|
I tend to machine whatever I have on hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound slide.? I figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would be pretty close - I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be able to machine it to size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around.? Went on ebay and didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places.? Cube like that is pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to be high.? If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty place, I figure I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled.? Seems like a good choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys.? Is 1018 reasonably machineable?? Is there something else I should be looking for?
|
A36 is some tougher to machine than 1018 .DO you have any steel
sellers in yer area ?
animal
On 3/19/24 5:44 PM, chrisser via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I tend to machine whatever I have on hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound slide.? I
figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would be pretty close
- I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be able to machine it to
size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around.? Went on ebay and
didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places.? Cube like that is
pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to be high.?
If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty place, I figure
I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled.? Seems like a good choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys.? Is 1018 reasonably
machineable?? Is there something else I should be looking for?
|
Nobody locally.? Nearest two cities are 60-90 minutes away in opposite directions.
I'm sure somebody there sells steel, but finding one that's open to the public, will sell small quantities, and is open on Saturdays is a pretty slim chance.
I do know of a guy who welds and just hung a sign saying metal sales.? He's about 45 minutes away and I don't know if he's open on Saturdays.? I suspect he's selling more structural-type steel but it might be worth seeing if he carries what I need or can maybe get it.
We live in the sticks.? It's beautiful, but there's not much industry.
On Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at 8:48 PM, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:
A36 is some tougher to machine than 1018 .DO you have any steel
sellers in yer area ?
animal
On 3/19/24 5:44 PM, chrisser via
groups.io wrote:
I tend to machine whatever I have on hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound slide. I
figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would be pretty close
- I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be able to machine it to
size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around. Went on ebay and
didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places. Cube like that is
pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to be high.
If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty place, I figure
I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled. Seems like a good choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys. Is 1018 reasonably
machineable? Is there something else I should be looking for?
|
I recently decided to do the same thing but decided to use cast iron for it's properties. Of course I didn't have a piece big enough and wound up on line.
No joke, a 3 inch square hunk of cast iron wound up costing me $72 delivered to my door.
In hindsight, if I were to do it again I would have used the piece of structural Aluminum I have sitting on my bench. It is very hard for Aluminum and would have worked just fine.
Good luck no matter what you wind up using, I just thought I would share a small example of my stupidity....
|
Consider junked auto parts as a source! You can probably find something out of a front wheel suspension on a RWD car that'll yield a big enough piece.
Roy
|
Do you need steel? ? Would aluminum work? ? The amount of force you intend to apply to the block determines the strength needed.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mar 19, 2024, at 5:48?PM, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:
A36 is some tougher to machine than 1018 .DO you have any steel
sellers in yer area ? animal
On 3/19/24 5:44 PM, chrisser via
groups.io wrote:
I tend to machine whatever I have on hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound slide.? I
figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would be pretty close
- I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be able to machine it to
size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around.? Went on ebay and
didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places.? Cube like that is
pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to be high.?
If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty place, I figure
I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled.? Seems like a good choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys.? Is 1018 reasonably
machineable?? Is there something else I should be looking for?
|
I used a block of steel that was a little lower than the compound (which many people think was made too high).? But I made mine swivel, so I can vary the location of the tool and somewhat compensate?for the inadequate cross-slide travel of these lathes.
Here's a picture of my block with my post-type QCTP on it. (It was originally just a rectangular block. I rounded it in front when I found that the corners got in the way).
Mike Taglieri?
I tend to machine whatever I have on hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound slide.? I figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would be pretty close - I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be able to machine it to size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around.? Went on ebay and didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places.? Cube like that is pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to be high.? If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty place, I figure I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled.? Seems like a good choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys.? Is 1018 reasonably machineable?? Is there something else I should be looking for?
|
I forgot to respond to your question!? I recommend steel or cast iron. The forces aren't high enough for aluminum to suddenly fail during use, but the places where you put in screws, etc., will eventually get worn.
Mike Taglieri
I used a block of steel that was a little lower than the compound (which many people think was made too high).? But I made mine swivel, so I can vary the location of the tool and somewhat compensate?for the inadequate cross-slide travel of these lathes.
Here's a picture of my block with my post-type QCTP on it. (It was originally just a rectangular block. I rounded it in front when I found that the corners got in the way).
