mklotz
Well-Known Member
Well, it's a nice shop day (78 degF outside, 3 deg warmer than in the shop), so I took some pictures to cover a few things I've talked about recently as well as some new things I wanted to offer.
First is my impromptu shop tripod for my camera.
A 3/8" rod stuck into one of those ubiquitous cheap magnetic DI holders. On the top of the rod is a miniature tripod head I picked up long ago at a quality camera store sale. The mag base can, of course, be stuck on any of the machines or, for bench top work, to my bench block as shown in the photo.
When it's not holding a camera, it holds a Maglite (tm) in easily adjustable positions using a holder I cobbled together from a block of scrap aluminum.
Next are some deburring tools for tiny holes. They're pricey but well worth it if you do lots of really tiny holes. They consist of hardened steel disks set into handles. The largest and smallest, lying in front of the homebuilt holder are about 1/4" and 1/16" in diameter. You simply place the disk on top of the hole and rotate the handle with your fingertips to clean up the edge.
A recent thread discussed depth gages for the tailstock. Mine is nothing more than a DI fitted with a commercially available magnetic back stuck to the top of my TS. An extended feeler rod connects the DI with an aluminum block that clamps to the TS barrel. Dead simple and works a charm.
Note the wrench stuck to the TS body. HF sells a set of wrenches with magnets inlet into the plastic handles. I have several sets which I've broken up so that I can stick the appropriate-sized wrench right where it's needed on the machine.
Another thing discussed recently was the pump center. Here's a (staged) shot of mine set up. (And yes, that's a 3jaw chuck - I was too lazy to mount the heavy 8" 4jaw in order to take a picture.) Note the DI holding fixture secured to the compound by a large magnet. It plops in place with its axis automatically aligned to the lathe spindle axis. Also note the plate-like point on the DI to avoid any minor centering errors.
Sometimes the hole in the part that needs to be centered is larger in diameter than the pump center rod (3/8" in mine). For that case I made a pump rod bull center which slips over the pump rod as shown...
Finally, some of you may be wondering about that shelf-like thing hanging off the left of the carriage.
It's an aluminum plate secured via the traveling steady holes in the carriage and meant to catch swarf (and thread wires and small tools and tiny parted-off parts) before it falls onto the ways or leadscrew. The miniature sheetmetal dust pan sitting on it just fits the front of the shelf so it's easy to sweep debris into the dust pan and dump it on those rare occasions when I actually clean up.
Clever readers may be thinking, "Won't that thing hit the headstock if the carriage is moved to the left?" The answer is yes and that's why there's a limit switch held by a magnet to the HS where the shelf would contact. It sounds an alarm buzzer if I get too close.
Ok, that's enough for now. I'm off to the beach. The girls' volleyball team should be warmed up by now. LA may be a freaky place but you just can't beat the scenery.
First is my impromptu shop tripod for my camera.
A 3/8" rod stuck into one of those ubiquitous cheap magnetic DI holders. On the top of the rod is a miniature tripod head I picked up long ago at a quality camera store sale. The mag base can, of course, be stuck on any of the machines or, for bench top work, to my bench block as shown in the photo.
When it's not holding a camera, it holds a Maglite (tm) in easily adjustable positions using a holder I cobbled together from a block of scrap aluminum.
Next are some deburring tools for tiny holes. They're pricey but well worth it if you do lots of really tiny holes. They consist of hardened steel disks set into handles. The largest and smallest, lying in front of the homebuilt holder are about 1/4" and 1/16" in diameter. You simply place the disk on top of the hole and rotate the handle with your fingertips to clean up the edge.
A recent thread discussed depth gages for the tailstock. Mine is nothing more than a DI fitted with a commercially available magnetic back stuck to the top of my TS. An extended feeler rod connects the DI with an aluminum block that clamps to the TS barrel. Dead simple and works a charm.
Note the wrench stuck to the TS body. HF sells a set of wrenches with magnets inlet into the plastic handles. I have several sets which I've broken up so that I can stick the appropriate-sized wrench right where it's needed on the machine.
Another thing discussed recently was the pump center. Here's a (staged) shot of mine set up. (And yes, that's a 3jaw chuck - I was too lazy to mount the heavy 8" 4jaw in order to take a picture.) Note the DI holding fixture secured to the compound by a large magnet. It plops in place with its axis automatically aligned to the lathe spindle axis. Also note the plate-like point on the DI to avoid any minor centering errors.
Sometimes the hole in the part that needs to be centered is larger in diameter than the pump center rod (3/8" in mine). For that case I made a pump rod bull center which slips over the pump rod as shown...
Finally, some of you may be wondering about that shelf-like thing hanging off the left of the carriage.
It's an aluminum plate secured via the traveling steady holes in the carriage and meant to catch swarf (and thread wires and small tools and tiny parted-off parts) before it falls onto the ways or leadscrew. The miniature sheetmetal dust pan sitting on it just fits the front of the shelf so it's easy to sweep debris into the dust pan and dump it on those rare occasions when I actually clean up.
Clever readers may be thinking, "Won't that thing hit the headstock if the carriage is moved to the left?" The answer is yes and that's why there's a limit switch held by a magnet to the HS where the shelf would contact. It sounds an alarm buzzer if I get too close.
Ok, that's enough for now. I'm off to the beach. The girls' volleyball team should be warmed up by now. LA may be a freaky place but you just can't beat the scenery.
