The Home Machinist!

Please do not introduce gravity as the cause, as that force is too weak. Interesting, but I never really gave it much thought! Crankshafts should always be stored in a vertical position. My understanding is that they can bow over time if in a horizontal position and not properly supported. No first...

Are you going to toss it out in the yard for a couple years to "season" it?

That seems to be a subject now open to considerable debate!

hanermo wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:38 pmand the chips are brown, purple-black if I go too fast on the rpm.

Nothing wrong with purple/black chips when using carbide.

Here's a file for one.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6050391

When doing small diameter work, and I'm too lazy to install the 5C collet closer for one part, I use an ER16 chuck held in the lathe chuck.
It is much better way to hold small parts. Especially with a worn chuck.

I too am old enough (unfortunately) to have done foundry work (aluminum casting) in High School metal shop class.

Those are going to be some mighty nice flasks!

Nice to see your Haas getting exercised.

You just need a glossary of foundry terms! https://www.sfsa.org/subject-areas/education/glossary/ Simple translation: Flask=Box Cope= top half of "box" Drag= lower half of "box" The stuff I work on actually has a published glossary for American to British terms. Hence the term &q...

My 12 x 18 blocks are the same configuration as below, so I used the same procedure lapping them together, for about half a day... Somehow I remember doing that, as they are a bit heavy to work with! Not claiming that this is the definitive proper way, just what I had a reference to after making the...

One of mine (12 x 18 plates) is double sided.

Two plates, three surfaces.

Actually, mine have three grooved surfaces and a non grooved flat surface.

That's why they usually come in pairs.

Don't forget the 5C horizontal or vertical indexer.