2017 POTD Thread Archive

Great job! Just finished the simple rest by H Hall, started cutting the bearing blocks yesterday, used 1018 cold rolled. What did you use for the spindle and collets, I ordered 12L14 but it hasn't arrived yet.
Thanks DHJ

Looks great ...... nice work!

All the steel I use is from the scrap yard so I never know what kind it is. Sometimes it comes back to bite me because it can be hard on cutting tools. The only steel I bought specifically was the cast iron for the spindle bearings. Figured there must be a good reason Harold specified that material and since it takes me so long to make anything, I figured I didn't want to have to redo the work involved if another material didn't work out.

I'm going to make one of Harolds grinding rests too. I'm leaning to the advanced rest because it would be easier to set up compound angles but there is a lot of work involved in building that one. I will probably make the simple one first and if it proves to be too difficult to set up, I will dive into making the advanced one. Got a few other projects on my "to do list" that will probably get done before I start the rest, or not. lol
 
I made a new motor mount for my pm1440gs lathe. The old one the bolts were hard to reach and adjust, this seemed like a nice project for the machine. This has taken a few days to get to this point. I needed to get the lathe back up and running to make the hinge I want to put in, so I purchased the strongest thing I could find at the local hardware store.

I purchased some isolation blocks, they were from McMaster Carr. The threads on the machine were 12mmx1.75. The only choices in that size were 3 1/4" x 2", so I had to modify one on the bandsaw.
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The brackets and the motor installed. Now I am able to adjust belt tightness
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The hinge is really not good... I'll be making a better one, I had to purchase new belts, and I will have to modify the gear cover... But I'm back running and the machine seems a bit more smooth than previous.
 
I made mr Pete's tap follower a while back and it's served its purpose but I wasn't thrilled with it. It's very thick and short. I was watching YouTube videos, I think Aboms video, and I saw a tap follower that someone made him. Long, slender, longer pin. I liked it. It inspired me.

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I have an assortment of old, very large bolts I use often as raw stock. No idea the grade, but it is reasonably hard. I chewed up a twist drill and had to completely grind a new point.
The pin is an old transfer punch. I have a full set of my own, and a bunch of randoms that came in a box with my mill. I use them when I need something hard. I welded a blob on the end and ground it all down with a drill on a bench grinder. Worked a treat. And brass, cause well, it looks nice. Same with the 10 sided nut. No reason aside from looks.
I like this one. It'll suit me well I think. It's quite springy and very rigid. It's a very close sliding fit on the brass. And my best bluing yet.
 
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Funny you should post this. I was just re-watching Mr. Pete's video on the follower and planned on starting it tomorrow morning. I also watched This Old Tony's "making springs" video to make my own spring for the project. Yours looks really nice. Great job with the bluing and it looks great with the brass. I think I will stretch Mr. Pete's model, first, before trying another design. Your comments made me think to give it longer action - we'll see how it goes.
 
Funny you should post this. I was just re-watching Mr. Pete's video on the follower and planned on starting it tomorrow morning. I also watched This Old Tony's "making springs" video to make my own spring for the project. Yours looks really nice. Great job with the bluing and it looks great with the brass. I think I will stretch Mr. Pete's model, first, before trying another design. Your comments made me think to give it longer action - we'll see how it goes.
Mr Pete's was good. Like I said, it served me well for a while. But it's quite stout, so not very good on smaller taps, and it's quite short.
Because of where I have my dro scale on my cross slide it doesn't allow my tail stock to get as close as without. So anything longer in the tail stock is a plus.
 
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