The Home Machinist!

I wish we used kurt vises at work. Our company buys the GS branded vise. I think it is a taiwan clone. To make our vises almost as good as a kurt you have to spend about two hours doing a slight mod. Clamp two 123 blocks about 4 to 5 inches apart. You should clamp across the 3 length with the 1 inch...

I agree with Mechanicalmagic except I would skip the use of a pilot drill. It is not needed. A 1/8 dia. drill thru 1 inch thick material is easily broken. So just spot or preferably center drill. then drill the 3/8 hole. Another tip place two small springs between the parallels to keep them in place...

I have tried most brands of boring heads at work. I personally own 2 criterions, and 1 narex facing head. If you have the coin, buy the criterion you will never regret it. The criterion will barely notice the interupted cut. The off shore heads vibrate easily, and they lack consistancey when adjusti...