Bit of Metal turning.

[wm460]

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.

 

[Dalboy]

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

 

[Penpal]

Should be great Mark you also have the set,so no holding you back now.

Peter.

 

[Paul hd]

A beautiful bit of turning Mark.

 

[AllenN]

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]

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..

Kevin

 

[21William]

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.




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]

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

 

[Bill Mooney]

A nice piece of kit.

 

[Penpal]

World of info in the vids thanks William.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

Hi William I have the one with a cone, 1/2 finished on the lathe ATM, I had to go to Alice for the week end and then yesterday I was force to buy another..............

 

[Skil Phil]

Nicely done Mark.
The problem is very taps available here have a dimple at the end. Very frustrating.
Phil

 

[21William]

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.