Code Name : Operation Spanner Wrench- 5c Collet Block

Ulma Doctor

Infinitely Curious
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i purchased a set of inexpensive collet block's from all-industrial tool supply for use in my lathe and milling machines.
they were shipped fast and are very nicely finished, better than i thought i might get for the price.

i don't have any connection to the company, but i had a good experience and thought i'd say something about it.

the set came with 2 spanner nuts and a lever/cam closer, but didn't include the spanner wrench.
(the wrench was not pictured in the ebay store nor was reference made to the spanner wrench in the ebay store)
i didn't consider the wrench to be a deal breaker, the overall cost was under $50 shipped- i let it go.

my decision worked out for awhile, i used the lever/cam closer and was happy as a clam.
then i wanted to hold some 1" stock that was slightly under 1", .988" to be exact.
but there's another hitch, i needed a longer piece to pass through the collet and block for milling in the vise.
i figured i'd spring the 1" 5C collet a little and grip the material,
i didn't have the spanner.
so my project was to make a spanner.

i had some 2-1/2" 1018, and some 5/8 rod and some rod material for the pins
it was just as simple to make 2 at the same time, so i did! :grin:

FullSizeRender_1_7.jpgIMG_2881.JPG

i punched the center out to 1" and finished bored to 1.70" with a freshly resharpened cemented carbide boring bar

:grin:boring.jpg IMG_2882.JPG

i cut the ring in half and shortened the halves by gang milling in the vertical mill

i had some 5/8" 304 shafting reclaimed from a machine,

FullSizeRender_2_1.jpg

and a piece of 5/8 hot rolled unknowinium- that didn't want to machine very well with carbide, so i switched to HSS
and it machined a bit better but was some pretty tough stuff

i made some pins from some hot rolled 3/16" stock and cut them at .345" long

FullSizeRender_2_3.jpg

i center drilled and tapped the newly formed handles to 1/4"-20, and drilled and tapped the wrench head to attach the handles

FullSizeRender_3_1.jpg

i drilled the pin holes undersize and reamed to .1870"- the pin has a light press fit.

i cut 1/4"-20 all thread studs and attached the wrench heads to the handles and used red locktite to bind the heads to the handles
and made final assessments
wrench.jpg
i swept the angle of the handle away from the flat plane to potentially save a knuckle or 2 :cussing:

FullSizeRender_4_3.jpg
they passed inspection :cool 2:
i took one for a test ride....
and the final shot
FullSizeRender_3_3.jpg
now i can go back and attempt to finish the project i originally set out to do.
it never seems to end. :grin:
make something to make something else work , or otherwise take another step forward on another project!

thanks for reading!!!
 
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now i can go back and attempt to finish the project i originally set out to do.
it never seems to end. :grin:
make something to make something else work , or otherwise take another step forward on another project!

Yup, build the tool, to build the tool, to build the tool................ad infinitum. :grin: Looks good Mike.:encourage:
 
:cheer::cheer: Well done.

For a long time I had to use hacksaws, grinders, files, and hammers to make tools. I can now make proper tools the proper way. :encourage:
 
Yup, build the tool, to build the tool, to build the tool................ad infinitum. :grin: Looks good Mike.:encourage:

Thank you very much Jim!
i'd complain if it wasn't so much fun!!! :big grin:
:cheer::cheer: Well done.
For a long time I had to use hacksaws, grinders, files, and hammers to make tools. I can now make proper tools the proper way. :encourage:
Thank you Randy!!
i agree, i have made many tools in the field without the luxury of machine tools. Right Now is the battle cry
it sure is nice to have machines to create!!!
 
Nice job Mike. I had the same situation with my collet blocks as well (can't figure out why they sell those sets without a spanner wrench), but I was lazier than you. It took me about 5 years of wrestling with them before I finally got off my butt and made a spanner wrench. It seems that when I have a tool or piece of equipment that needs some attention, I never think about fixing it until I need it, and then I don't want to sidetrack the current project to do the fix. Sadly, I think I'm too old to change my bad habits :rolleyes:

Ted
 
Nice job Mike. I had the same situation with my collet blocks as well (can't figure out why they sell those sets without a spanner wrench), but I was lazier than you. It took me about 5 years of wrestling with them before I finally got off my butt and made a spanner wrench. It seems that when I have a tool or piece of equipment that needs some attention, I never think about fixing it until I need it, and then I don't want to sidetrack the current project to do the fix. Sadly, I think I'm too old to change my bad habits :rolleyes:

Ted

Ted, we are never too old, you just have to "want to change". But, I too am afflicted with your disease (laziness) at times. :encourage:
 
You mean I have been doing it all wrong all this time? I have been using my teeth to wrench on that nut.
 
Nice job Mike. I had the same situation with my collet blocks as well (can't figure out why they sell those sets without a spanner wrench), but I was lazier than you. It took me about 5 years of wrestling with them before I finally got off my butt and made a spanner wrench. It seems that when I have a tool or piece of equipment that needs some attention, I never think about fixing it until I need it, and then I don't want to sidetrack the current project to do the fix. Sadly, I think I'm too old to change my bad habits :rolleyes:
Ted
Thank you very much Ted.
i think the spanner should be included.
they can punch them out pretty cheap i'd have to imagine- heck i would have paid the extra$$ to get it in the package :grin big:
it is quite normal for me to have to do 2 things, in order to accomplish 1 thing.
i have found that you never really get used to problems , but it helps to accept them :black eye:

You mean I have been doing it all wrong all this time? I have been using my teeth to wrench on that nut.
Hi Dave,
well at least your teeth won't mar the spanner nut, like a pair of channel locks or vise grips would
unless you have carbide chompers! :grin big:
 
Thank you very much Ted.
i think the spanner should be included.
they can punch them out pretty cheap i'd have to imagine- heck i would have paid the extra$$ to get it in the package :grin big:
it is quite normal for me to have to do 2 things, in order to accomplish 1 thing.
i have found that you never really get used to problems , but it helps to accept them :black eye:


Hi Dave,
well at least your teeth won't mar the spanner nut, like a pair of channel locks or vise grips would
unless you have carbide chompers! :grin big:
Quiz question, and no fair if you use Google. Who was the guy in one of the James Bond movies with steel teeth?
 
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