Deformation Averted

Here are two “Can’t Twist” clamps holding a cylinder to a faced block of aluminum secured in the vice. The reason for this setup is to prevent the cylinder from being deformed by the clamping force of the vice. There will be two aligning pins pressed into the top end of the cylinder and if it gets deformed while drilling and reaming, then as soon as the pressure is relieved, the holes would no longer be positioned correctly. Downward pressure won’t deform the cylinder in this case.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

This is a violation of safety rule number two in my shop. If you can't see the picture then have a visit to the blog site.

Yes, it's true. If you leave the chuck key engaged in the chuck on the lathe (or any other machine) it's grounds for nuclear freak out session on my part. Think about what would happen if you started that spindle going at 1200 rpm. Yep, the chuck key would be flung through the shop and embedded in the wall or in your skull for that matter.

Don't let the key leave your hand unless you are putting it away. Go do a hundred push ups if you let go, even if it's just for a moment.

Sharpening Drills Need Not Be Complicated

Equally important as the skill of grinding lathe cutting tools, is the ability to quickly and correctly sharpen a drill bit on the grinder.

If you don’t know how to do it, look through these links, grab some dull drills and start practicing. You know you’ve done it right when the tool cuts easily, produces two, equally formed, curly chips, and makes the correct size hole. With practice, sharpening can be done by hand in just a couple minutes or less.

There’s no need for a jig or fancy grinder setup. Get good at grinding by hand and checking your work with a drill gauge.

Here’s a good lesson on drills and how to sharpen them in a three part series from Tubalcain on Youtube: Part 1 http://youtu.be/hJItj_ISurY Part 2 http://youtu.be/rUMTJ9GZIC8 Part 3 http://youtu.be/cqn2VPGYA9c

This guy has the right idea – quick and simple: http://youtu.be/DGibYeprpkk However, I want to point out his safety mistakes. I don't really like to see him wearing a loose watch at that grinder, nor do I like to see him keeping the rag and tools on top of it.

This is how NOT to sharpen drills: http://youtu.be/pW7kGFcM2sc This method probably works, but is not the industry standard. You can tell by the comments how unacceptable it is to some.

Lovely Old Hand Scraper

Locked away in a drawer, probably for decades.

I'd love to drum up some info about the hand scrapers I found in the shop this winter. There is a handful of them of various shapes and I'd love to learn how to use them correctly. Indeed I've had to use a scraper when there was no alternative for machining. Don't know if I'm really doing it right, though, but the scraper has gotten me out of a bind (no pun intended).

As I understand it, the above pictured scraper is a bearing scraper for use on curved surfaces.

Lathe Tool Grinding - A Visual Aid

As taught by Tubalcain on Youtube. Definitely 20 minutes of  time well spent.

http://youtu.be/hrDr4rYLiAk Taught in a visual manner with models.

http://youtu.be/dRyqIm5JR5s What a great goal for a beginner - to grind a basic set of lathe tools.

A well worn (and well used) copy of “How to Run a Lathe” given to me by my shop mentor.

Basics of Lathe Tool Grinding

Here are a couple of good web resources for basic lathe tool bit grinding. Study them if you don’t know how to do it. If you do know how, this is a good review.

http://www.metalartspress.com/PDFs/Sharpening_Steel_Lathe_Tools.pdf

http://www.sherline.com/grinding.htm

A rut I’ve gotten into recently is the habit of grabbing the indexable tool holder to carry out most of the lathe turning procedures that I do. It’s convenient and quick. The tool height is already set up. I don’t have to think very much. But I’m calling it a rut because it’s making me lazy, not to mention it’s expensive to buy carbide inserts, and when I’m tired or I get a little clumsy I tend to break them. The inserts are just not as forgiving for me as a good high speed steel tool bit. Therefore, I’ve decided to brush up on my lathe tool grinding skills with the intent to get better about using steel bits.

It’s extremely satisfying to hog out a new, custom lathe tool in just a few minutes.

Eye Protection Required - Don't Break This Rule!

I see reminders for eye protection all over the place in the shop The caution labels are plastered on tools, equipment and all the machines. It also happens to be rule number one in my shop.

Here's another reminder - I hope you can see it.

And a decent video on the subject: http://youtu.be/0DYgLlWzYqk