Mike Taglieri?
I tend to machine whatever I have on hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound slide.? I figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would be pretty close - I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be able to machine it to size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around.? Went on ebay and didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places.? Cube like that is pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to be high.? If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty place, I figure I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled.? Seems like a good choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys.? Is 1018 reasonably machineable?? Is there something else I should be looking for?
|
I've got to start thinking before I hit "Send."? Take a look on Amazon too.? If you have Amazon Prime, you can often get metal there with free shipping.
Mike Taglieri
I forgot to respond to your question!? I recommend steel or cast iron. The forces aren't high enough for aluminum to suddenly fail during use, but the places where you put in screws, etc., will eventually get worn.
Mike Taglieri
I used a block of steel that was a little lower than the compound (which many people think was made too high).? But I made mine swivel, so I can vary the location of the tool and somewhat compensate?for the inadequate cross-slide travel of these lathes.
Here's a picture of my block with my post-type QCTP on it. (It was originally just a rectangular block. I rounded it in front when I found that the corners got in the way).
Mike Taglieri?
I tend to machine whatever I have on hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound slide.? I figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would be pretty close - I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be able to machine it to size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around.? Went on ebay and didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places.? Cube like that is pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to be high.? If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty place, I figure I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled.? Seems like a good choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys.? Is 1018 reasonably machineable?? Is there something else I should be looking for?
|
Sounds to me like yer welder guy may be a source for cutoff's
from other projects . I live in the sticks too but I'm only @ a 50
minute drive from Reno & there's several metal sellers there .
I usually get my aluminum when I'm in the Bay Area at a place that
just cuts material for other shops , their prices are real fair
& the material is super clean .
animal
On 3/19/24 5:57 PM, chrisserevia
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Nobody
locally.? Nearest two cities are 60-90 minutes away in opposite
directions.
I'm
sure somebody there sells steel, but finding one that's open to
the public, will sell small quantities, and is open on Saturdays
is a pretty slim chance.
I do
know of a guy who welds and just hung a sign saying metal
sales.? He's about 45 minutes away and I don't know if he's open
on Saturdays.? I suspect he's selling more structural-type steel
but it might be worth seeing if he carries what I need or can
maybe get it.
We
live in the sticks.? It's beautiful, but there's not much
industry.
On Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at
8:48 PM, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:
A36 is some tougher to machine than 1018 .DO you have any
steel sellers in yer area ?
animal
On 3/19/24 5:44 PM, chrisser via
groups.io wrote:
I tend to machine whatever I have on
hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound
slide. I figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would
be pretty close - I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be
able to machine it to size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around. Went on ebay and
didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places. Cube like that
is pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to
be high. If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty
place, I figure I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled. Seems like a good
choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys. Is 1018 reasonably
machineable? Is there something else I should be looking
for?
|
Another thing if ya look at the mail order , find out where the
weight price changes? Ya may be able to get more material for down
the road for the same amount of freight .
Like sports ya get one foul so foul hard .
animal
On 3/19/24 5:57 PM, chrisser via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Nobody
locally.? Nearest two cities are 60-90 minutes away in opposite
directions.
I'm
sure somebody there sells steel, but finding one that's open to
the public, will sell small quantities, and is open on Saturdays
is a pretty slim chance.
I do
know of a guy who welds and just hung a sign saying metal
sales.? He's about 45 minutes away and I don't know if he's open
on Saturdays.? I suspect he's selling more structural-type steel
but it might be worth seeing if he carries what I need or can
maybe get it.
We
live in the sticks.? It's beautiful, but there's not much
industry.
On Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at
8:48 PM, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:
A36 is some tougher to machine than 1018 .DO you have any
steel sellers in yer area ?
animal
On 3/19/24 5:44 PM, chrisser via
groups.io wrote:
I tend to machine whatever I have on
hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound
slide. I figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would
be pretty close - I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be
able to machine it to size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around. Went on ebay and
didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places. Cube like that
is pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to
be high. If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty
place, I figure I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled. Seems like a good
choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys. Is 1018 reasonably
machineable? Is there something else I should be looking
for?
|
I did find two places online that were pretty reasonable (compared to ebay/metals online stores/amazon).
inchofmetal.com wanted $14 for a 2x2x2 cube of cold rolled 1018 with $10 shipping. mspmetals.com wanted $8 for the same thing with $16 shipping.
