In the Groove

When it all comes together for musicians, they often say they are 'in the groove'. I've just had a couple of days 'in the groove' in my workshop.

Discovered a lovely little 0-1/4" Jacobs chuck picked up at a car boot for pence and forgotten about. realised I had a spare blank MT2 arbor and chuffed myself turning up a very nice 1/2" x20tpi nose and a perfect fitting register

At the same time also nice to find that a Dormer MT3-2 adaptor I found at a similar place and derusted is still spot on

Finally disassembled my 3-jaw chck and remove about half a teaspoon of fine (mostly brass!) swarf from inside. Regreased with Finish Line white teflon grease and tested with a bar of 1" brass and got 0.0004" runout

Turned up a few other small parts and realised just what a huge diference my QCTP makes when repeatedly switching tools, not least the parting off holder for a 1/16" blade - it happily parts 1" or more diameter to full depth

Sawing a chunk of alloy realised aging Irwin saw blade had no teeth to speak of... changed to a new Eclipse blade - knife through butter!

Taking 1/16" wide by 10mm deep climb-milled cuts on my X2, 40-thou deep, 11mm wide slots. Blue chips flying everywhere. Then boring 1 1/8" deep by 1 1/16" holes in an alloy blank. Got the cutter set right on my boring head first time and taking 2mm on diameter with each cut. Lookls like teh various mods to my X2 have really paid off

I'm sure normal service will be resumed tomorrow...!

Neil

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Neil

Whoa-aaaaa! - take it easy man when it's all going really well - that's when I find that disaaaaster threatens! Have a lie in, relax, read the Sunday papers and don't tempt fate. Continue on Monday refreshed. ( On the other hand maybe you are on a roll - if so please share the secret of your success!)

Norman

Neil,

I have just done exactly the same with my three jaw,( except for the grease ) Mine was full of brass as well all held in place by grease, so i just used a light oil then held a big sheet of cardboard around the chuck ( with plenty of clearance ) while i spun it up to full revs. I do'nt think there can be much oil left in there so i hope i have done the right thing..

Cheers Derek

I was surprised how easy it was to dismantle the chuck. I've been putting it off for years, and it was just six screws, none too tight, and very careful use of a brass bar to tap the scroll out.

As Norman says - I'm dreading what will happen next... it is NOT typical for me to go long without screwing up!

Neil

It's an advantage to mark which bevel gear goes in which hole, so it may be reassebled in the same order as it came apart, It will then be as accurate (inaccurate) as it was before you started, but without all the muck, it should be better, I do mine about once a year, if I remember. Ian S C

"In the groove"

Many of my sessions are the complete opposite..

These lead to needing a way of doing something a new -to me- way

'cos the "proper" tool is bust and it's the tool you need to fix the tool you need to fix the tool.....

This is often these parts of this occuption that give me the most joy....

I am not alone..both in getting pleasure from doing what we do ..and in having difficulties in doing things the masses don't even realise need doing.. this forum provides a "comunity"..which I value greatly...

Peace

Hi Ian I was very careful to keep the bevels in order!

Anyway pride come before a fall, and as well as progessing the 'ancient engine' I've started on a small ic engine by boring and drilling and milling holes and pockets over a big (for me) lump of ally. A small single cylinder to give me practice before trying to sort out the basket-case Seal.

I used a 1/4" endmill in the holder I use for FC3 cutters and it made such a good job of the hole under the block I decided not to swap for a bigger cutter and use it to face the bottom surface to thickness.

The damn' thing walked in the holder didn't it?

Some of the cblock will be machined away it just left me with a 1/2" by ~16" step at one end once cleaned up with a decent mill in a proper collet, so I've epoxied some ally plate in the hole.

Only consolation, even Brian Perkin's Hydra has plugged and re-drilled holes in it

Neil

Oh dear Neil - I did warn you .........

Norman