The Home Machinist!

Re: Consider this; these boring bars + 10 inserts cost $18 for the lot.
boring bars.
Until the "Virus" problem is solved You may have a problem getting any of those. I was jut getting ready to buy a set of those.
...lew...

I was thinking the same thing. If the "magic" word is "Stainless" just use some other BS terms like the alloy words and numbers to confuse the silly consumers. Then there is always the magic word "Billet".
...lew...

Ah ! Just what I've been looking for. :-) Our local organization has one of these (I think it's the same model at least it says Granite on it) and we already have other lathes and a Bridgeport etc. so want to sell it and invest the space and capitol in some other more needed machines. So I have been...

I sounds like he was trying to put the insert in without taping the hole first.
...lew...

<If I use a carbide spot drill, will it stay on location, or will it "skate" on a slippery brass surface?>
It wont "skate" as far as the play in your spindle bearings .
.. .lew...

I think I see a couple of TO3 transistor mounting places on that .
...lew...

I can imagine that one of the big problems with any "Makerspace" is that everyone thinks they are an "expert" in any field that comes up.
As my one and only (very recent) experience at one of them shows .
...lew...

Old Pierre Vernier 1580 - 1637 would be roiling over in his grave if heard all the people using his name in conjunction with those devices with "Dials" or "digital readouts" on them. I don't know if it's ignorance or simply laziness. (Probably not stupidity)
...lew...

Not true. It all depends on where you are. Here in Abq. we have a good sharpening service that we have used for years for end mills as small as 3/8" and up to 3/4" at prices that make it economical.
...lew...

Anyone who doesn't tell you where they are, isn't serious about wanting help.
...lew...

You'll need a lathe for sure and a "radius turner" . I've done this many times. It's even possible to make the hemisphere a bit deeper than the radius. The tool bit needs to be a bit different than the common one but it's no great problem . I'll be happy to send you some pix if wanted.
...lew...

Yes I can BUT the compound on the lathes I have access to are very suitable to do this on. First off they have nearly 5 inches of travel and a straight side that a dial indicator can follow. So I made a fixture that sits on the ways and measures how far the side of the compound moves while moving th...