So $25 to get almost exactly what I needed.? Would be closer to $50 on ebay to get something larger I'd have to cut down.
And no gas/travel costs.
The only critical dimension is the height so I just have to finish the opposing ends and can leave the 2x2 bar sides as rolled.
On Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at 10:25 PM, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:
Another thing if ya look at the mail order , find out where the
weight price changes Ya may be able to get more material for down
the road for the same amount of freight .
Like sports ya get one foul so foul hard .
animal
On 3/19/24 5:57 PM, chrisser via
groups.io wrote:
Nobody
locally. Nearest two cities are 60-90 minutes away in opposite
directions.
I'm
sure somebody there sells steel, but finding one that's open to
the public, will sell small quantities, and is open on Saturdays
is a pretty slim chance.
I do
know of a guy who welds and just hung a sign saying metal
sales. He's about 45 minutes away and I don't know if he's open
on Saturdays. I suspect he's selling more structural-type steel
but it might be worth seeing if he carries what I need or can
maybe get it.
We
live in the sticks. It's beautiful, but there's not much
industry.
On Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at
8:48 PM, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:
A36 is some tougher to machine than 1018 .DO you have any
steel sellers in yer area ?
animal
On 3/19/24 5:44 PM, chrisser via
groups.io wrote:
I tend to machine whatever I have on
hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound
slide. I figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would
be pretty close - I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be
able to machine it to size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around. Went on ebay and
didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places. Cube like that
is pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to
be high. If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty
place, I figure I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled. Seems like a good
choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys. Is 1018 reasonably
machineable? Is there something else I should be looking
for?
|
Have you looked at McMaster-Carr???
ralphie
|
Unless you're truly broke, I suggest you buy more than you absolutely need. Shipping will probably be about the?same and you'll have metal for future projects.? I would at LEAST buy enough to do the job again if you screw up the first time.
Mike Taglieri?
I did find two places online that were pretty reasonable (compared to ebay/metals online stores/amazon).
wanted $14 for a 2x2x2 cube of cold rolled 1018 with $10 shipping. wanted $8 for the same thing with $16 shipping.
So $25 to get almost exactly what I needed.? Would be closer to $50 on ebay to get something larger I'd have to cut down.
And no gas/travel costs.
The only critical dimension is the height so I just have to finish the opposing ends and can leave the 2x2 bar sides as rolled.
On Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at 10:25 PM, mike allen < animal@...> wrote:
Another thing if ya look at the mail order , find out where the
weight price changes Ya may be able to get more material for down
the road for the same amount of freight .
Like sports ya get one foul so foul hard .
animal
On 3/19/24 5:57 PM, chrisser via
wrote:
Nobody
locally. Nearest two cities are 60-90 minutes away in opposite
directions.
I'm
sure somebody there sells steel, but finding one that's open to
the public, will sell small quantities, and is open on Saturdays
is a pretty slim chance.
I do
know of a guy who welds and just hung a sign saying metal
sales. He's about 45 minutes away and I don't know if he's open
on Saturdays. I suspect he's selling more structural-type steel
but it might be worth seeing if he carries what I need or can
maybe get it.
We
live in the sticks. It's beautiful, but there's not much
industry.
On Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at
8:48 PM, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:
A36 is some tougher to machine than 1018 .DO you have any
steel sellers in yer area ?
animal
On 3/19/24 5:44 PM, chrisser via
wrote:
I tend to machine whatever I have on
hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound
slide. I figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would
be pretty close - I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be
able to machine it to size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around. Went on ebay and
didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places. Cube like that
is pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to
be high. If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty
place, I figure I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled. Seems like a good
choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys. Is 1018 reasonably
machineable? Is there something else I should be looking
for?
|
Look at Amazon. ? I found some 2 inch bar stock with free “Prime” delivery, ?Total ost is likey what you’s spend in gas driving to the store.
There are on-line metal shops too. ?And don’t forget eBay
In the end, Amazon’s free shipping is a win.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mar 19, 2024, at 5:57?PM, chrisser via groups.io <chris.kucia@...> wrote:
Nobody locally.? Nearest two cities are 60-90 minutes away in opposite directions.
