Category Archives: Process

Mill Alignment

Posted on May 14, 2015 by dave49

A feature of my new “HiTorque Mini Mill” is that the column (supporting the head) CANNOT be tilted to allow drilling at an angle. This lack of tilt is a positive feature because it means that there should be no … Continue reading →

Posted in Alignment, Milling | Leave a comment

Radius Turning with the Compound Slide

Posted on May 11, 2015 by dave49

“Any tool can be the right tool.” – Red Green I put a “waist” on a reel knob by moving the tip of a lathe tool bit through an arc. The radius of this arc is 1.8 inches and makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Knob, Turning | Leave a comment

A New Mill

Posted on May 8, 2015 by dave49

I finally did what many have told me I should do, and that is get a bigger mill for my reel work. This is a Model 3990 from Little Machine Shop. It is several times heavier, stiffer, and more powerful … Continue reading →

Posted in Milling | 4 Comments

Swarf Pan

Posted on April 25, 2015 by dave49

I have been collecting waste chips from the lathe in shallow pans made of folded poster board, placed in front and back of the lathe base.  To make a more effective collection, I recently bought an aluminum “full sheet” baking … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixtures, Turning | 2 Comments

Rounding the Corners

Posted on February 24, 2015 by dave49

The is the rear end plate of reel S/N 52, screwed to a tool plate while I round off the corners of the pillar lugs. This is a fussy operation, with fine positioning of the Y and rotary axes to … Continue reading →

Posted in End Plate, Milling | 2 Comments

Rotary Tumbling

Posted on September 30, 2014 by dave49

Since I began making reels in 2011, I have been using a vibratory tumbler to finish parts. This is effective for aluminum and brass reel parts when used with”plastic pyramids” media. A typical part would get 4 hours of vibration, … Continue reading →

Posted in Abrading | 7 Comments

Ferrule Shrinking

Posted on July 16, 2014 by dave49

On May 7 I made a post about electroplating of nickel. This can be a protective finish for reel parts, but it can also be used to increase the diameter of a male rod ferrule that is loose. I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ferrules, Forming | 4 Comments

Nickel Electroplate

Posted on May 7, 2014 by dave49

I was interested in nickel plating for two reasons. First, it might be a good finishing process for brass, bronze, or steel reel parts. Second, a rodmaker friend asked me if I knew a way to build up the diameter … Continue reading →

Posted in Anodizing/Plating | 2 Comments

Rotary Indexer

Posted on April 15, 2014 by dave49

I recently bought Sherline P/N 8700, “CNC Rotary Indexer”. It consists of three units. The first is the standard 4 inch rotary table, but with a stepper motor attached. Here you see it set up to cut teeth on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alignment, Milling, Ratchet/Gear | 2 Comments

Shaping the Knob

Posted on February 3, 2014 by dave49

The knobs on my reels have just been simple cylinders. They might look better with some shaping, perhaps a “waist”. Here is a material blank mounted on a mandrel, ready for turning. I want to make a concave arc cut … Continue reading →

Posted in Knob, Turning | Leave a comment