Category Archives: Fixtures

Faceplate for Minilathe

Posted on October 9, 2018 by dave49

I was working on a new reel design, and realized that several operations would best be done with the parts clamped to a faceplate. The problem, however, is that on my Minilathe, the carriage cannot travel far enough left to … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixtures, Turning, Work Holding | 2 Comments

Leo’s Foot Fixtures

Posted on November 11, 2017 by dave49

Below is some correspondence from Leo. When I have needed to make curved surfaces on reel feet, I have used my mill with either a rotary table fixture or a ball end mill. Leo shows how to do the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixtures, Foot, Turning, Work Holding | Leave a comment

Compliance Reduction

Posted on October 17, 2017 by dave49

The problem that I am having with my MiniLathe is that the support of the cutting tool is too compliant. It is really disconcerting when a cut-off blade dives under the workpiece. Chatter is a problem with all types of … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixtures, Turning | 1 Comment

Right Angle Bracket

Posted on April 27, 2017 by dave49

Little Machine Shop offers this cast iron right angle bracket for use on MiniMills. I bought one and immediately drilled it to accommodate my Sherline rotary tables. It is much heavier than the aluminum bracket offered by Sherline. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixtures, Milling, Work Holding | Leave a comment

More MiniLathe Tooling

Posted on April 13, 2017 by dave49

I have used a Sherline lathe for about 9 years to make reel parts. In that time I developed many fixtures to facilitate lathe operation. Now that I am converting to a MiniLathe, new tools are needed. Here its a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alignment, Fixtures, Turning | Leave a comment

A Foot Fixture for the Lathe

Posted on July 24, 2016 by dave49

Since starting this hobby in 2010, I have built about 50 reels. For every one of these, I shaped the top of the reel foot with a vertical mill using this rotary table fixture. This is a labor intensive process … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixtures, Foot, Turning | Leave a comment

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

Mill Enclosure

Posted on September 30, 2013 by dave49

When I first got my Sherline mill, I put it in a large tote to help contain the chips that are thrown in all directions. I screwed the mill base to a piece of laminate covered shelving, which was not … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixtures | 2 Comments

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

Boring Tool Holder

Posted on May 19, 2013 by dave49

This plain aluminum block is a quick-and-dirty holder for round shanked boring tools. I have been struggling with this holder for some time. The problem is that it fastens to the cross slide of the lathe with a single screw. … Continue reading →

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