The Home Machinist!

Maybe I'm missing something here but it seems a lot of worry over making a piece of scrap into a bench block. I'd clamp the block in my vise at 45 degrees, run a groove across it through the desired hole, centered only by guessing, eyeballing, or whatever. Then I'd clamp the the thing level and cent...

Buffs come with various size holes, but trust me, the skinny shaft is a non-starter! No reason you can have a good working buff stuck right close to the bearing or motor - just keep it CLOSE, and buff away. Long shaft is for clearance on big things. I buff guitars and they need a LOT of room, but I ...

A real buffer is a great addition to any shop - for polishing metal, plastic, whatever. I use 8" and smaller buffs on my 1 hp 1750 RPM Baldors with 7.5" arbor, 1.125" diameter, stepped down to 7/8 where the buffs mount - quite good for metal work. I've tried a 1" diameter longer ...

I love the 8 ball. I wonder how you chuck a wrench in order to turn and thread it. I suppose it would be easy enough with the 4-jaw, except the bent end of the wrench won't fit in my spindle. Actually, It could be done easily on the mill. Didn't think of that at first. I like my wrench the way it i...

I like it. Thought I'd just toss that out before everyone else starts picking at it. Yeah I coulda done better, too, you betcha. (nyuk, nyuk) I'm glad you posted this - it's yet another good reminder that tools are for doing work, and if modifying one makes it more useful, then go for it! I bend to...

That does look gloat-worthy, and pretty cute, too!

Thanks a lot - now I want one. . .

Ah, Essentra "formerly REID TOOL SUPPLY" - Indeed they do have great selection of that stuff!

Straight knurls are best done with a single knurl wheel. Add a second wheel and you get timing problems. As to diameter, I still don't get why so many people talk about getting the diameter just right. Most of the time I don't need a specific finished diameter, so I just plunge and go. So far it has...

What kind of steel?

Any kind.

I've made lots of collets - for steel my favs are 12L14, 1144

Just did some for my Deckel pantograph. Supplier wants more than two Benjamins for a single one.

Brass is nice, too. . .

One bad thing about ads is that they can open you up to lawsuits in other states. A commercial site that does business in state X can be sued in state X. Jeez, really? Anyhow, is this a "commercial site?" My FRETS.COM has always been decidedly noncommercial, but I have run ads for most of...

Wow, it is live, but SO obscure! If there were a link on the page header of the forum, you'd have had my contribution long ago, and many others as well. We DO want to help support this and other forums that manage to keep profit and advertising out of the picture! I doubt anybody is offended by a si...

A second thought - sure you could go nuts like Nelson did and establish a nonprofit status for this enterprise, but I doubt that the hassle would be anywhere near worthwhile. People will still donate, you betcha Red Ryder!