Category Archives: Tools

3D Modelling

Posted on May 21, 2013 by dave49

An engineering student at Washington State University, Keenan, has gained some proficiency with the 3d modelling software “Solidworks”. I don’t believe that he is a fly fisher, but somehow he stumbled across this blog, whereupon he decided that one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Drawing, My Reels | 3 Comments

A Lesson in Thermal Expansion

Posted on May 20, 2013 by dave49

The “Fixed Spindle Reel” is my first design with a bushing that runs the length of the spool. I make the bushing of either Delrin or acetal copolymer, and it rides on a spindle of stainless steel. The fit of … Continue reading →

Posted in My Reels, Repair, Spindle | 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 →

Posted in Fixtures, Turning | Leave a comment

Snap-In Puller

Posted on March 7, 2013 by dave49

My friend Jerry needed to remove a cylindrical clutch assembly that had been pressed into a recess. The only feature available for grip was the bore of the clutch. He made this puller and was able to extract the clutch. … Continue reading →

Posted in Repair | 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

Improved ER16 Collet Chuck

Posted on January 30, 2013 by dave49

In two earlier blog posts (4 Jan 2013 and 6 July 2012), I have discussed ER16 collets. My concern here is holding small round parts “on center”, and for the discussion here, consider “on center” to be a TIR of … Continue reading →

Posted in Work Holding | Leave a comment

Chuck Centering

Posted on January 17, 2013 by dave49

On a fly reel, the radial clearance between the spool ends and frame should be as small as possible. It is probably not practical that this clearance be as small as the diameter of the finest tippet that might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Work Holding | 3 Comments

Mitutoyo Absolute

Posted on January 8, 2013 by dave49

For Christmas I received a Mitutoyo “Absolute” caliper. This is my first electronic-based measurement tool. I compared its measurements carefully with those of my old Mitutoyo dial caliper and decided that it works. What is amazing is that you do … Continue reading →

Posted in Measuring | 1 Comment

ER16 Collet Chuck

Posted on January 4, 2013 by dave49

In a post of 6 July 2012 (“ER16 Collet Set”), I reported on a collet set that I had acquired. These were different than many collets familiar to machinists in that they were saw cut from both ends in such … Continue reading →

Posted in Work Holding | 2 Comments

Machinist Tool Chest

Posted on December 20, 2012 by dave49

Through on-line auction, I recently bought this oak tool chest. So now I have seven felt lined drawers plus a top compartment to sort my stuff into. The most common antique tool chests of this type were made by Gerstner, … Continue reading →

Posted in Tools | 2 Comments