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Bit of Metal turning.

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,679
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Sometimes I wish I had kept my metal working lathe but I needed the bandsaw much more at the time. The job looks a good one Mark
 

AllenN

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May 20, 2013
Posts
2,242
Location
Lancaster, UK
First Name
Allen
Looks nicely made Mark but I will ask the question no one else has yet, thus showing my ignorance but how do you use it?
 

KevinMc

Graduate Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2017
Posts
594
Location
North East England - Tyne & Wear
First Name
Kevin
Once the shed got down to 50°C I ventured out into it again and made this tapping guide.
been thinking about making this and a couple of other things during the hotter weather we have had.

View attachment 35078

So 50°C so it’s still -5 here and my task for the weekend is to dismantle the workshop so the house central heating boiler can be removed and replaced next week... if only flights were leaving I could nip,over for a warm..:sob:

Kevin:banana:
 

21William

Fellow
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
1,618
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Dorset
First Name
William
I’ve made a couple of those, they do come in handy. Now you need to make one with a cone at the end for small taps.

Found a picture of mine.

0CB3B0C1-286B-419A-8506-73E67831C070.jpeg


The bottom one is shop bought - but I had to remake the plunger as it was a poor fit. It’s double ended in that the plunger can be turned round for cone/point.
 

21William

Fellow
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Jan 21, 2016
Posts
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Dorset
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William
I will ask the question no one else has yet, thus showing my ignorance but how do you use it?

I do a lot of tapping on my milling machine: With the part to be tapped in a milling vice, after drilling (and without moving anything) I place a tap in the drill chuck and present it to the work. A single turn is normally enough to start the tap. With the tap now in the work I carefully undo the chuck releasing the tap. The tapping guide is then placed in the chuck. A tapping handle is clamped onto the tap and the guide is lowered fully (under spring tension) onto the tap. The tapping guide now keeps the tap vertical as it cuts into the work. Sounds long winded but doesn’t take long. You can of course use the device in the tailstock of a lathe in a similar manner.

Edit: I found a YouTube video!

How to Use the Spring Loaded Tap Guide - Tormach CNC - YouTube
 

21William

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Jan 21, 2016
Posts
1,618
Location
Dorset
First Name
William
Here in the UK small taps have a point on the end and larger taps have a hole. The commercial tapping guides can accommodate both by swapping the insert round.
 
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