Well, you guys pretty much turned me away from looking for stock at the scrapyard. Not much has been posted about the use of tractor weights as stock. I want to start with my shaper by first making as accurately as possible, a pair of V Blox, Then I want to try making a pair of dovetails, the screw when we get the lathe. Aren’t real World blox and slides made from cast? We have a brazed on carbide roughing tool and for the rest HSS square stock which we will grind ourselves. Should we try to preserve at least one surface with the cast skin? Are there strength or stability issues with machining all surfaces? I want to make tools that I can use before I tackle a simple engine, will the CI be a waste of time, just something to play with, get used to the Machine? Are there not cleanliness issues with CI, the shavings being abrasive to your machine?
Also I have some of the Work Shop Series books and will be making some of their gadgets. I’m off again to the big city soon, Durban this time, 500km ( I won’t drive long distance again in a hurry, just settle down to some serious machining ) to visit me old Mom, buy a lathe and, I suppose metal stock. I don’t want to machine much in aluminium or brass. What good steel should I be looking for in Flat and Round, suitable for a novice who wants to get it right first time and make tooling that I can enjoy later?
Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate the mentorship of you guys who answered my threads.
Ant
Also I have some of the Work Shop Series books and will be making some of their gadgets. I’m off again to the big city soon, Durban this time, 500km ( I won’t drive long distance again in a hurry, just settle down to some serious machining ) to visit me old Mom, buy a lathe and, I suppose metal stock. I don’t want to machine much in aluminium or brass. What good steel should I be looking for in Flat and Round, suitable for a novice who wants to get it right first time and make tooling that I can enjoy later?
Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate the mentorship of you guys who answered my threads.
Ant