Game changer

[Brad]

Ever had one of those times when you bought something and wondered if it was worth the cost? Would it really solve a problem?

I grew weary of dealing with drilling holes for Star sizer dies. Not on center, not all the same distance from the top of the die. No good way on drill press to index them so holes are 90° from each other.

I decided that as long as I was getting some other stuff from Shars I would get a 5C collet block set and a 3/4” 5C collet.

The critical diameter on a Star die is the two surfaces that seal above and below the area where the holes are drilled. Those are .750 so a 3/4” collet was perfect.

I can now grasp the die firmly by the lower .750 section. Rotate block to get 90° spacing. I used the front surface of the block to locate on the front edge of the vise to get same distance from top of die.

This is far and away the easiest, fastest, and most accurate system for drilling those holes I have found yet.

 

[Ian]

Awwww, I was all set to see your new Super Spacer. This works too, though, and normal humans can afford it. I use a center gauge on the drill press to locate the first hole, drill it, then index 90° using an extra drill through the hole and a machinist's level. The buggar is holding the die, for that I use a wood block bored through and split down the middle. Your way is MUCH mo' betta!

 

[Brad]

I would love a Super Spacer but I need to start small. This was affordable and all I need is the right size 5C collet to deal with something like a Lyman sizer or any other round part.

I got a hex block as part of the set too. Will be nice if I want to mill a hex head on round stock.

I will be needing another rolling tool chest soon. I can see that the mill will fill one in a big hurry compared to the lathe. Way more setup and work holding items involved with the mill

 

[Ian]

And so it begins.....

 

[Brad]

And so it begins.....

No doubt.

I don’t think my wife really understood upfront but she is rapidly learning.

Suggestions on a decent rolling tool chest? I actually have seen a fair number of good reviews on the ones sold at HF.

 

[KeithB]

I have a couple of Husky brand roll arounds. The drawers have roller slides, a must in any brand as far as I'm concerned. Got them at Home Depot a couple years ago, the price was right and the quality seems real good. Haven't checked out the HF brand.

 

[Brad]

Thanks Keith.
Mine won’t get the use that they would from a mechanic using it to make a living.
I won’t consider anything without roller slides.
I need to do some comparison shopping this weekend at the big box home improvement stores and HF.

 

[KeithB]

Seems like I got a flyer from HF for a "parking lot" clearance sale. Don't know if it's local or national but I might check it out. My Husky cabinets are Canadian made, I got one of them at a discount because it was a display item and somebody lost the key to the lower unit - I shot them a price and they took it to get it off the floor, especially as I was buying another brand new unit with it. Hell of a lot cheaper than the Kobalt units being sold at the Lowe's across the street.

Not down on Kobalt, I've got lots of Kobalt stuff, the quality is good but the price is sometimes an issue compared to other brands.

 

[Ian]

Don't ask me, I'm a snob when it comes to these things. My bottom chest cost more than Brad's lathe and mill put together (says the guy with the $700 lathe and no mill).

 

[KeithB]

Do you have a toolbox size edition of Machinery's Handbook? Always nice to have one in your new tool cabinet.

 

[Brad]

I do not. Don’t have a copy at all. That will be a shortcoming I fix soon. Far more convenient than trying to use the iPad in the garage with oily hands.

 

[KeithB]

Ian, you make a living out of your toolbox, I would be surprised if it wasn't a top shelf piece of kit. I'm NOT a snob about these things, but since nowadays I make my modest living with my machine tools I bet I spent more just for the DRO on my lathe than you spent for your whole lathe. And that is entirely proper also.

I know you're joking and so am I, I really don't admire people because of what they own, anybody with enough money can own almost anything. I admire them for what they do with what they have and the character they show when they encounter problems.. That's why I like to see what you do with your lathe. That's why I like to see what Ben does with his rifles, I know he takes pride in ownership but I admire him for what he does with his family to teach them gun fun and safety. That's why I admire and respect a lot of other folks here and try to do what I can to be helpful and supportive. I don't have any problems with honest rich people or honest poor people but I don't now and never have admired and respected anybody because of their possessions.

Sorry, it's been a long day, I'm tired and waxing philosophically.

 

[Will]

I am very impressed with the red HF toll boxes. Have a couple and they work great.

The lower grade black ones are junk.

 

[KeithB]

The upper middle drawer in the traditional machinist's toolbox is the perfect size for a copy of MH. They are handy for both mill and lathe work.

 

[Brad]

Ian opens and closes his toolbox more in a week than I will in a year. If I was a professional mechanic I would invest in a quality box. You also have a huge amount of weigh in a drawer compared to what I will likely have.

Thanks for the info Will. Will stay clear of the black ones.

Keith, I love your philosophy on value. I own some very good tools and some lesser quality ones too. I tend to purchase based on need. Something like a mic I spend for quality as it is a lifetime purchase. On the other hand I just got a set of 5 pairs of 123 blocks from Shars. On their economy blocks it was something like 36 bucks for 5 sets. Accuracy is more than adequate for my needs.

 

[Ian]

You got what I meant, Keith. When you're into the box hundreds of times a day and every drawer is heavy, top quality boxes matter a lot. I chose Matco because of the pull shape and detents that eased the tendon strain in my forearms vs. other brands, something probably not even on the radar of hobby box shoppers. When you make a hard living with your hands, you take care of them all you can. When all you need is a safe and reliable drawer cabinet for your hobby machine tools....a few hundred bucks will get you more than enough. You want full-extension, full-roller slides, good closing detents, and stability.

 

[Brad]

I have noticed an amazing difference in the feel of the slides on various boxes. Some are just stiff and hard to pull, others are smooth.
With a 22-24” deep drawer full extension is mandatory or else you have useless space in the back of the drawer.

 

[Ian]

I make my living with a computer, a telephone, and a pen these days, but I did figure out how many times I opened and closed tool drawers a day at one point and it was in the hundreds. Not what either one of us deal with in our free time.

 

[Brad]

But is it a MATCO pen?

 

[Ian]

No way. Cross ballpoint. I write on a lot of actual carbon duplicate and carbonless triplicate forms, so I had to give up my favorite pen ever, Pilot precise V5 needle point, the only pen that could keep up with my high school calculus teacher's chalk.