If a dimmer gives poor performance try placing a 100W incandescent light bulb additional load (in parallel to whatever you are trying to control) There are different types of dimmer loosely classed for electronic or inductive loa...

I use a CC for everything. It gets me a reward of 1% to 3%. In the last 40 years I had 3 issues with frauds that were easily contested and resolved. I know, my life is an open book for anyone determined to find out. He will probably discover I like Italian food and buy lots of tools and strange stuf...

I'm torn between spending time putting things right vs. actually making stuff. Look at the time to organize and storing tools in easy reach as an investment. The time taken now will quickly be repaid in a more efficient work environment and pay dividends by not spending so much time looking for stu...

The OP is funny and anybody, even the OCD types can relate. Is a fact of life that some folks are organized and some are the exact opposite. Whatever floats your boat. Great things have been accomplished by messy people. Personally I can not operate in chaos, I sweep chips 3 times a day on a full ma...

Thank you Dave_C for adding value to the thread. Your explanation make sense and explains instead of sterile arguing.
I like that attitude.