I'm sure somebody there sells steel, but finding one that's open to the public, will sell small quantities, and is open on Saturdays is a pretty slim chance.
I do know of a guy who welds and just hung a sign saying metal sales.? He's about 45 minutes away and I don't know if he's open on Saturdays.? I suspect he's selling more structural-type steel but it might be worth seeing if he carries what I need or can maybe get it.
We live in the sticks.? It's beautiful, but there's not much industry.
On Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at 8:48 PM, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:
A36 is some tougher to machine than 1018 .DO you have any steel
sellers in yer area ? animal
On 3/19/24 5:44 PM, chrisser via
groups.io wrote:
I tend to machine whatever I have on hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound slide. I
figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would be pretty close
- I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be able to machine it to
size on the lathe.
But I have nothing like that lying around. Went on ebay and
didn't find much.
Started looking at the online metals places. Cube like that is
pretty reasonably priced although the shipping tends to be high.
If I'm going to fork out that cash to a specialty place, I figure
I should know what I'm getting.
One of the options is 1018 cold rolled. Seems like a good choice.
A36 is a bit cheaper but just barely.
Some other sites list other steel alloys. Is 1018 reasonably
machineable? Is there something else I should be looking for?
|
On Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 06:00 PM, Phil wrote:
I recently decided to do the same thing but decided to use cast iron for it's properties. Of course I didn't have a piece big enough and wound up on line.
No joke, a 3 inch square hunk of cast iron wound up costing me $72 delivered to my door.
In hindsight, if I were to do it again I would have used the piece of structural Aluminum I have sitting on my bench. It is very hard for Aluminum and would have worked just fine.
Good luck no matter what you wind up using, I just thought I would share a small example of my stupidity....
Not stupid at all, IMO. I had an aluminum 'plinth' riser block on my 7x, and I replaced it with a cast iron block recently. The cast iron's weight definitely seems to make a positive difference. About paying a lot for cast iron- when I was 'whittling' down one end of a 25# dumbbell to get the cast iron block I needed, I would have gladly paid $75 to avoid that work. What a mess!
|
I have use dumbbells or 12L14 both works great.?
A36 is harder to machine it gummy and tears it will also warp too as you machine the block.?
There other materials like 1144? that will work too.?
Dave?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
chrisser Mar 19? ?
I tend to machine whatever I have on hand or can scrounge.
I'd like to make a riser block to replace the compound slide. I figure something like a 2x2x2 cube of steel would be pretty close - I just got a 4-jaw chuck so I should be able to machine it to size on the lathe
|
I think if you do a little math you will see that the force on a raiser block is very low on our mini-size tools. ? What is the worst case? ? That would be to make a cut so deep that the spindle motor comes to a stall. ?THere is not way the machine can generate more force after that. ? It does not depend on the type of metal ypou are turning or how fast, the limiting factor is the maximum torque of the motor and drive belts/gears. ? So if you look at the stall torque applied the raiser, you find that even plastic is strong enough and even plastic doesn't need to be solid.
But plastic does not keep dimensional accuracy and it gets scuffed up over time. ? So, you end up with just any kind of. Metal, ?even the lowest grade of junk-metal will be over kill. ? ? ?Again, as said before. ?Amazon Prime delivers overnight for “free” I’d think that I lived an hour from any place I’d be dependent on Amazon for most everything.
I while back I converted my Harbor Freight Mini Mill ti full CNC. ?I simply added three motors and wired them to an older PC. ? I had to design and make some motor mounts. ?If the motor had a maximum torque of (say) 4 Newton meter my mount only had to withstand a reaction force of 4 Nm, plus a safty factor of about 2.5. ?As it turns out 3D printed plastic motor mounts will do that. ? On a large machine these parted would be made of CNC steel because the motors are very powerfull but I’m using only NEMA23 size stepper motors to run the lead screws on the mill. ?Plastic works for this. ? ?
Back to metals. ?Salvage is a good source of materials. ? Junk disk brake rotors are very good. ?Barbell weights are made from cast iron. They can be cheap if bough used. ?Then I can buy steel bolts over 1" diameter at Home Depot (or Amazon) ?2-foot log kind that are made to set into concrete are a good value.
