Search found 579 matches

by Frank Ford
Tue Mar 10, 2020 1:15 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Off hand grinding
Replies: 4
Views: 3695

Re: Off hand grinding

I'd make myself an adjustable hand/palm rest, separate from the usual sort of bench grinder tool rest. It could be an easy project with some plywood, carriage bolts and wingnuts. I'd expect to mess around with different designs, so I wouldn't try to make it look neat until I had a design worked out....
by Frank Ford
Mon Jan 13, 2020 2:47 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Keeping drilled holes aligned
Replies: 38
Views: 14417

Re: Keeping drilled holes aligned

. . . drill bits that small don't have split points, so How do I get all the holes to stay in a straight line? Brass especially is "slippery" so a drill bit will skate on the surface if I try to "peck". My #41 drills have split points. I'd try a split point screw machine length ...
by Frank Ford
Wed Jul 03, 2019 4:57 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Vise, Vise, Baby
Replies: 54
Views: 24543

Re: Vise, Vise, Baby

I keep thinking one day I'll get a really nice bench vise. That's exact reason I bought my Wilton 600 and mentioned it here. It's massive and super strong so I can whack anything on it anywhere if I need or want to. Its round channel, fully sealed design keeps the screw completely enclosed, clean a...
by Frank Ford
Tue Jul 02, 2019 6:17 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Horrors of Buffer Safety
Replies: 43
Views: 23857

Re: Horrors of Buffer Safety

Bolt the buffer near the rear of a piece of heavy (say two layers of 3/4" plywood, with a substantial portion sticking out in front. When you approach the buffer to do some work, plant your hoof on the plywood to keep it from tipping over backwards. Easy to waltz the rig around the floor to sav...
by Frank Ford
Sun Jun 30, 2019 10:26 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Vise, Vise, Baby
Replies: 54
Views: 24543

Re: Vise, Vise, Baby

Check the weight - my Wilton 6" is 160lbs., for example
by Frank Ford
Sat Jun 29, 2019 2:33 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Vise, Vise, Baby
Replies: 54
Views: 24543

Re: Vise, Vise, Baby

When I'd finally "had it" with a succession of inferior vises around 20 years ago, I sprung for a new 6" real USA Wilton machinist vise. Took a big bite out of my credit card, but that has healed since. One of my best tool purchases. I did some customizing, including expanding it to 7...
by Frank Ford
Mon May 20, 2019 11:23 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Drill shank hardness
Replies: 32
Views: 14272

Re: Drill shank hardness

Unlike drill bits, end mills have hardened shanks, so I save 'em and make various tools by grinding. An angle grinder, die grinder, Dremel or Foredom with appropriate cutoff discs make quick work of cutting them to length, etc.
by Frank Ford
Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:24 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Pipe fittings
Replies: 3
Views: 3472

Re: Pipe fittings

An "internal pipe wrench" with its knurled eccentric cam will tighten or loosen the closest of nipples. I make a miniature analogous tool that fits into 1/4" phone jack to allow tightening the retaining nut from the outside of an electric guitar: http://www.frets.com/HomeShopTech/Prod...
by Frank Ford
Sun Oct 07, 2018 7:25 pm
Forum: The Junk Drawer
Topic: Tesla cars
Replies: 57
Views: 43059

Re: Tesla cars

Maybe the Tesla car doesn't actually exist. I don't live in a big city, but I have yet to see a Tesla car anywhere. Well, it's clear that you don't live around here. I can't drive to work (less than three miles) without seeing one in front of me. It's not uncommon to see two parked side by side in ...
by Frank Ford
Thu Sep 13, 2018 3:09 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Holding small parts in a milling vise?
Replies: 5
Views: 3976

Re: Holding small parts in a milling vise?

I reckon I'd start with 1.5" long stock, drill, round over, mill slot and then cut off to 1" long, stand the part upright on parallel and mill the bottom to exact .979 length.
by Frank Ford
Sat Aug 18, 2018 9:33 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: washer identification
Replies: 4
Views: 3574

Re: washer identification

It's a "tab washer," of which there are many variants.
by Frank Ford
Tue Jul 31, 2018 5:09 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Milk of Magnesia as Anti-Sieze?
Replies: 41
Views: 25658

Re: Milk of Magnesia as Anti-Sieze?

SteveHGraham wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:26 pm How hard is it to make lead carbonate?

REALLY easy.


I made lead carbonate by typing "lead carbonate" in the eBay search window. . .