The Home Machinist!

Triangular geometry inserts aren't the best for a somewhat low power, low rigidity mill -- even the positive geometry ones. Better to get something with a modern geometry -- with import face mills available around $100 and the inserts about $10 each.

Can't recall for that model Starrett, but most friction thimbles use a spring inside or at the end of the barrel to softly grip the spindle. Could well be that you broke this spring trying to use the friction forward and then reverse against the locked spindle. These springs can fatigue and trying t...

OK, time to vent. I joined an electronics forum because I wanted to get quick answers to questions once in a while. I put up a question, and immediately, the little twerps started insulting me and trying to get me to argue with them. The first one to call me stupid was a moderator! I told them I ha...

As suggested above, the early Kurt vises were very lightly etched -- easy to miss the name. Generally speaking, you can still get repair parts. Only real problem with the early Kurts (up to around year 2000 or so?) is that you had to order a matched pair to assure getting 2+ of them the same height....

Just to add, there's an old joke about this.

Husband: "Honey, when I die, I just hope you don't remarry and let some asshat have all my tools."

Wife: "Honey, what makes you think I'd marry another asshat?"

I faced this question several years ago, with cancer throughout my body and given six months to live. At that time, I brought in a financial advisor for my wife (to have some assurance she'd be good for the 99 or so years her family seems to live). Also made up a huge inventory list of my home shop ...

A pair of 4" matched Kurt type vises (no swivel) is perfect for that size mill. The second vise lets you hold long parts without chatter or deflection; and also even out wear on the table. Given that 4" Kurts are pretty pricey, you may want to get one of the better imports. Ask ahead to be...

As others have noted, we like what we're familiar with. There is one practical reason for appreciated imperial units in the US -- and that is the huge stock of machines, fasteners, measuring instruments, etc. that are available. Want a Monarch 10ee or a mint condition Bridgeport mill? A lot more lik...

A mill that wants a 4" vise might even be happier with two 4" vises (to hold and machine longer stuff). All of which is to say, another "which one to buy?" consideration is getting a matched pair. Used to be you had to order a matched pair to get them from Kurt. Now they promise ...

It should also be pointed out that you can use also a mill for turning many parts: - Parts can be chucked (collets, an R8 chuck mount etc.) in the spindle and a cutter mounted to the table. Table movements and spindle movements control the location of cutter. The main drawback here is that this is l...

Some more options: http://cofes.com/Portals/0/COFES_2012/COFES2012_MICROMETERS.pdf The "BZG Polyplan" would be one cool set to own. The Etalon Micro-Rapid is one the nicest mics to use. All the mics in that catalog were auctioned off in 2011 to fund an engineering scholarship for a deservi...

A high quality drill bit often has a bit of taper from cutting end to shank end; in order to provide relief. And any difference in lip lengths will cause the drill to drill a larger hole. You can measure across the lips with a micrometer, rotating it a bit to find the high size. However, a set of we...