The Home Machinist!

Victor Machinery, home of myriad tap sizes, lists a 1/2-12plug tap for $11.80

https://www.victornet.com/detail/TAST-1/2-12.html

It's all a matter of coolness in the bench vise category Coolest of all is Machinist vise. Less cool, in (sort of) descending order of coolness and stoutness: Tradesman vise Pipe/Bench vise Mechanics vise Shop vise Utility vise - - only good for clamping and holding stuff, but not cool. Clearly it c...

Here's a second vote for the Smith Little torch. Only problem I've had is remembering that the tiny flame is actually there on the smallest #2 tip sometimes, it's so small it's hard to see in some lighting situations. I find the tiny tip works with acetylene.

Not long ago, I sent a box of 70 files of all kinds to be resharpened. Cost was low, and results amazing. Check out BOGGS TOOL & FILE SHARPENING COMPANY: http://boggstool.com Needle files came out great, big double cut files sharper than new. And, just as they advertise, the ones they "reje...

You Tube has a nice selection of videos - just do a quick search for "drill press counterweight." I hadn't thought about until now, but I might just do one for our old Powermatic - it's getting a bit heavy for me. . .

It is NOT cyanoacrylate super glue. It's anaerobic - cures in the absence of oxygen, but because it is catalyzed in the presence of metal, it doesn't set up in the bottle. Don't know how long the shelf life, but it's impressive - never had it go bad, even years after opening. Unfortunately, the pric...

It may seem like a lot of work, but how about sticking a Dymo tape to a thin strip of metal, aluminum, steel, etc. and adhere the strip to the PE with epoxy. In my experience it's not necessary - the self-adhesive plastic embossed labels stick nicely. I have some that are decades old and not fallin...

neanderman wrote:

Frank Ford wrote:I use regular ol' Dymo plastic embossed strip labels...

Where do you get the label material?

Just do a quick eBay or other search for "Dymo embossing tape." I suspect most suppliers of stationery items carry it, too, along with the tools.

I have poly bottles with actone, naphtha, lacquer thinner,, cellosolve, alcohol, mineral oil, kerosene, paint thinner and other stuff. I use regular ol' Dymo plastic embossed strip labels - they last a long time and are always easy to read.

If I had that piece of aluminum, I'd slide it in up against the wall behind my lathe where it could wait until I had a project for it. I can't imagine looking for a project just because I have some metal. In fact, I have WAY more stock of almost any description than I need ready for use just in case...

I figure the "everything must flex" guy is thinking more of what happens to tools when they encounter the excessive stress of a crash or other problem, not how they perform when used within their logical range. Dan Gelbart's granite bed lathe is rigid as hell, and he makes it clear it's NO...

Mitutoyo's have a couple of advantages.... Indeed they do - my Japan-made Mitutoyo calipers have outlasted any number of cheaper brands, which often die from dropping or other causes. Battery life is great, because when the display is off, there's no battery drain. Mitutoyo does offer Chinese-maded...