Milling
May 16th, 2009The Jethro Bodine Way
I already hate not having a mill.
I decided to try milling the base of my quick change tool post so it would fit my lathe. Problem: no milling attachment. I decided to do it the desperate way. I used a C-clamp, and I rested the base on top of a piece of oak, paper shims, and a steel bar. I stuck my only cutter in my 3-jaw chuck. And I got a face shield, because I knew I was tempting death.
The first pass was okay. After that, the metal refused to cooperate. The cutter kicked the base out of the clamp.
That’s it. I quit. I don’t want bits of carbide imbedding themselves in my chest. I refuse to spend an entire day doing this badly on a bench grinder. I’m going to find a machinist and pay up.
May 17th, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Perhaps a little late to observe that it would be quicker and cheaper to apprentice yourself at a machine shop.
I have an acquaintance who has a turret lathe in his garage. It weighs 8 tons, give or take. But then, he rebuilds the hydraulics for backhoes and the like, so I guess it’s OK.
May 17th, 2009 at 10:32 AM
I don’t think taking a full-time, low-paying job is the answer to my tooling issues. Even I am not that fanatical.
May 17th, 2009 at 12:24 PM
From the few photos I’ve seen you would look good in a grey or light blue shirt with “Steve” embroidered on a patch on it.
May 17th, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Virgil: heh.
May 17th, 2009 at 5:16 PM
I’ll machine it, if you’ll send it.
May 17th, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Thanks, Ed. But the shipping time is a problem. I’m halfway considering rigging up some angle iron and bolting an old drill press vise to the carriage so I can use it as a milling attachment.
.
I came up with a way to use a piece of scrap steel and a modified 3/8″ bolt to fasten the base to the carriage. If that works, I won’t have to farm the milling out.