Member postings for Dr. MC Black

I was given a lot of tooling by an old chum whose wife decide that they would be moving into a flat so he had to give up his workshop which was larger than a double garage.

These End Mills have never been under MY bench - generally, I don't keep this sort of thing in my shed but in my centrally heated home from where I take what's needed to the shed.

They will go into the forthcoming projects drawer until I can get the use of a bigger lathe using which I can turn the tapers parallel.

Looking at the cutting edges, they look to me as if they have had little use and will probably last me out.

I have nut spinners for 0BA, 2BA and 6BA but I have NOT been able to purchase a nut spinner for 4BA (at a reasonable price).

I have looked at the data, and that suggests that 4BA is very similar to 1/4 inch A/F

Is this a reasonable inference?

MC

Further to previous, all four of the cutters are right hand with an even number of flutes.

I found that I did have some thread gauges with large holes and determined that two are 1/2", one is 9/16" and the last is 1".

But one of the Morse Tapers has been machine to a fairly constant 15mm and fits in a collet.

I'm now seriously considering machining the other three in a similar way. Unfortunately, the spindle on my lathe isn't sufficiently large to hold these End Mills while I machine the tapers to parallel.

The Scotchbrite arrived today but I may no longer need to use it!

MC

MC

I was thinking of using a Digital Caliper across the end to measure the diameter directly.

I appreciate that this would NOT work with an odd number of flutes.

I think the cutters are too large for any drill gauges in my possession.

MC

That's very useful information which I shall bear in mind.

Unfortunately, they are NOT marked with size; I shall see if I can determine those.

MC

I did a three afternoon workshop course as part of my Physics degree over 50 years ago. One of the exercises was to make a T-shaped Allen Key Holder on lathe. I think that I must still have it somewhere and my executors will find it when they clear the house!

MC

Which prompts me to ask why does anybody manufacturer tanged MT2 End Mills?

MC

Where did you buy these,please?

Clicking on them had no effect.

MC

There's a huge difference between Precision and Accuracy!

MC

I inherited a lot of Milling cutters in various sizes, both Imperial and Metric, some with threaded shanks and some plain.

I hold them all in collets and they do the job.

Sometimes, "bundles" of milling cutters are offered on Ebay; it's a gamble as to whether they will be in usable condition but, bear in mind the cost of new from a reputable supplier and set your maximum price.

You could be lucky!

The one that I returned had a similar rack; it was VERY fiddly getting the key through the lower hole. Even though I write it myself, the home-made wood rack is better and easier to use.

I have some Ball-ended Bondhus ones of the Screwdriver Type which I use for my Taig Lathe (which uses strange American size screws). I find then excellent. But they were expensive!

I think that blue is "Silverline's colour"

My Aldi (or was it Lidl) set have red handles but I used a silver coloured marker to put codes on the handles so I can easily see which is which.

I made a stand for them by boring holes into a length of 2 x 2 (or should that be 50 x 50mm) wood. That sits in a cupboard under my bandsaw.

I think they must have had a metal shank inside a moulded plastic handle but they were returned to the company and I did not take any apart to investigate the construction.

The set currently offered have the "short end" poking out of the handle so presumably have an Allan key hidden inside the plastic.

MC

They have Morse Taper 2 shanks.

I did NOT notice any threaded holes for a drawbar but they are presently in the shed and it's cold outside.

Does that make a difference as far as cleaning up the taper is concerned?

They are quite large sizes and I would like to avoid throwing them away, if possible

Americans speak a different language.

I have similar problems!

Some web-sites refuse to either work at all or fail to work properly. Sometimes messages appear telling me that I "MUST" upgrade my browser.

The browsers on my computer are the most recent that will work on my Operating System.

As I see it, if a company's web site will NOT work properly with my system as it is, then they will NOT benefit from my business.

I have an Allendale Ultrasonic bath which I bought from their premises in Hoddesdon. When there appeared to be a fault, I took it back and their technician conducted extensive tests while I was there -this was before Covid, of course.

I have always found the people at Allendale very pleasant and helpful.

MC

I had a set of T-handled Hex Wrenches from a local firm in Standon (which has now closed its Trade Counter and only supplies by Mail Order).

I found that one of the handles turned but NOT the hex shaft - so I took it back where it was refubded without argument.

I also have a set from Aldi - and they have NOT let me down yet.

MC

I hope that Mr. Cook will write up his modifications to his Taig Lathe and make it available to the whole Taig community. Submit, perhaps, to Model Engineers' Workshop?

MC

When I did some milling on my Taig Lathe, I held the Milling Cutters in a collet. Have you investigated fitting a collet chuck to your lathe? ARCEurotrade (no connection - usual disclaimer) have some in their catalogue; one may be a direct fit on your lathe.

I appreciate it will take a long time, but have you considered cutting the plate with a hacksaw (or an electric jigsaw)