NUMBER YOUR STONES

NUMBER YOUR STONES

NUMBER YOUR STONES When changing stones on your line hone from cast iron blocks to aluminum blocks with billet caps, I take an engraving tool and engrave a #1 on my mandrels to mark where to start and engraved the stone position and mandrel size into each stone. It...
ANOTHER ARBOR

ANOTHER ARBOR

ANOTHER ARBOR To cut down the flange on 12-point nuts for clearance, we built this simple arbor which allows us to cut 12 at a time. Simply a piece of all-thread cut on one end to clamp in the jaws and drilled for a pilot hole on the other for the lathe tail stock....
REPEATABILITY KEY TO PROFITABILITY

REPEATABILITY KEY TO PROFITABILITY

REPEATABILITY KEY TO PROFITABILITY When machining multiple parts, put your first part up against a stop like this small parallel. Machine your first one then set and zero the indicator. Now just chuck up the next part the same way. Now you do not have to measure each...
SHOP MATH

SHOP MATH

SHOP MATH Ever wonder how to find the center of 2 pulley groves? Use 2 long straight bolts, 3/8” in this case. Lay one in each pulley groove and measure the distance across both. Now subtract the width of one bolt to find the centers. (1.078”-.375” = .703” [.700”] in...
KEEPING CHIPS FLOWING

KEEPING CHIPS FLOWING

KEEPING CHIPS FLOWING When using a grinding discs, sanding disks or carbide die grinder tips on aluminum, use “cutting saw wax” as a lubricant. This will keep the aluminum from gumming them up. Just apply to the surface and grind away, reapplying as needed. Brad...