The Home Machinist!

Hi: Patio welcome it looks like you got a great start in this world of chips .I'm one of the old guys that has been around machines all my life (machine shop trade school in 1943)and I still get a lot out of this board index. chazc I don't know what I would do with out this board right now. The thi...

How does one properly align and mount a new plain back 4 jaw chuck onto a no hole backing plate for a threaded spindle? I do not have any other chucks only a collet holder. How does one properly locate the holes in the backing plate? I am going to do a little search on this, as I have not run acros...

Well since my last post, I have gotten more goodies from the big brown truck. Also Edk will be glad to know that I have picked up a hunk of 8" pipe to make a guard for the grinder. Another new development in my life is I got to meet, this past weekend, a sister that I had never met before, but ...

How do I figure out which type of soft jaw will fit my chuck and do you typically put soft jaws on 3 or 4 jaw chucks? -Capel I am learning this stuff too! :) The search function here is your friend! Try this link to a post done by Harold on the use and set up of Soft Jaws. http://www.chaski.org/hom...

Here is a great thread for lubing your South bend.
http://www.armurerieduroi.com/pages/lat ... ation.html

Hi Trainman I have a Graphtec cutter, that I acquired on a trade for some work and have used it to letter my work vans. The Graphtec that I have is an older machine and will not read registration marks to align the different layer. What works for us it to cut all the layers with the unit. Them apply...

EdK I will need to make a guard for the grinder being as it is a 6" model, but it will get done. I enjoy living probably more than the next guy.
Thanks for the concern.

Today I got mail! 4 jaw chuck, and the 7" grinding wheel arrived. Now not having all the tools I need to make an adapter properly for the grinder, I did it "The Making Do" way. This is not the proper way of machining but it does get the job done, for now, till things get up and runnin...

Hi Seal Killer
For the long rides I have a 2000 Road King. This past summer I spent 25 days and 7200 miles on it. The chopper I might do a couple hundred on in a day. It is a 1974 Sportster.

What year is your sportster?

Made the leap. Backing plate, 4 jaw chuck, HSS blanks and grinding wheel are all ordered. Now to wait for the big brown truck. Here is picture of one of my bikes, at the moment it is in many pieces, as Harold can confirm. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Z59jaD5AGbl9robyhSWNrtxvKb44hIbynlF2SGWhQ...

Thanks for all the kind words. I am now focused on getting a chuck, HSS tooling and a grinder set up before I can do much more. The grinder and tooling thing is a lot like the chicken and the egg story. I need to machine and adapter so I can grind some tooling so I can make some more adapters to mak...

I had the honor of meeting Harold tonight. He came over and help set up my lathe, and answer some of my many questions. Thanks Harold! After Harold left I couldn't help my self, had to make some chips. So here is my first attempt at making a thread. I actually started to just thread and then realize...