DICKEYBIRD
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2007
- Messages
- 653
- Reaction score
- 46
I came across some really cheap 2MT/JT3 arbors at CDCO ($5.00 ea.!) and bought 4 to set up for dedicated drill holders in the lathe tailstock. Sorta like a poor man's tailstock turret. It's much faster to just slap in an arbor or 2 instead of chucking & unchucking the various center & tap drills.
When I tried to drill them though, they turned out to be way too hard so I had to heat the ends up bright red and let them cool off slow to anneal them. After that, they machined beautifully.
Then I couldn't figure out how to clamp the awkward little buggers in the mill vise but took the easy way out and just clamped the lathe tailstock on the mill table to drill & tap for the setscrews.
I set 3 of them up for a center drill, a 1/8" and a #3 screw machine length drill since they are the ones I use the most. Haven't decided what to put in the last one yet.
They should really help productivity for just a few dollars.
When I tried to drill them though, they turned out to be way too hard so I had to heat the ends up bright red and let them cool off slow to anneal them. After that, they machined beautifully.
Then I couldn't figure out how to clamp the awkward little buggers in the mill vise but took the easy way out and just clamped the lathe tailstock on the mill table to drill & tap for the setscrews.
I set 3 of them up for a center drill, a 1/8" and a #3 screw machine length drill since they are the ones I use the most. Haven't decided what to put in the last one yet.
They should really help productivity for just a few dollars.
