The Lathe, Mill & General Tool Talk Thread

• The Lathe, Mill & General Tool Talk Thread
  Posted by Jim on 13 Mar, 2019 19:59
• The Lathe, Mill & General Tool Talk Thread
  A thread about tools both big and large that we use in our steam addiction could be fun and educational. I know that I have been given some great hints and help from generous members.
   
   Lets see if this thread takes off, hopefully its popular! (If it doesn't I'm happy to talk to myself and post pics to myself)
   
   To start off -
   
   I made a saddle stop for my lathe and out of a block of aluminium and a stainless steel rod and brass knobs. It's fantastic and has been really useful. Eventually I took it a bit further and made it so that I could leave the saddle stop in place and change the stop position by being able to wind in and out the brass cylinder that you can see below that I knurled. The smaller brass knurled cylinder to the left is a lock. It's so simple to change the stop now as I can unlock either the main saddle lock for a larger positional change, or just unlock the brass cylinder lock and spin the knurled saddle lock either in or out. Great for taking multiple cuts to the same shoulder etc
  
  
  
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• #1 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 13 Mar, 2019 20:12
• Knurled -
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• #2 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 13 Mar, 2019 20:41
• I use my steady fairly occasionally (much more than my follow rest) and did this easy mod that's worked really really well for me. The ball bearing races have made such a difference.
  
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• #3 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 13 Mar, 2019 20:43
• I know a lot of people know about and use Autosol, but did you know that they make a polish particulary for chrome? (also great for buffing plastic).
   
   This is awesome stuff for Jensens and Wilescos and gives the chrome/nickel a mirror like finish -
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• #4 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 13 Mar, 2019 20:46
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  Are you into Dremel (or Dremel like tools) ? Dremel have introduced an EZ Lock system that is bloody terrific. So many accessories now come that are made for the EZ Lock mandrel system. It takes just seconds now to change from one accessory head to another. If your a frequent Dremel user (and aren't all steamers!!!!) next time your shopping for Dremel heads, check out the EZ Lock system.
  
  
  
  https://www.dremel.com/en_US/site-search-results?blogsearch=ezi+lock
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• #5 Reply
  Posted by Mi Steam on 14 Mar, 2019 01:34
• Some great ideas that make the lathe a better tool.
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• #6 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 14 Mar, 2019 05:24
• Thanks Carl, hopefully the thread grows.
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• #7 Reply
  Posted by St Paul Steam on 14 Mar, 2019 06:01
• Quote from: Jim on 13 Mar, 2019 20:46

  
  
  Are you into Dremel (or Dremel like tools) ? Dremel have introduced an EZ Lock system that is bloody terrific. So many accessories now come that are made for the EZ Lock mandrel system. It takes just seconds now to change from one accessory head to another. If your a frequent Dremel user (and aren't all steamers!!!!) next time your shopping for Dremel heads, check out the EZ Lock system.
  
  
  
  https://www.dremel.com/en_US/site-search-results?blogsearch=ezi+lock
  

  I LIKE THE DREMEL LOCK IDEA, I HAVE YET TO CONVERT OVER BUT AM CONSIDERING IT IN THE FUTURE, GOOD IDEA.
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• #8 Reply
  Posted by frazer heslop on 14 Mar, 2019 16:14
• Although the travelling steady is handy its a right pain in the backside at time or at least I find it difficult to set up when making smaller parts
  Around a year ago I was involved in the restoration of an automaton that require nearly ten feet of bronze at 0.078 dia and no way could I get the traditional fixed steady to produce that amount
  Looking around I cam on a picture of a button steady and made one to fit my machine, The inserted button is made for the dia of the bar and the cutting tool is set to cut to the dia needed
  Worked pretty  well for a lash up and has got me out of jail a few times now
  A very rough vid of it in use
  https://youtu.be/lT8nKHqRaFE
  cheers
  frazer
  
  
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• #9 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 14 Mar, 2019 16:31
• Thanks for the photos and video Frazer.
  
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• #10 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 14 Mar, 2019 20:46
• Very simple and very handy 'tool mod' -
  
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• #11 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 14 Mar, 2019 21:49
• The ball bearing rollers in action on the lathe steady -
  
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• #12 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 14 Mar, 2019 21:52
• Simple Die Storage
  Pine boards, drilled with 1" Forstner bit to the right depth for the dies, two hinges on the back a clasp on the front and another pine board for the lid. Easy to spray with oil  -
  
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• #13 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 22 Mar, 2019 17:43
• Easy cheap metal storage -
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• #14 Reply
  Posted by Hero on 31 Mar, 2019 19:20
• My lathe carriage stop is made from a micrometer missing the thimble ($.25 at a yard sale). It's as accurate as it needs to be for its job.
  
  Some day, I'll replace that screw with a bolt having the same head as my tool post bolt; then I'll just need the one wrench.
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