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Makita Chop Saw - just got one and a huge thumbs up!

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bogstandard:
Darren is correct with his statement, about where it has come from and about the cutting problems.

The secret to using recycled material is recognising what you have got in your grubby hands, and working out what you can do with it.

You can use big hard lumps like this for all sorts of jobs, if you have the big hard machinery and tooling to do it with.

Now say you had to mill a 2mm wide slot across it, you wouldn't stand a chance. Those are the times you use known materials that you know you can machine to fine limits.

My stashes are full of bits waiting for the right job to come along, where I will know I will be able to machine it down to what is required. If I have any doubts at all as to whether I can get the part out of it, I won't use it.

You have most probably seen me cutting metal with sparks flying off it, to me that comes under the heading of normal machining, and I have the equipment that can handle that sort of thing, and I can control it, but for most, that sort of machining isn't possible.

Starting with a lump of unknown, and HOPING to get good results is pushing it a little.

Bogs

Darren:
I have to agree with John,  you really do need the right equipment for tougher stuff.

My lathe was designed for an industrial environment and as such it can handle hardened materials quite easily. My little 7x12 wouldn't have a hope, it might even brake trying.

I have no idea how strong the Boxford is or how it would cope? I guess you can only try.

Milling on my Sealey drill/mill was just about a no-go from the start. It honestly could not cope with the stresses. That is why I used the shaper to make my QCTP with even though it's a small shaper at 7" it deals with hardened materials with ease.

But having said that, if you can lathe the hard skin off on the lathe milling should be fine. It just depends how thick the hard skin it and if you are left with enough material to make your piece.

But we still don't know if you sample is hardened at all, 3" would be tough for anyone to hand saw and small machines. I'm guessing that having cut 1/2" by hand then it's not that hard. I couldn't barely scratch my QCTP material with a hand saw, even half way through where it was softer.

Try filing it, does the file do it's job or does it just skid on the surface?

Darren:
To give you some further idea about hard materials when I lathed the outer skin of the QCTP I found I had to use tipped tooling with very high speeds or it simply wouldn't cut.
I think I used about 2,500 rpm but it might have been 3,000.

1,000 just blunted the tips. Feed was fast, I'm guessing this moved the cutting edge away from the heat into cooler material faster. The hear generated was so high the swarf caught alight and turned to a burnt powdery dust.

But the finish was almost like a high finish chrome. Very nice, certainly needed no further finishing.

Some people will say don't do it, find a different material. But I enjoyed the learning experience and lived to tell the tale... :ddb:

Last night I turned some 3" free cutting steel to make a replacement part for my ongoing pillar drill re-build. That was so easy peasy in comparison and I turned that at around 750rpm.

But there is no way I would cut that by hand. I was having trouble parting my piece last night so I got the hand saw out. I gave up very quickly and this was free cutting steel.
I struggled with parting on the lathe but got it done. Took a while though, prob more than the rest of the turning/drilling job. I really want one of those tipped parting tools John has shown us.

What I'm trying to say is, if my lathe struggles then you have little hope by hand....even with free cutting steel at 3"

NickG:
Handsawing 3" of steel is a bit monotomous and a PITA but I've done it a few times for flywheels. Just use a new blade, and some cutting oil and go steady. I'll be doing 2 1/4" for my rocking engine as don't have a power hacksaw. Annoying as well as it might take an hour to do it, time which could be spent better. Might be able to part it off, can't remember, think it's quite tough and parting still scares me a bit!

Nick

Darren:
Wow Nick, you have my admiration  :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

I suppose if anyone wants thick materials cut we could club together and buy a 3" or bigger bar. I'd order it in and would be happy to cut sections off for anyone who needs it for a project. Perhaps a group QCTP project?

If there is enough interest I'll look into it.

Or just bring your bar to me and I'll happily cut it for you into as many sections you want for the price of a new blade. In fact bring a blade...... :lol:

The mill is there if you need to cut dovetails too....but only if you own your own mill cos I don't want any newbies crashing my baby..... again use your own cutter or make a group buy etc....:thumbup:

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