Category: Metal Removal

After spending about two days without a draw bench after leaving school, I realized that pulling wire down by hand was just not for me. I set out to find a way to do it better, but not spend very much money. My solution was very simple. I had noticed other production draw benches that…

is is a great gift idea for those metal workers out there that would like to make something for a friend who does not have a need for a steam engines, dial indicator holder, or a brass hammer. I live in Texas where playing Dominos in the back of the feed store is quite popular. I…

The Wiggler is a pointer that can be accurately and easily located on the centerline of the longitudinal axis of the spindle to which is attached. Wigglers are used to indicate the axis of the spindle to which they are temporarily attached. In practice, with the spindle turning at about 1000 rpm, the probe is centered…

The Edge Finders and Wigglers we purchase are sometimes furnished without instructions and we are frequently uncertain of their proper application. The Edge Finder is a dynamic indicator of the location of an edge with reference to the centerline of the longitudinal axis of the spindle to which it is attached. In use, the spinning…

During 1992 my uncle, a tool maker, gave me several older copies (1978) of “Live Steam” magazine. Needless to say I promptly got ahold of Village Press and became a subscriber of LS, then on to HSM, PIM, and put the topping on the cake with several of the VP hardbound collections. (My whiskey, tobacco,…

I am proposing to write two articles about gear cutting, this the first will be about making and using form tools and the second will be about making and using hobs. Firstly a few notes about tools required. As I realise that not everybody has a well-equipped workshop so these notes will be written with…

INTRODUCTION: I had to make two parts that required precise, but different, curved surfaces. I was not about to invest $600 for a tool that would be used only occasionally. So, I designed a quick (simple setups), cheap (no bushings or bearings), and easy to make (aluminum), radius turning tool based upon the double frame…

This article is an account of my first year of lathe work, utilizing a Taig Lathe. I have been a jeweler and lapidary for six years, and have built simple tools for my use. As the years went on, I saw the need for different tools which my budget wouldn’t allow ,although they were necessary.…