Search found 439 matches
- Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:07 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Thread milling vs single point threading
- Replies: 27
- Views: 10286
Re: Thread milling vs single point threading
There is a fundamental difference between the various thread generating methods. When you single point with the top of the tool level, you get an Archimedes thread. In cross section the thread flanks are straight lines, just like the sides of the cutting tool. If you tilt the cutting tool to match t...
- Wed Jan 20, 2021 3:28 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Why do I need a Variac?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 10590
Re: Why do I need a Variac?
It's a downhill slope. If you get a Variac, you'll then find you need a voltmeter and an ammeter and maybe an isolation transformer. I use one in the electronics lab for powering up old and suspect equipment, but how often do you do that? For hot knives and such, you really need that isolation trans...
- Mon Jan 18, 2021 3:05 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Boring Head Questions
- Replies: 14
- Views: 7876
Re: Boring Head Questions
Or, somebody might have had a bunch of 9/16" tool steel they thought would be handy for making boring bars. Or ten other reasons. I doubt it's an error because you'd drill the two holes right after each other in the mill. You'd have to work really hard to make that error.
- Fri Jan 15, 2021 12:18 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: angular contact bearings
- Replies: 19
- Views: 9325
Re: angular contact bearings
FWIW, my entire career I've worked with very smart PhDs who could do complex math in their heads. Many/most were entirely resistant to learning anything about machine capabilities, processes or practical design. Some had no qualms about reducing part tolerances to zero. We school-of-hard-knocks peop...
- Mon Sep 14, 2020 1:54 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Boyar Shultz table stop
- Replies: 16
- Views: 8283
Re: Boyar Shultz table lock
I've never understood the lack of a table lock. At the very least you need it for dressing the wheel so the diamond doesn't creep. I think it's possible to move the stops in so they both contact the push thingie, but that's a pita. Better to make a dedicated part, but I've never really looked at wha...
- Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:57 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Cutting oil holder
- Replies: 11
- Views: 6907
Re: Cutting oil holder
Empty tuna cans are the rule, because machinists eat tuna fish sandwiches for lunch.
- Tue May 19, 2020 2:37 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Starrett combination squares
- Replies: 9
- Views: 5382
Re: Starrett combination squares
I bought one long ago because it was something you were supposed to have. Over 30 years or so it probably takes the award for the least used tool in the shop. Based on that, material wouldn't matter much.
- Tue Jan 14, 2020 2:13 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Grinding wheel question
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5904
Re: Grinding wheel question
Don't grind dry. That way the mess will be localized. Dressing the wheel goes everywhere but drops quickly and I just sweep if off the cement floor.
- Fri Dec 20, 2019 3:36 pm
- Forum: Lathes
- Topic: Proper way lubricants
- Replies: 9
- Views: 9187
Re: Proper way lubricants
I've used some pretty old way oil, but after a while I found it leaves a varnish. That's probably the time to dump it and buy new. There are lots of people bottling up the right lubes for SBs.
- Mon Oct 21, 2019 3:03 pm
- Forum: Lathes
- Topic: Winding springs
- Replies: 16
- Views: 15948
Re: Winding springs
I don't like winding springs on the lathe; seems dangerous. I use a fixture with a drill chuck and a hand crank.
- Fri Sep 13, 2019 1:20 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Used endmills
- Replies: 13
- Views: 7787
Re: Used endmills
I bought a fixture to sharpen the ends on my surface grinder. The fixture works well enough, but you have to shorten the end mills a bit if you can't grind the flutes. Given the cost of a decent 1/2" end mill, I think it's worth it, but not every end mill can be saved. OTOH, "real" ma...
- Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:43 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: marking tools
- Replies: 15
- Views: 9800
Re: marking tools
You can buy colorants for epoxy. Pick a good one and mark tools with that. You can get really creative and mill a small spot and fill it with color. Fairly hard to remove, at least harder than most paints.