What's this bit about?

Kimball McGinley · Post by **Kimball McGinley** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 3:04 pm

I just bought a used 12" lathe and am sorting out all the stuff that came with it. There are handfulls of bits that look like this. I am used to square tools, cut-off blades, inserts etc., but what are these? Tool steel, .200 thick, about 5/8 to 3/4 wedge height, and about 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 long. Penny shown for reference.

Thanks!

ctwo · Post by **ctwo** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 4:38 pm

That looks like a serious chip breaker.

j morgan · Post by **j morgan** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:51 am

Looks to me like they were made out of old pocket knife blades, the groove is the thumb notch.

Patio · Post by **Patio** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:28 am

I think Morgan is right. Looks like some one needed some tooling, so they ground them from old knives. Low cost and recycling to get it done! Seems like a good idea to me.

dly31 · Post by **dly31** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 8:01 pm

I have no idea what they are but they look uniform in thickness and all seem to have the notch so I don't think they are made from knife blades. The notch seems to be a functional feature to me. It kinda looks like there may have been some sort of writing on them.

mcostello · Post by **mcostello** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 8:34 pm

Now premade inserts are available. Back then premade chipbreakers MIGHT have been available. Sort of like buying a bulk piece of hole. Cutoff a piece 6' long and place it on the ground where You want a hole, and presto it's done.

( goes back a few years on the internet)

hammermill · Post by **hammermill** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 10:13 pm

Acme sold then to fence builders :

A a certain coyote. Beep beep!

Kimball McGinley · Post by **Kimball McGinley** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 2:59 pm

Thanks all, especially for the serious replies. I am wondering if they were from another industry, maybe commercial wood-working blades of some sort? Maybe the previous owner could somehow get them at a good price? A 12" lathe does not nedd to take a .200" wide chip!

Anyway, I'll probably just toss them in with the next scrap load!

mcostello · Post by **mcostello** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:04 pm

Why not try posting on a wood working bbs?

Kimball McGinley · Post by **Kimball McGinley** » Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:01 pm

The comment about maybe "used for wood" was just a guess on my part. I probablyI'll just keep them as .200" ground packing to use with a drill press or mill vise.

Can I even use those words in a "Lathe Forum"?

kapullen · Post by **kapullen** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:39 am

Just a guess, but maybe they go in an adjustable shell reamer like this.
They are pretty useless without the body or shell.
Kap

Kimball McGinley · Post by **Kimball McGinley** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 3:18 pm

KAP - Yes, I think that is exactly right! I think I found about 36 pieces, so maybe 6 sets? You are correct, there is no holder.

Would these interest anyone? If there is interest, I will sort for size. As observed above, there are markings, but they seem to be hand-marked with a vibratory etch tool, not a factory mark.

I hate throwing away things just because they are not useful to me. I'd send them for postage.

The Home Machinist!

What's this bit about?

What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?

Re: What's this bit about?