Making a knurled thumb wheel

This is one really for the Newbies on here. Certainly not for any of the seasoned members. Just a little something to make from a bit of scrap alloy bar.

Steve.

Making a knurled thumbwheel

I can't really comment on the turning and knurling as I am ion the process of setting up myself, but what I will say is at the end when polishing the piece with the cloth DO NOT wrap the cloth around your finger like you did if it grabs then you may say goodby to the finger. I do however wood turn at the moment and fully aware of the dangers

Edited By Derek Lane on 09/05/2021 09:21:42

I wouldn't have used an unsupported die holder either. No wonder he thought he'd bent it

If it grabs? When. Especially since there's a good chance due to the Knurl. Think I'd have drilled and tapped and used a piece of stainless all thread, could have made three from that lump. And "One for the newbies" ? Is this to show what a wally a seasoned member can be and "Don't try this at home"??

Regards Ian.

Edited By Circlip on 09/05/2021 09:48:17

I viewed the video and thought it turned out nice in the end, there are many ways to make something. That video is his way of making that particular piece.

I have subscribed and made a comment, thanks Steve and keep on making the videos.

IanJ

I thought the same as Derek re the dangerous practice demonstrated to any newbies.

Several other points as well, which I will PM to Stevie, so that he can consider them, even if he disagrees.

Nice work Stevie, not necessarily the way I'd go round it but still good job. As for the above comments regarding the polishing cloth, I would do the same as you did, but with a paper towel.

How to spoil the cross slide of a Myford by letting the dieholder handles strike the machined surfaces,not the way I was trained to do a job like that. In my working days a batch of a hundred or more alloy knobs would be polished on an old lathe, previously they had been turned to a good finish, a "flat" file would be used ,this was a file with the usual wooden handle,all the file teeth had been ground off on a surface grinder,one could easily be made from a length of BMS, the handle is essential for safety, then emery paper was used usually 0 grade then 00,a finally 600 paper. A strip of emery was wrapped around the file ,thin oil a bit thinner than 3 in 1 was applied the the paper and the flat file with emery was passed acoss the face of the knob ,a hand tool rest could be used,that was up to the operator, the finishing single stoke would be upwards,all three grades of paper would be used to get a very fine finish.they were then washed off with petrol ,very carefully placed in a wooden rack with lots of holes and then to the paint shop for a spray coat of clear laquer.

Yes thanks for that, point noted. Was a daft thing to do.

Steve.

Paper towels may rip easy but you also will be surprised how strong they can become when bunched up or even wrapped around something. It does not take much for the finger to be pulled into the works before the paper can give out so please do not do it.

I would hate to see someone injured

Yes i see what you mean. So what would be the best way to polish the bar end.

Steve.

With all sharp edges removed from the part hold the cloth or paper on the flat of the fingers using your thumb like a small clamp if the cloth or paper catches it will just pull out of you hand and not pull your hand in. With woodturning we hold the cloth at the7 o,clock so that it is pulled away if held on top everything is being pushed towards you hand.

Easier to show than explain will try to take a photo tomorrow sometime

Thanks Derek.

Steve.

Hi Sir Clit. Thanks for the wonderful comment. I understand i did not do this to your standards. This i am sorry for. So maybe you could post a video of yours showing exactly how it should be done. I wait in abatement. Sorry about the spelling ,as you know i am a WALLY.

Steve.

Yeah, I said paper towel not a whole roll, there something called common sense, now if everyone could use it!

Not an unexpected reply/retort Steve. No videos forthcoming, it's one of the problems generated by T'internet forums where seasoned members show cringeworthy operations to the great unwashed who are led to believe this is the correct way to do it. After nigh on sixty years involved in ingineering, strange as it may seem, I too have had wally moments but despite these, never managed to loose bits of my anatomy, unlike many of my mentors. Me late great, mate would have been less complimentary with a two word reply.

Shoulda,woulda couda is no consolation sat in the casualty department.

Regards Ian.

Yes Steve, your spilling is atroshus, it shud have been CUR Clit.

Edited By Circlip on 10/05/2021 09:54:16

Just a question here on why we have to go to YuToob to see a video? I see lots on here posted which appear within the dialogue box (Jason seems well versed in this method) - I hate it when I click on a link that takes me off to a 'social media' webpage and I then have to agree to their cookies (snooping!) to see what someone has posted. The bind is then that I have to 'back page' to get back to this website. Is there a financial reward for how many views a video scores?

Just asking!

Martin

I'm with Ian on this. Well-made internet videos showing bad rather than best practice are cause for concern.

Since the year dot machining books and training have highlighted dangers and explained best practice. Unfortunately these days many of us are self-taught and internet videos are so much easier to find and dip into. Unhappily internet quality varies! Not a pop at Steve - I've seen far worse - but some machining videos are too obviously made by inexperienced enthusiasts who've never read a book, or done a course! A better use of their time would be putting a big red L-Plate up on the workshop wall rather than publishing 'how-to' videos on the internet.

I  wish they'd ask others to peer review their efforts before publishing them! I'm sure many forum members would be delighted to help.

Having communicated for money I much prefer having my work reviewed unkindly by several others before the public see it. Authors read what they meant rather than what's actually on the page, causing all sorts of problems. When it comes to checking my own work, I'm an incompetent proof-reader! And I'm sure some of my home-brewed workshop methods are dodgy too. Embarrassing but true.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 10/05/2021 17:26:04

A lot depends on how people put the video in their post.

-Some will simply type or copy the URL and that means anyone wanting to watch has to copy and paste it. This is the least user friendly way.

- Next we get it done like Steve has where he has posted a clickable link which is easier to get to the video but means leaving the site and having to come back.

- The way I usually do it is to copy the "embed" code from Youtube and then click the little Youtube icon and paste the link there. This shows the actual video in the post so gives a good idea of what you are going to see. This way of posting also includes a "view in Youtube" option once you have started to watch the video which allows you to then read anything in the description , for example on my CNC ones I put more info about cutters, feeds, speeds etc.

There are financial rewards to those who have a reasonable number of followers and subscribers and some people make a living out of that income. It can also explain why some people just post their videos and don't take an active part in the forum apart from that. This is also why you get some people asking you to like & subscribe as they want to get their numbers up and hence the income.

To get financial gain from youtube you need thousands of subscribers and even more views, so I doubt Stevie was going to gain anything (even if he did, it's none of my business) I hate it when people generalise, there are loads of good information on Youtube (yes that's the correct way to spell it - I do wonder why onevwould call it YuToob!)

It's a most helpful way to explain oneself on a platform such as our forum, Jason uses it often in his explanations, I do sometimes, what's so bad about it?