Member postings for robert branch

usually these die sets are 4 pce ,and are sharpened specially as set of four , quite often in jobbing shops you use the worn out,broken ,remaing peices [as what is in your picture] for some of the following,thread chasing, single point threading, ground to make full form profile tool, radius form both concave and convex, [as parent material is hss ,most reuse the peices and regrind to suit applicable task for one offs{might be for 100 plus items done as one off job}than purchase a new peice of hss [expense] and grind profiles into that peice.

some turners make holders with suitable clamping section to hold altered alfred herbert die piece that they then hold in capstan or revolving toolpost,

hope this explains why you only have bits and peices of die sets , and why some have been reground/repurposed

cheers rob

hi, i saw an interesting set up over lathe here in australia years ago , it was a thin plywood box/lid to fit onto lathe chipguard and either lift off or hinge back to wall behind ,the person had used an old truck tail/stop/indicator light with reflectors in it but with lenses removed ,he fitted 12v 10 watt bulbs into light and used a small 12v transformer and diode ,for power supply .adjustment for temperature was just by the amount of 10watt globes fitted. he found he only needed the one 10watt globe as it did get very warm under box/lid and even lathe got warm.that was years ago.this solved his rusting problems in winter .

this can be set up cheaply using some old car lights and car battery to check if it works for you.

use care ,etc ,as heat,electricity,spark risk,fire risk

however where i live in qld,australia my rust problems is more due to summer humidity inrainy season and perspiration, [gets very hot in steel shed unlined, on 34 degree celcius days] the