Recent content by benjames

Lakc: It's interesting that you have a faceplate to attach your lathe dog to. The one that I found when I googled was turned by the chuck jaws themselves.

Thanks for your responses guys. The lathe dog idea sounds pretty good and it seems they are pretty cheap aswell. I will invest in one of those. Thanks again. Ben. :D

I was hoping if someone could elaborate on how a length of metal is held in the lathe when machining a crankshaft. I understand that I drill the centres to turn down the main centre shaft. I understand that I drill a centre hole off-centre (5/16" from centre in my case) so that I can...

Thanks for replying Charles. It's all becoming a lot clearer! Thm:

Thanks Steve. The whole 5/16" thing made me overthink that one! Ben

Hello, I am trying to read a set of plans until I understand them in my head and am a bit confused with the measurements of the crankshaft web. I have attached a picture of the crankshaft web drawing below and a link to the original PDF file on John Tom. As you can see it mentions no...

TIN: Definitely going for a QCTP given this experience. I notice that the HSS tool bits come in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and 12mm as well as higher sizes. I assume everyone here uses the 6mm to make the smaller parts? Ben.

Ok guys thanks for your advice. The tool was too high. I need to make some shims and will order some different widths of metal sheets to make some. I will also invest in some HSS tools as the carbide ones don't seem so good and I will look for a grinder as per Normans suggestion...

Could I get people advice on what may be happening or what I may be doing wrong while turning a piece of brass please. I was just practicing and not making anything in particular on my new lathe. I faced the piece OK but when I went to take off a small amount to reduce the width, the first...

Hello Norman, I got myself a copy of George Thomas's Model Engineer's Workshop Manual and will have a look at the parting tool holder when I get a moment. Thanks for the heads up. Ben.

Cheers Phil. I guess being selective on when to use parting is the way I should go. Ben Thm:

ok, thanks for your comments everyone. Very helpful. I think I will stick to a hacksaw and vice. Ben. Thm:

Thanks for the info Tin. So would the above work if it was a hacksaw blade? Ben

TIN: Thanks, I bought that one. That was really cheap! Thm: BAZMAK: I will be much more likely to use a saw next time and leave the parting off for when it is absolutely necessary! Ben