Author Archives: dave49

Linear Actuator

Posted on November 9, 2015 by dave49

For positioning my CNC engraver, I have chosen acme screws. I am using 3/8-12 standard acme rod; I do not think that a precision acme is need for engraving, as long as the nut is an anti-backlash design. 3/8 inch … Continue reading →

Posted in CNC, Engraving/Marking | 3 Comments

Billy Pate Reel

Posted on November 8, 2015 by dave49

I have borrowed this reel from a friend, who has it loaded with monofilament (?). It is a disc drag reel, more complex than the simple click pawl reels that I make. These are my notes for a possible future … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Reels | 3 Comments

A Bullet Shaped Knob

Posted on November 6, 2015 by dave49

This is the knob shape that I have adopted for recent reel designs. The profile is a concave curve. I like the appearance, and it provides a positive grip. Last night I was talking to a prospective customer and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Knob | 1 Comment

Linear Slide

Posted on November 5, 2015 by dave49

I would like to engrave lettering and artwork on my reels. The engraving done at jewelry stores is not satisfactory; I want deeper cuts. My artistic talents are not sufficient to allow hand engraving, so CNC seems to be the … Continue reading →

Posted in CNC, Engraving/Marking | 2 Comments

Ferrule Tool Article

Posted on August 6, 2015 by dave49

This article appears in the July/Aug 2015 issue of the newsletter The Planing Form. The originator of the newsletter, Ron Barch, has retired but the newsletter continues under Kirk Brumels. Ferrule Shrinking At the Grayrock 2014 gathering, I was quizzing … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Ferrules, Forming, Tools | 1 Comment

Acme Tandem Tap

Posted on July 9, 2015 by dave49

This is a tap for cutting acme thread. It is of “tandem” configuration; the lead section cuts a triangular thread and the second section forms the trapezoidal acme profile. I bought it because I have the scheme to make a … Continue reading →

Posted in Threading | Leave a comment

Fitting Reel Foot to Seat

Posted on June 26, 2015 by dave49

This is my presentation for Grayrock 2015, on the fit of a reel foot to a reel seat. For an earlier post on this same topic, see 28 July 2014. This presentation considers “cap and ring” seats like this, although … Continue reading →

Posted in Foot, Presentations, Rods | 2 Comments

Sole of the Foot Revisited

Posted on June 11, 2015 by dave49

In Sept 2011 I made a post on shaping the groove in the bottom of a reel foot. Part of the problem was that the groove radius needed to be about 0.35 inch, and the largest ball end mill that … Continue reading →

Posted in Foot | 1 Comment

Screwless Vises

Posted on May 24, 2015 by dave49

I do not know why these are called “screwless” because clearly there is a screw that pulls the jaws together. I believe that this is a good design because the angled screw pulls the held object down flat onto the … Continue reading →

Posted in Work Holding | Leave a comment

Custom Jaws

Posted on May 17, 2015 by dave49

For my current line of bronze frame reels, the starting point for the front end ring, and for the rear end plate, is a disk sawn from the end of a 3 inch diameter bronze rod. This disk must be … Continue reading →

Posted in Work Holding | 1 Comment