- Joined
- May 27, 2016
- Messages
- 3,469
It's such an ugly hack that I am almost ashamed to mention it - but here goes..
This is motivated by desiring a set of the famed Robin Renzetti 1-2-3 block, the merits of which can be found on YouTube, but of course, you cannot just buy them. You have to make your own. I do not have a surface grinder, nor heat treat kit.
Don Baily, owner of Suburban Tool Inc describes all that is wrong with the holes 1-2-3 blocks, but we all have noticed how a bolt that will fit the tapped threads won't go through the clear drilled holes - a very poor design choice. At least the Suburban Inc 23-hole blocks will allow being bolted together in this way.
The Moore 11-hole block is a beautiful thing that provides the functionality that Robin then takes to perfection with his Universal 1-2-3 blocks where every hole has a deep counterbore and a tapped threaded end, and are used with modified screws that can spin free if you take then right through the tapping, to be able to screw into the next block.
The hack?
Suppose one modified the common (non-functional) Chinese mass produced 1-2-3 blocks by putting the equivalent of a custom "helicoil" insert into one end of every other hole in a face, and drilling out the threads on one end of every already threaded hole. Then make a set of the special relieved screws by turning away the threads just under the screw heads. Essentially start with the common low cost block set, and modify them.
Given that 1-2-3 blocks are already as hard as bits of battle tanks, I don't know how possible all this is. Transforming a clear hole into a strong threaded hole might challenge the best of Loctite 638. Also - it's all just a mad speculation on my part. If I had the way to harden, then surface grind, I would aspire to making myself a set. I am driven to suggesting a tacky hack.
This is motivated by desiring a set of the famed Robin Renzetti 1-2-3 block, the merits of which can be found on YouTube, but of course, you cannot just buy them. You have to make your own. I do not have a surface grinder, nor heat treat kit.
Don Baily, owner of Suburban Tool Inc describes all that is wrong with the holes 1-2-3 blocks, but we all have noticed how a bolt that will fit the tapped threads won't go through the clear drilled holes - a very poor design choice. At least the Suburban Inc 23-hole blocks will allow being bolted together in this way.
The Moore 11-hole block is a beautiful thing that provides the functionality that Robin then takes to perfection with his Universal 1-2-3 blocks where every hole has a deep counterbore and a tapped threaded end, and are used with modified screws that can spin free if you take then right through the tapping, to be able to screw into the next block.
The hack?
Suppose one modified the common (non-functional) Chinese mass produced 1-2-3 blocks by putting the equivalent of a custom "helicoil" insert into one end of every other hole in a face, and drilling out the threads on one end of every already threaded hole. Then make a set of the special relieved screws by turning away the threads just under the screw heads. Essentially start with the common low cost block set, and modify them.
Given that 1-2-3 blocks are already as hard as bits of battle tanks, I don't know how possible all this is. Transforming a clear hole into a strong threaded hole might challenge the best of Loctite 638. Also - it's all just a mad speculation on my part. If I had the way to harden, then surface grind, I would aspire to making myself a set. I am driven to suggesting a tacky hack.
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