Search found 579 matches

by Frank Ford
Thu Feb 09, 2017 6:23 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Tap markings
Replies: 15
Views: 3894

Re: Tap markings

It happens - sometimes things get mis-marked:
072.jpg
Both USA made taps clearly labeled as 1/4-20
by Frank Ford
Wed Feb 08, 2017 10:41 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Safe to Grind Tungsten on Bench Grinder?
Replies: 90
Views: 20970

Re: Safe to Grind Tungsten on Bench Grinder?

I am planning to use a belt grinder, but I wondered. Eh? I'm under the impression you can grind or at least try to grind any goddamn thing on a belt sander/grinder without the safety concerns of a wheel blowing up as with aluminum loading on a regular grinder. Tungsten makes nice bright white spark...
by Frank Ford
Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:17 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: New vise
Replies: 22
Views: 4420

Re: New vise

seal killer wrote:Frank--

I liked your fix!

Was the Grizzly vise just out of warranty?

--Bill
Thanks! - Yeah, the warranty was a couple months out.
by Frank Ford
Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:55 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: New vise
Replies: 22
Views: 4420

Just don't lean on it too hard!

The casting on my "green bear" vise broke when I tightened the handle too much - no cheater bar, just my 160 lb. self. Here's the story on how I fixed it, after Grizzly turned me down for replacement on the year-old unit: http://www.frets.com/HomeShopTech/Projects/ViseRepair/viserepair.html
by Frank Ford
Fri Jan 20, 2017 12:48 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Cutting aluminum on a band saw
Replies: 20
Views: 8743

Re: Cutting aluminum on a band saw

I've been using old candles for lubricating cuts in aluminum for decades, and never have a problem with chip welding. If I forget the candle, chips glue themselves right in the tooth gullets, you betcha, Red Ryder. . .
by Frank Ford
Wed Jan 18, 2017 2:30 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Cutting aluminum on a band saw
Replies: 20
Views: 8743

Re: Cutting aluminum on a band saw

Mine is also setup with riser block for wood resawing. Mostly I'm using skip or hook tooth, 4 to 6 teeth, 1/2" wide. I got close to 40 years out of the original tires, and switched to urethane ones after my other 14" metal cutting Delta (made in 1943) had its original tires start to slip a...
by Frank Ford
Wed Jan 18, 2017 1:21 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Cutting aluminum on a band saw
Replies: 20
Views: 8743

Re: Cutting aluminum on a band saw

I've been cutting aluminum for decades on my 14" Delta vertical wood cutting saw without incident. Switched to urethane tires some ten years ago and while they do get chips stuck on 'em, I've yet to see any downside.
by Frank Ford
Fri Jan 13, 2017 8:08 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Best way to turn a 1/2" radius in a corner
Replies: 8
Views: 4301

Re: Best way to turn a 1/2" radius in a corner

To avoid chatter with a radius form tool, I find it useful to approach the corner radius slowly, taking shallow cuts, alternately feeding the tool in from x-axis and z-axis, so the tool cuts a little at a time on each edge before it's finished.
by Frank Ford
Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:34 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: boring hdpe
Replies: 6
Views: 2559

Re: boring hdpe

Those high positive polished inserts work very well on polyethylene. I use 'em for HDPE, UHMWPE, LDPE. I find it really beneficial to play with the speed control to get the best finish - turning slower often gets me what I want. And, I agree, the tip radius hasn't been all that significant for the s...
by Frank Ford
Sat Dec 24, 2016 9:02 pm
Forum: The Junk Drawer
Topic: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Replies: 14
Views: 7667

Re: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

And, to you all, Happy Christmas! Here are a couple of inspirational Christmas videos from the gang at my shop: Hauntingly sentimental, with Enid on nyckelharpa and Tom on guitar: Silent Night - YouTube Bn_fXYGWkvs Goofy fun, featuring the bass banjo I msde this year: "Banjo Bells" aka &qu...
by Frank Ford
Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:28 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Today's Craigslist Oddity: the Cutawl
Replies: 35
Views: 12549

Re: Today's Craigslist Oddity: the Cutawl

SteveHGraham wrote:I'm buying it just to annoy all of you.
Well that plan worked - thanks a bleepin' lot, pal. (nyuk, nyuk)
by Frank Ford
Thu Dec 22, 2016 4:30 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Today's Craigslist Oddity: the Cutawl
Replies: 35
Views: 12549

Re: Today's Craigslist Oddity: the Cutawl

A very cool and desirable machine - a solid professional version of the saber saw! I want one. . .