Author Archives: dave49

Roughing End Mill

Posted on August 30, 2011 by dave49

I will be building several copies of my “Aluminum Frame Reel” this winter, and I am beginning to think about quicker ways to move metal. At present I have 0.1 hp lathe and mill from Sherline. I think that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting, Milling | 1 Comment

Pawl Testing at Higher Speed

Posted on August 23, 2011 by dave49

This is the seventh posting in this blog on durability testing of ratchet and pawl materials. Previous posting are: 1. Picture of tester based on a “gearmotor”, 25 rpm (30 May 2010) 2. First results from tester (22 Aug 2010) … Continue reading →

Posted in Click, Pawl, Testing | 6 Comments

Heat Treatment, Second Attempt

Posted on August 17, 2011 by dave49

After my first attempt at heat treating (see “Heat Treatment”, 8 Aug 2011) I sought and received advice. Thanks to Ron and Tom. In this second attempt, I made a new ratchet and pawl, plus two ratchet blanks to use … Continue reading →

Posted in Heat Treating | Leave a comment

Engraving with a Dremel Tool

Posted on August 14, 2011 by dave49

The spindle of my Sherline Mill has a maximum speed of 2800 rpm, and that is probably not fast enough to run tiny engraving bits. I have a Dremel 395 hand tool (35000 rpm), so I made a mount for … Continue reading →

Posted in Engraving/Marking | 1 Comment

Aluminum Frame Reel

Posted on August 10, 2011 by dave49

Here is my recent project, just assembled. Reel 16 frame and spool ends – aluminum, clear anodized shaft – bronze crank and bearing cap – nickel silver sleeve bearings – Delrin AF ratchet and pawl – Delrin, biased for LHW … Continue reading →

Posted in My Reels, Reels | 4 Comments

Heat Treatment

Posted on August 8, 2011 by dave49

My reels to date have had ratchets of 642 bronze and pawls of natural Delrin. Delrin was the best of 9 plastics reported here on 7 May 2011. I chose bronze for the ratchet for its corrosion resistance and to … Continue reading →

Posted in Heat Treating | Leave a comment

New Anodizing Cell

Posted on August 1, 2011 by dave49

My first anodizing setup was reported in this blog (4 May, 2010). It used a small polypropylene jar with several fitted lids having different electrodes to secure the various parts. Since then, I have realized that anodizing an entire assembly … Continue reading →

Posted in Anodizing/Plating | Leave a comment

Finishing Plastic

Posted on July 18, 2011 by dave49

To finish metals, I often use wet/dry sandpaper. The finest grit that I have on hand is 2000. That seems to me to be fine enough for metals; I don’t really want a mirror finish. But when I have tried … Continue reading →

Posted in Abrading, Materials | 2 Comments

Engine Turning

Posted on July 13, 2011 by dave49

“A gold hunting-watch, David, engine-turned, capped and jeweled in four holes,…” – Montague Tigg to pawnbroker in Martin Chuzzlewit by Dickens. My current reel design has aluminum side plates and I have been considering how they might be decorated. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in Engraving/Marking | Leave a comment

Silver Brazing

Posted on June 23, 2011 by dave49

I like to use bronze for reel spool shafts. Portions of the shaft are the bearing journals, and it seems right to have bronze there, instead of aluminum. But bronze is heavy; the shaft of my first reel design was … Continue reading →

Posted in Brazing | Leave a comment