What did you do today?

[Cenedd]

You had enough sense to let go of the brush, right?

All three times! *sigh*
I have the normal stop button, the e-stop right next to it and an e-stop on the wall behind me that I fitted to kill the power to the whole ring main. Takes out lathe, mill, grinder and (porta-)bandsaw that way. Good for my own safety but also if there are any other operators....like my son. Although he didn't have sole hand on the wheels....at 8. You don't want to scrap a part you've put time into.....especially not when it's 8 years!

It was only after I'd posted that I was sitting trying to pick out some tiny fragment of black from the knurl that it dawned kn me what it was. A fragment of bristle knurled into the surface...which was why it was difficult to remove.

[Bented]

I never use brushes only flood coolant but can see how one might easily knurl one of those small sheet metal handle brushes, this may be an improvement (-:

[Cenedd]

I'm just glad they came in a box of 144. At this rate, if I do much more knurling they may not last the 15 years I projected they would!

[The Metal Butcher]

I lost a brush the other day doing that. Luckily it was a diameter increasing knurl, not for aesthetics. I'll probably stick to my oil can or flood coolant from now on.

[Bented]

I make a family of parts that are knurled on the entire OD some of which are 6" long, the material is POM at 1" diameter.
The first time I ran it dry, it got hot and began to melt the surface at 550 RPM's, scrap part,
Using copious flood coolant solved that problem.

Once had to make time on several dozen 5" long parts, as the customer says "If I wanted them tomorrow I would have ordered them tomorrow" (-:

Ran the first one at 1500 RPM's, .060 per rev infeed then .008 per rev axial feed for 5 1/2", at about 3" in one of the knurl wheels seized on its axle and this turned into an OD turning operation using an unsuitable tool, it was ugly.

[Cenedd]

Wouldn't have occurred to me to even try knurling POM. Interesting to know that it works: are we talking deformation knurling or cut knurling though?
What you need is enough cutting oil as lubrication that later after you've left the shop, you look down and discover you're wearing the fallout of an aluminium/oil slurry splatter. That'll stop the axle seizing!

[rklopp]

That looks like a fantastic finish on the thread flanks. Your tool must have had a perfect edge.

[Cenedd]

That looks like a fantastic finish on the thread flanks. Your tool must have had a perfect edge.

Thanks. I wish I could take credit for a well-ground tool....but had it been a tool I'd ground it'd probably have looked a lot more jagged! I went carbide quite early and even bought a range of thread-specific inserts so it would top them off and give me a good indication of where to stop. Naturally this was a thread I didn't have a specific insert for so I used the last edge on an AG60 (it was an early insert and subject to destructive learning curve...such as running it backwards and wondering why it wasn't cutting ). Threaded at 100rpm as I didn't have a lot of space before the shoulder and haven't really got reverse threading cracked yet. The finish is largely down to a file over the crests and then the pitch (2mm) being large enough that I could get some 'maroon' scotchbrite in there while it spun (backwards so it pushed me off the free end rather than dragged me into the shoulder) for a cleanup.

I did manage to quickly grind my old shattered parting blade back into service when I ran out of reach on my carbide insert. Might have to order a blade that isn't only just engaging a second screw!

[DennisCA]

Finished the hammer, ended up at 1250g

[Tim Clarke]

Do you make your own handles, Dennis? If so, nice job!

[J Tiers]

Concert tonight was a jazz trio led by an Iranian guitarist who is super good. The Symphony French horn player who is organizing the concerts (this was # 146, I believe) sat in on a couple pieces, including a cool version of "Summertime". Most don't like improvising, but he's OK with it and of course, very good. .

Last night a Mendelssohn brass piece, followed by a Mendelssohn piece for string octet (double quartet), all St Louis Symphony players.

Many times these folks have not played the piece together before, and some may never have played it, and are "sight reading". You cannot tell unless you are told.... which means they are really really good players.

[Dan Dubeau]

I sharpened a bunch of tungstens tonight.....Finished a project that has been kicking around my bench all summer waiting for some argon. Just some quick and dirty lathe tool holders welded from some aluminum angle. Nice to finally get them out of the lathe tray and surrounding area. Finally started getting my groove back near the end, and the last 2 welds were almost perfect . All welds are hidden on the backside anyway.

Also played around with some copper, and tried some copper brazing onto steel. Cool and easy process and I can for sure see me using that in the future for some artsy stuff. Then I welded a 1/2" copper tube together. Blew a couple holes at first, but got the hang of it. Then played around filling the holes. Pretty fun and just different than steel or alum. Nice to know it can be done, as I've got something I want to make from cast copper pieces welded together.
I like Tig welding, just never get to do enough of it to get good, or maintain what little competency I have. No pics, phone camera is broke. I'm sure you've all seen crappy welding before anyway

[Mike Burch]

Jerry, I envy you! The Mendelssohn Octet is one of my very favourite pieces. It's just magical. In fact I'll go and put the CD on right now.

I help out with the local chamber music society. Because of the Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings and travel here we have managed only one concert so far this year. I'm getting withdrawal symptoms.

[J Tiers]

It is pretty cool. The brass piece as I recall was one Mendelssohn wrote when he was 16 (!) and it is very good also.

Having the concerts at all is super cool, but having them by simply walking a few houses down the block is insanely cool. Friday night Syrian food is just extra goodness.... Chicken shishkebab over rice, with salad and hummus Friday....mmmmmmm

[Dave C]

That reminded me of my time living in St. Louis, and the home made German potato salad our neighbors made. What a treat, and I sure do miss it.