Category Archives: Cutting

Internal Grooving

Posted on June 1, 2020 by dave49

When I first got a lathe, I bought a group of randomly selected turning tools from the auction site. These two were a mystery to me and I never tried to use them. This morning I was browsing through Youtube … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting, Turning | Leave a comment

Lathe Bit Grinding, Redone

Posted on April 29, 2020 by dave49

I posted the article “Lathe Bit Grinding” on 1 July 2013. Since then I have arrived at a better scheme, as described here. Bit grinding is somewhat an art and you will find many alternative styles of lathe bit. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting, Turning | 2 Comments

Power Hacksaw

Posted on June 1, 2019 by dave49

Before milling or turning, stock typically needs to be cut to length. My first tool for this task was a handheld power bandsaw lashed to a plywood frame. This worked quite well, and is still functional. The reason that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting | Leave a comment

New Band Saw

Posted on December 11, 2017 by dave49

This has been my cutoff saw ever since I started metal working. It is just a handheld bandsaw lashed to a homemade plywood frame. It has been quite satisfactory on flat bar stock and rod stock less than 1.5 inch … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting | 3 Comments

Diamond Toolholder

Posted on June 6, 2017 by dave49

Somehow the Diamond Toolholder (a.k.a. Tangential Toolholder) came to my attention and I thought it sounded like a great idea. Uses a standard 1/4 inch HSS bit, easy to sharpen, easy to adjust height. So I put my money down. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting, Turning | Leave a comment

Lathe Bit Grinding

Posted on July 1, 2013 by dave49

I find that high speed steel (HSS) lathe bits cut more smoothly than any carbide bits, brazed or insert. HSS bits cut best when freshly sharpened, a task that I have dreaded. My grinder is typical of the “home improvement … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting, Fixtures, Turning | Leave a comment

Cut-Off Saw

Posted on February 4, 2013 by dave49

Most of the raw material for my reels is round or rectangular section bar stock purchased in 1 foot lengths. To size it for mill or lathe work, I need a saw. While I own a Delta bandsaw, I prefer … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting, Work Holding | 2 Comments

Counterbore

Posted on February 6, 2012 by dave49

An end plate or end ring for a raised pillar reel has many details, so many things can go wrong. One preventable error is failing to center a counter bore on a drilled hole. When I started the raised pillar … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting | 4 Comments

Starting a Threading Die

Posted on November 18, 2011 by dave49

I am finishing end plates, and that involves a lot of tedious hand work and a lot of waiting for the tumbler to do its job. There is a feeling that no progress is being made. So as a remedy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting, Screw | 6 Comments

Boring with the Lathe

Posted on November 2, 2011 by dave49

I have been making end plates for my “aluminum frame reel”. I start with a section of rectangular bar, round the corners for lathe clearance, then remove almost all the material with a roughing end mill. Then I make the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting, End Plate, Turning | 2 Comments