MadModder
The Shop => Tools => Topic started by: sbwhart on May 01, 2009, 10:18:17 AM
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Booze and Women
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Now to get serious
I've noticed talking to John and watching him work, that in some ways my work is a bit slap dash and that I could do things better if a pay a bit more attention to detail and fix myselve up with some simple yet efective bits of kit, hence the tapping stand and the tram.
I have a couple of small vices that I just don't use and with a little bit of care and attention I could put them to better use, to improve my work.
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1530.jpg)
The larger of the two I made when in the first year apprentice shop, I used it when I was grinding then for many years it just sat in my tool box getting wet from a leaking garage roof and going rusty, the smaller one I inherited from my Dad I don't know where he got it from but the jaws were missing.
Here they are after a bit of TLC
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1553.jpg)
To get the rust of the larger of the two I stripped it down and resorted to Darrens tip and imersed the bits in vinagar for a couple of days, washed the vinagar off in water rubbed the gunge off with scotch bright a final rub with wet and dry and a sqert with WD40 and we have a big improvement, I checked it over for squareness and it was spot on :thumbup: (by gum I was good in them days)
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1532.jpg)
For the small one the check on squareness showed it to be out, it needed the base skimming off to bring it square, so I set the body up in the mill sitting flat on parallels and skimed the base off with a tipped facing mill, I tried to do it with a fly cutter but it was made out of something tough and it just dulled the cutter.
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1535.jpg)
For the jaws I had a piece of suitable gauge plate, which I trued and squared up in the mill and cut the jaws out. I cut a 90deg slot hoizontaly down one jaw and in the other I cut a 90 deg slot verticaly. I did this with an end mill with the head of my mill tilted over 45 deg
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1540.jpg)
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1545.jpg)
These slot I would use to hold small round parts to work on :- cut off, cross drill, mill slot, mill flat etc.
Head of mill set square again with the tram five minute job.
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1547.jpg)
The jaws were drilled and tapped M3.
To tap the M3 hole square the jaw was placed on a flat serface the vice was placed over the top of it and the jaws tightend up flip the vice over and it being held nice a flat for tapping on the milling stand,
See how things are starting to pay off. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1548.jpg)
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1550.jpg)
Screw the jaws in and this is what you've got
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1551.jpg)
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vices/100_1552.jpg)
Now all I've got is a few lead hammers to make, level up my lathe etc etc :proj:
And I'll start back on my Loco
Stew
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..
I've noticed talking to John and watching him work, that in some ways my work is a bit slap dash and that I could do things better if a pay a bit more attention to detail and fix myselve up with some simple yet efective bits of kit, hence the tapping stand and the tram.
...
I have found that is some of the best advice I have heard yet. It is amazing what one can do with the correct well balanced (measured and squared) tools. Way to go Stew... thems looking nice.
Eric
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I'm starting to think I need some small holding fixtures....
Nicely shown Stew, what did you think of the vinegar?
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WHY DO I GET THE BLAME FOR EVERYTHING?
Nice ones Stew.
Bogs
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Nice job stew. I am needing to get some small vices myself. Good pics as well, being new to this, they helped me understand the process a lot more. I notice your mill has an adjustable head and that you can angle it rather than it being stuck vertical - does this often come in handy and is it a necessity when choosing a mill? Keep us posted on the lead hammer
John - WHY DO I GET THE BLAME FOR EVERYTHING?
- It is a good thing - I think it is called inspiration.
Chris
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Nicely done, shown, and told Stew..... :clap:
David D
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Nicely shown Stew, what did you think of the vinegar?
The vinegar was great for removing the rust,
But it made my chips tast a bit metalic :lol:
Chris
You don't have to tilt the head very often but its handy when you do, but there are other ways round it like tilting the vice.
Cheers
Stew
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Stew,
Nice bit of onfo there. :thumbup:
I'll have to try the vinegar trick if I ever get anything rusty. :headbang:
Bernd
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Stew you bugger, I can't stop thinking about a little vice now, I needed one tonight.......oh hum, something else to hunt down and make my own.... :hammer:
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Darren
Making a small vice wouldn't be too much of a job: nice little milling exercise, but if you have a go get some nice free machining mild steel. :hammer: only the jaws need to be tough stuff
Whoops :proj: is worse the pig flu.
Stew
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I could make one but the steel would most likely cost more than this finished item !!
Only thing is, would it be any good? I see it has no removable jaws, but for £12 what do you want :scratch:
http://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/NEW_LINES_TO_RDGTOOLS.html
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That looks a nice handy size you can't go far wrong at 12 squid you'd have to take a chance on quality if you hang on you could eye ball them at Harogate.
Stew
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Darren,
I was only recently looking at that, and was going to recommend it as a nice vice for working on your tapping stand. Looks like you beat me to it.
Actually it is very similar to the one I use. But mine was an out of calibration instrument makers vice from a metrology lab, and cost about 400 squid when new about 20 years ago, and came to me as a donation.
Beggars can't be choosers.
Bogs
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Oh, I won't be going to Harrogate, takes about 4hrs from here both ways and about 80 quid in fuel. No thanks.
Then I would need accommodation for the night on top cos I'm too old to do it all in one day. :doh:
Wouldn't be so bad if I could share the journey, & the driving, I have 7 seats !!
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Beggars can't be choosers.
Bogs
John, you must stop accepting any old junk that's thrown out, get one that's properly trued up. :lol:
I think at £12 it's a must, it will go on my next order :thumbup: