by Donnie Hurt | Feb 1, 2022 | TOOLING
1-2-3 BLOCKING BUILDING Using 1-2-3 blocks to fixture manifolds or heads on a Bridgeport Mill may sometimes require joining a pair of 1-2-3 Blocks. While some 1-2-3 Blocks have a few threaded holes, these thread holes don’t always line up where needed. These...
by Donnie Hurt | Feb 1, 2022 | TOOLING
STICKY SITUATION This trick got me through a job that I didn’t have the correct tooling for. I don’t have a keyway rod hone mandrel in 1.375″ so I cut a piece of 1/4″ key stock in half to keep the shoes and stone on my mandrel from catching and...
by Donnie Hurt | Feb 1, 2022 | TOOLING
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT Whether you own a shop or work in a shop, take care of your investment in measuring tools. If you’ve ever damaged one you know what I mean. I always set them on shop rags in an old valve box while using them. They stay cleaner and...
by Donnie Hurt | Feb 1, 2022 | CRANKSHAFTS & CONNECTING RODS
REFILLS When balancing a crankshaft for heavier parts, often you must add metal in an existing hole. If the hole was drilled with a regular drill bit, versus a spade drill, the hole can be irregular and oversized. It can be time consuming to try to make a slug that...
by Donnie Hurt | Jan 1, 2022 | OTHER SHOP WORK
CHUCKS AND MORE CHUCKS A few rookie tips that a few old timers may have forgotten: The risk of a drill bit slipping in a Jacobs chuck, gouging the drill shank, can be significantly reduced by tightening all 3 “holes” in the chuck with the chuck key. When...
