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Welcome to the South, David!

Yes, their “Proto Boxes” are made up of off cuts; I was thinking that if they allow walk-ups you could pick what you want from those off cuts. You’re right about the info they have available, it saves time looking in multiple places to learn about the different materials.

One advantage of buying from Online Metals is that you don’t pay extra shipping if your order comes from multiple locations; back before McMaster included shipping in your cart I was bitten by this as they charge actual (-ish) shipping and I paid more than I thought reasonable. However, when I...

Do they sell drops to those who walk-in?

Just for signing up for emails & texts you get a minimum of 10% off materials, more if you buy over $200 in a month.

Found in today's email: They had a similar deal going last year (or maybe the year before?), but just on bar stock. No coupon code required, and no expiration date listed (but it can't last forever!).

Thanks, Daryl! It will probably be a while before I need it, but it will be very useful. Regards, Charlie

I like it! Will you share the (Excel?) file? Thanks, Charlie

Glammed Up my Kant-Twist Clamps Got tired of sore fingers from the skinny T-handles so finally I broke down and added grips: 4-1/2", 2-1/2", 2" & 1" clamps (some are Kant-Tiwst-ish); mostly Weaver-Grip™ courtesy of a Zoro 20% coupon, but a few copies improved versions from eBay (the Weaver's...

Explains why I didn’t see any intrusive ads!

Simple solution: swing the compound to align with the ways then use the compound for fine adjustment/small movement.

A little further, but still not too far. So born in Milford?

Welcome! Not too far away, outside Hershey.

Yuriy no longer supports Shahe scales:

Use a high Silicon Aluminum alloy like Reynolds (now Alcoa) supplied for the Vega blocks (dating myself again): I visited the Richmond, VA facility in the 70’s and interviewed the Product Manager about this material. He told me about a Vega with a cracked block had driven ~250 miles on I95 with...

Based on the readout, this looks like the Aluminum bar version rather than the hardened SS version: I have the SS version on my Mini-Mill & Mini-Lathe, with TouchDRO Adapters. The SS scales are less prone to mounting issues and I have had no problems for going on three years (Mini-Mill).

Like all of us I am always learning and the notes help me during the design & fabrication. Also, as I submit a number of my projects for publication and I know that no everyone who reads the articles and could be interested in making the parts may not be as familiar with the process as I am.

For some of my HSM articles I have included order of operations on the drawings: I do this as I develop drawings and modify the operations if I find a better way when machining the part(s). Also my notes for myself if I'm not making a drawing.

Nice job! I confess that I purchased a larger diameter knob with a handle and tinkered with the shaft supports to reduce the backlash by about half. The air spring makes it easy to raise the head with the handle, but lowering still requires grasping the OD of the knob.

Welcome, twanny! As others have said, this is a friendly place.