The Home Machinist!

I'm guessing this is for a loco axle or similar. If you use Trainman's method of keying the drivers, both keyways can, and indeed must, line up with each other. Might be easier. Keyways are cut at 45 degrees in the wheels, all the same, broached in a jig. When you flip one wheel over to go on the o...

It's incomprehensible to me how someone could do such fine detail. I used to work in HO scale, but compared to his work, I'm a -100. Thanks for sharing.

Agreed, but why would you want to use a drill to turn with there are much better choices? True, but sometimes I might need a bit ground for a one off special purpose. I work mostly with aluminum. I build scale model locomotives and some very small parts require very small tool bits. Besides, I have...

Harold_V wrote:

Richard_W wrote: If you are careful as drills are not really made for a side load. So keep it short with light cuts and the bigger the drill the better.

Yep! Thus my admonition to consider using drill blanks. Much more rigid.

Harold

As usual, Harold's answer is based on logic and good common sense. Thanks

Got a milling machine? Put the shaft in a vise and cut one keyway on the top side of the shaft using an end mill, then switch to a woodruff style cutter and cut the other one on the side of the shaft without releasing the shaft from the vise. Just find your shaft centers in Y and Z. I was hoping to...

Thank you. Yes I will be using it for aluminum. I would use the cutting end of a drill and shape it for a good cutting shape for small turnings.

Can a HSS drill bit be used on a lathe as a cutting tool bit? (not drilling) Is the steel composition of drill bits and lathe tool bits the same?

DrDavo wrote:Mr. Ron,

If this is just a spacer to accomadate a smaller shaft size, I can't think of any reason you could not make the item out of just about any metal you have on hand.

Just a spacer, right?

Dave C.

Reason is; it would take me about an hour to make it when they cost pennies to buy.

I can cut a key seat on a shaft in the lathe using the shaper method. I want a key seat 3/16" wd x 3/32" deep on both ends of a 9" long, 3/4" dia rod, but they must be precisely 90° apart. When I swap ends, how do I set the new end at 90°?

I have older American made machines that I am happy with, but if I were buying new today, I would look at Jet machinery. In the past, their tools have been top notch, but I don't know how their quality is now. I have a 25 year old Jet cabinet saw that was as good as any Delta or Powermatic saw at th...

I have searched several metalworking forums and haven't found laser machining being addressed toward the amateur machinist. Is this because laser machining is beyond the capability of the amateur due to cost? I would like to be able to cut aluminum up to 3/8" thickness on a CNC router. Is this ...

Thank you all for your solutions. I like the 1/8" shank silver soldered into the 1/4" pilot. I could even use old 1/8" HSS drill bits for the shanks. This c'bore I'm using is for wood, so a mild steel pilot works. I tried it out and it cuts beautifully. Where I live, if I need somethi...