Another new project tonight......a threading die holder for my Smart & Brown turret. I needed something to hold the die positively and square to the work.
This one is rather simpler than the norm as I don't need a sliding section on this lathe as the turret does that for me.
Even so, it still might make an interesting read. I make no excuses for lots of pictures as usual....
![:ddb:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/dancenana.gif)
The stock,
One half shaft from some sort of truck, no idea which....but it was cheap.
![:thumbup:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/happy0034.gif)
My only reservation is I that imagine it's hardened somewhat. At least around the gear splines it will be....should be interesting.
2ft rule shown for size
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0944.jpg)
I scored it with a file to test it's hardness, yep, it's hard, but still the file managed to mark it. So forward we go then.
Onto the bandsaw, phew....glad I got one of these as it took a while.
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0945.jpg)
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0946.jpg)
Faced the end off, notice the shiny outer and dull inner....hard on the outside and soft inside. That's some depth of hardening
![:bugeye:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/confused0068.gif)
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0947.jpg)
Still, it machined really well, exceptionally I'd say
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0950.jpg)
Here's the end again
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0955.jpg)
I found that it didn't much like being machined at a slow speed and it liked lots of feed, however a bit too much and the swarf would catch alight....this pic doesn't really convey it too well. Hard to take a picture and machine at the same time. In fact I don't like doing it.
Sometimes you could get it to really light up......
![:ddb:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/dancenana.gif)
Enough of that silly nonsense, we're grown ups right
![:lol:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/kranke_200-1.gif)
That's not my tool tip glowing btw, it's a fire
![:bugeye:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/confused0068.gif)
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0957.jpg)
Started trimming the hardened teeth, with tungsten tips it was no bother. Nice and slow to get the teeth off, and then wis it up to speed. Here I'm taking 25thou off in each pass.
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0962.jpg)
Turned the end to 19mm/3/4" to fit the turret
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0964.jpg)
Lobbed the other end off. Notice the use of the protective padded envelope
![:thumbup:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/happy0034.gif)
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0976.jpg)
Trial fit on the turret.
![](http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/thebodger/Lathe%20Work/Model%20L/Die%20Holder/IMG_0978.jpg)
So there you go, bore the center out etc and we are nearly there