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- Mar 25, 2013
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I wanted to buy a carbide tipped lathe center when I was struck by inspiration!
I already have several of these carbide drills bought at auction:
The MT2 shank is steel with a carbide drill brazed on. I figured if if I could cut most of the drill off I could grind the remainder in to a carbide center. I tried to cut it with an angle grinder...HA! No chance. But carbides strength is its weakness. I was able to easily break the drill off with a hammer. I chipped it down to about 3/4" long.
Then I put it into my lathe and attacked it with my shop made tool post grinder.
Here is the rough fractured end being ground by a Chinese diamond wheel.
Some progress:
Finished:
The grinding took about an hour to remove all that carbide but it came out well!
I had another thought: If you have an old fractured carbide drill etc. and you have an old worn out drill or reamer that fits your tailstock, you could drill a hole in the latter and braze in the former. Then grind the component into a nice carbide center!
Robert
I already have several of these carbide drills bought at auction:
The MT2 shank is steel with a carbide drill brazed on. I figured if if I could cut most of the drill off I could grind the remainder in to a carbide center. I tried to cut it with an angle grinder...HA! No chance. But carbides strength is its weakness. I was able to easily break the drill off with a hammer. I chipped it down to about 3/4" long.
Then I put it into my lathe and attacked it with my shop made tool post grinder.
Here is the rough fractured end being ground by a Chinese diamond wheel.
Some progress:
Finished:
The grinding took about an hour to remove all that carbide but it came out well!
I had another thought: If you have an old fractured carbide drill etc. and you have an old worn out drill or reamer that fits your tailstock, you could drill a hole in the latter and braze in the former. Then grind the component into a nice carbide center!
Robert
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