Search found 176 matches

by WesHowe
Sun Jan 14, 2018 8:05 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: I want to make new lathe feed dials
Replies: 11
Views: 5444

Re: I want to make new lathe feed dials

Maybe put the new dial on your lathe, an indicator on the toolpost, then crank the dial 0.001" on the indicator and make a mark to line up with the index line. Don't forget about backlash, always move in only one direction.
by WesHowe
Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:12 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Cheap Tools from China....
Replies: 27
Views: 10496

Re: Cheap Tools from China....

We are looking at the state of Chinese industry from a limited perspective when we talk about machine tools. Basically, they are providing us with 30-year-old technology efficiently manufactured. Aside from custom assembly of foreign designs (think Apple); items like carbide tools, stepper motors, s...
by WesHowe
Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:41 am
Forum: Lathes
Topic: What Size Quick Change for Enco 13 x 40?
Replies: 25
Views: 23117

Re: What Size Quick Change for Enco 13 x 40?

I don't own an ENCO 13x40, but in their catalog (yes, I still have one) it looks to be pretty much made from the same machine as the Grizzly G0776 is, with a few different accessories. The Grizzly comes with a BXA QC tool-post and uses the 200-series holders.
by WesHowe
Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:55 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Shop made Machinist Level
Replies: 9
Views: 3356

Re: Shop made Machinist Level

You might also explore using a plumb bob to level with instead. I don't have a picture, but here is a video of that being done:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qIdsnl5vpg&t=16s
The needed skills set to make such a rig are probably already in your "kit".

- Wes
by WesHowe
Sun Dec 03, 2017 10:24 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Corrosion between dissimilar metals
Replies: 14
Views: 5962

Re: Corrosion between dissimilar metals

Take a good sized bar of SS, open the hood of your car, and lay it across the battery terminals. Somehow, I don't think that expresses what you were trying to say. Any bar of metal laid across the two terminals of a charged car battery will generate a current of 700 or so amps for a brief period. B...
by WesHowe
Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:02 pm
Forum: Milling Machines
Topic: Grizzly mini-mill & resonance?
Replies: 15
Views: 12826

Re: Grizzly mini-mill & resonance?

Well, then if you avoid climb milling, it must not be the cause of the grinding noise. That means the other posters are probably right, depth of cut and feed rate are the likely culprits. On a larger mill I get that when I get too aggressive with my cuts. For me that is often just too high a feed ra...
by WesHowe
Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:55 pm
Forum: Milling Machines
Topic: Grizzly mini-mill & resonance?
Replies: 15
Views: 12826

Re: Grizzly mini-mill & resonance?

Since you mentioned only cutting 1/2 the mill diameter per pass, I would ask if you know the difference between "climb" and conventional milling? In case you don't, climb milling is when you set the direction of cut such that the teeth of the cutter pull the cutter toward the work. This is...
by WesHowe
Mon Oct 30, 2017 7:33 pm
Forum: Gunsmithing
Topic: Best choice of steel for color case hardening?
Replies: 10
Views: 27829

Re: Best choice of steel for color case hardening?

I am not an expert on case hardening, by any means. One thing I know is that 1018 is harder to get a good finish on than something like 12L14 or 4041. I would think that maybe anything you are color case hardening might also have good looks as an objective (as opposed to just case hardening it with ...
by WesHowe
Wed Oct 25, 2017 5:15 pm
Forum: Lathes
Topic: Ball Turning Device
Replies: 32
Views: 18298

Re: Ball Turning Device

Not just the vertical clearance is at play here. Convex curves with the "conventional" ball turner designs require the pivot to be closer to the spindle than the cut surface. For a larger radius that is a problem, as you either have interference between the chuck and the pivot, or you have...
by WesHowe
Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:48 pm
Forum: Lathes
Topic: Ball Turning Device
Replies: 32
Views: 18298

Re: Ball Turning Device

I'm the guilty party, here is a link: https://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?t=104773 I never turned anything bigger than a four inch diameter with it, but only because I didn't have any large stock needs. The curve radius, as implemented, would easily go to a foot, convex or concave. Th...
by WesHowe
Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:24 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Drilling to depth?
Replies: 33
Views: 13235

Re: Drilling to depth?

If you can lock your quill, you could do a two-step process using a block whose thickness equals your hole depth (gage blocks or a milled to measure piece of stock). Lower the table/knee, extend the quill fully, then raise the table so that the drill bit is touching your hole location. Raise the qui...
by WesHowe
Thu Oct 12, 2017 3:54 pm
Forum: Lathes
Topic: Hello All New here.
Replies: 24
Views: 12108

Re: Hello All New here.

You never know. Maybe earwax buildup caused all those keys to fall out of GM ignitions.