There are also eBay sellers who sell a US Postal Service fltat rate box filled with metal. ?THese ship for $23 and you get something like 40 pounds, whatever the max weight of a domestic flate rate box is.
Look at Aliexpress too. ? Being a Chinese site they mostly ship from China but Chinese shipping rates are incredibly low. ? I see I can get a 1/2 meter long 100x25mm chunk of aluminum alloy for $40 and they charge $3.40 shipping.
That said most of what I make now is ABS plastic. ? I can print it for 2-cents per gram. ? Some parts must be metal, bearings and bushing, shafts and gears but much of the parts I make don’t need the strength and certainly don’t need the weight of steel.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mar 19, 2024, at 6:29?PM, Roy via groups.io <roylowenthal@...> wrote:
Consider junked auto parts as a source! You can probably find something out of a front wheel suspension on a RWD car that'll yield a big enough piece.
Roy
|
I'd wager to say that the Aliexpress has USA steel ion it's DNA .
I'll have teh check our the Ebay bulk box guys? , thanks for that
one .
animal
On 3/20/24 10:00 AM, Chris Albertson
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I think if you do a little math you will see that the force on a
raiser block is very low on our mini-size tools. ? What is the
worst case? ? That would be to make a cut so deep that the spindle
motor comes to a stall. ?THere is not way the machine can generate
more force after that. ? It does not depend on the type of metal
ypou are turning or how fast, the limiting factor is the maximum
torque of the motor and drive belts/gears. ? So if you look at the
stall torque applied the raiser, you find that even plastic is
strong enough and even plastic doesn't need to be solid.
But plastic does not keep dimensional accuracy and it gets
scuffed up over time. ? So, you end up with just any kind of.
Metal, ?even the lowest grade of junk-metal will be over kill. ?
? ?Again, as said before. ?Amazon Prime delivers overnight for
“free” I’d think that I lived an hour from any place I’d be
dependent on Amazon for most everything.
I while back I converted my Harbor Freight Mini Mill ti full
CNC. ?I simply added three motors and wired them to an older PC.
? I had to design and make some motor mounts. ?If the motor had
a maximum torque of (say) 4 Newton meter my mount only had to
withstand a reaction force of 4 Nm, plus a safty factor of about
2.5. ?As it turns out 3D printed plastic motor mounts will do
that. ? On a large machine these parted would be made of CNC
steel because the motors are very powerfull but I’m using only
NEMA23 size stepper motors to run the lead screws on the mill.
?Plastic works for this. ? ?
Back to metals. ?Salvage is a good source of materials. ?
Junk disk brake rotors are very good. ?Barbell weights are made
from cast iron. They can be cheap if bough used. ?Then I can buy
steel bolts over 1" diameter at Home Depot (or Amazon) ?2-foot
log kind that are made to set into concrete are a good value.
There are also eBay sellers who sell a US Postal Service
fltat rate box filled with metal. ?THese ship for $23 and you
get something like 40 pounds, whatever the max weight of a
domestic flate rate box is.
Look at Aliexpress too. ? Being a Chinese site they mostly
ship from China but Chinese shipping rates are incredibly low. ?
I see I can get a 1/2 meter long 100x25mm chunk of aluminum
alloy for $40 and they charge $3.40 shipping.
That said most of what I make now is ABS plastic. ? I can
print it for 2-cents per gram. ? Some parts must be metal,
bearings and bushing, shafts and gears but much of the parts I
make don’t need the strength and certainly don’t need the weight
of steel.
Consider junked auto parts as a source! You can
probably find something out of a front wheel suspension on
a RWD car that'll yield a big enough piece.
Roy
|
I would try thrift shops and estate sales, looking for likely bits of metal.? I found a 3/4" inch thick by 6" diameter cast iron disc that once lived in the bottom of a lamp.? Probably going to be a mount for a 4 jaw chuck.? I found a pair of 5 pound one piece cast iron dumbells.? about 2 1/2 inch hex by 1 3/4 inch thick weights with a bit over one inch iron rod between.?? One end of one dumbell will be an ER16 collet chuck for an Emco compact 5 lathe.? Part of the handle will be a collet chuck for a little Taig lathe.? Not sure what what will become,? but they were less that? $8 for the pair.?? If you cant find thick enough metal for your block you could stack something thinner.
|
chrisser
Phil
Ralph Lehotsky
davesmith1800