Shop Made Tools

[gary hart]

Plans from article “A Precision Metal Stamper” by Glenn L. Wilson in Projects in Metal, December 1993



Plans from June/July 2004 of Machinist's Workshop by Peter Stenabaugh



Electric oven for wax burn out

[Frank Ford]

Here's one I call my "audible work stop."

I used to wonder about the purpose of that tapped hole in the side of my Aloris tool post:




Now I know - it's for mounting my work stop:





Here's the full view of the rig:


The pointer is at center height, and adjustable fore and aft for position of the cutting tool, and on the z-axis for length of cut.

It's really handy when I have a batch of items like this little eccentric shaft to turn. I lock the cross feed, and run my tool in until the springy point hits the end of the rotating stock:



It not only stops the carriage if I'm gentle with the crank, but it also squeals nicely to let me know just as it hits.

With this little gizmo I don't have to index the stock in any way, which means I don't have to be careful in cutting blanks to length. It's a real timesaver in that regard.

[hornluv]

That's really slick, Frank. Looks great too! Did you use a router bit to make the contour on the brass part? It looks like molding.

[Frank Ford]

That's really slick, Frank. Looks great too! Did you use a router bit to make the contour on the brass part? It looks like molding.

Well, sort of, I guess. I used a roundover end mill, and it looks just like a router bit.


Hey - is there a way this amazing thread could become a sticky? If not, I guess we'll be forced to keep contributing so it can stay high on the list. . .

[Teenage_Machinist]

I wish Ishimura would post here sometime.

http://homepage3.nifty.com/amigos/index-e.html

[bborr01]

Hey - is there a way this amazing thread could become a sticky? If not, I guess we'll be forced to keep contributing so it can stay high on the list. . .

Hi Frank,

I don't know if you followed this thread at all. http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=39434

In it I talked about plans that I have to use some of the ideas in this thread that I started to build a website to learn web development and organize the ideas in this thread.

I have already received permission from many of the posters in this thread to use their material and have also received the blessing from George Bulliss.

I intend to have a free website called shopmadetools.com and have already bought the domain name.

Right now I am having a slight problem with getting enough time on the net to do a lot with my idea. I'm living in the mountains near Kingman Arizona in an RV and don't have net access there yet.

If any of the other posters in this thread would like to grant me permission to use their material in my site, I can be reached by email at [email protected].

Once again, thanks everyone for your interest and contributions in this thread.

Brian

[gary hart]

Took a half inch Jacobs ball bearing Super Chuck and drilled a clearance hole straight thru the back. Made an adapter to go from my lathe D1-2 spindle nose to the Jacobs taper.

Bored out a nylon type plastic disk for snug fill on drill chucks collar. Also drilled and tapped for set screw for a little extra holding.

Works slick. Do have to stop lathe to loosen chuck, but loosens easily with out much effort. No chuck key needed

[gary hart]

The tool post is a copy of Omni-Post

http://www.krfcompany.com/overview.html

Couple of machined and scraped squares. Greg Dermer made the patterns and Gary Martin of Martin Model and Patterns used to sell these castings. Not sure if they are still available, there not listed on web page.

[Frank Ford]

Hi Frank,

I don't know if you followed this thread at all. http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=39434

In it I talked about plans that I have to use some of the ideas in this thread that I started to build a website to learn web development and organize the ideas in this thread.

I have already received permission from many of the posters in this thread to use their material and have also received the blessing from George Bulliss.

I intend to have a free website called shopmadetools.com and have already bought the domain name.


Brian

Indeed, I have seen that thread, and I think it's a swell idea.


If there's one thing I do know about, it's posting QUANTITY on the Web. Between my two sites, FRETS.COM and HOMESHOPTECH.COM, I now have 2401 HTML pages and 23,428 JPEG photos, all of which I have done myself, including actually hosting and serving the site from the computer on which I am currently typing.

As to time, well, I guess I pretty much gave up sleeping when I turned 60 some years ago. . .

[knudsen]

Here's my contribution, pale in comparison to the many ingenious contraptions others' have shared.

1" 45 degree fly cutter:



More pics of it are in this thread on my model rail site.

Here's a smaller version, 1/2", made to use a TCMT or TCMW insert. I haven't tried the HSS insert yet, but will when I cut Al. I made this one to finish cut the edges of bar, but it works so well, I use it for general milling. These are super easy to make, easier than a regular fly cutter.



I'm getting nice straw color 6's and 9's with either and a smooth finish. Heavier cuts produce straw chips that turn blue or black. I run either at 2400 RPM taking off 10 to 30 thou. Feeds from slow to as fast as I can go seem to work well, as long as the feed is smooth.

[knudsen]

I wish Ishimura would post here sometime.

http://homepage3.nifty.com/amigos/index-e.html

He has some nice stuff there. Your link serves as well as a post from Ishimura-san.

[terry_g]

Here a few items recently I made.

This is the slotter I made.



Here is my simple R8 index.



some negative rake insert holders made from 5/8" keystock.



a flycutter



Lets keep this thread going!

Terry

[camdigger]

Pretty basic, but may help someone out of a jam... Shop made tap wrench. This one is turned out of 1/2" keystock, but can be scaled up or down as required. I've been putting off making one to fit my 1" hand reamer....



Note that it leaves clear access to the center on the end of the tap...

[gary hart]

Propane melting furnace made from 5 gallon propane tank. Intake air to burner passes thru exhaust port to prehead the air to the burner.


There is a ratchet lift up device that pushes the crucible up from the bottom. High enough to grab the crucible but not too hign so it can tip.

Pouring tongs slips over top of crucible latches in closed postion for lifting and pouring.

[snowman]

Gary,

How long does it take to heat up the crucible will a full load of aluminum?