It's a good idea to always use some lube when tapping aluminium, even kitchen oil or lard is better than nothing. (lard is recommended for machining copper) Also, drill the holes correct size, any 'squeak or graunching is usually due to hole being slightly small or tap blunted. Taps can be sharpened using Dremel type grinding points although I find it best to use them in a cheap pin chuck. Just go along the ground section clearance without changing angles (pretty easy with only a little practice). I pretty much only ever use HSS on aluminium as it's much easier to grind relief angles. Only problem with sand castings is you may get some sand grains trapped in surface that buggers up tool making re-sharpening necessary. (it was a problem when I was in factory in 70's, some things never change) At least it's not as bad as finding a partially melted centre drill in a cast iron part, more common than anyone imagines when you get cheapest foundry you can find (and makes re-grinding brazed carbide tools a PITA, no angle grinders or replaceable tips for us back then The 'stores' did keep white spirit in stock though as we did sand cast aluminum at least a few times a week (booking out half gallon, store-man always wanted to know how long the run was, almost like he was paying for it , even worse with 'shop rags' had to bring in ten to get new 10🙄) Kerosene works equally well although I've been using old engine oil 'thinned down' with some diesel for years (particularly since retirement, things got expensive while I wasn't looking) Diesel from gas station pump is way cheaper than kerosene around here, about $4.50 gallon instead of close to $17.50 gallon 'lamp oil'- (central Florida 2023, haven't checked recently) Nice to see you keeping up the Kiwi tradition of 'shed engineering'
I was in college in the 80s when I had to order a catalog from an obscure technical book publisher to find all of Gingery's books. And they were pretty crudely printed, softcover books back then, too. I think I still have them packed away somewhere.
@@HaveAGoAlan I’m not a machinist, but my understanding is that a 3 jaw is great for everyday cylinder spinning. It saves a lot of time in adjusting and indicating in a 4 jaw. A 4 jaw can do groovy off centre setups. If you start with just one, it makes sense to go with a 4 jaw, so you can do it all.
@@HaveAGoAlan Actually it means that if you need to make something precise, it demands quite amount of labour and thinking. And some sweat and tears possibly)
Great work, glad to see things coming together!
I think “DIY” is the closest American equivalent I can think of. Nice work! ✨
Very nice video. Great job man. I need to get into castings.
It's a good idea to always use some lube when tapping aluminium, even kitchen oil or lard is better than nothing. (lard is recommended for machining copper)
Also, drill the holes correct size, any 'squeak or graunching is usually due to hole being slightly small or tap blunted.
Taps can be sharpened using Dremel type grinding points although I find it best to use them in a cheap pin chuck.
Just go along the ground section clearance without changing angles (pretty easy with only a little practice).
I pretty much only ever use HSS on aluminium as it's much easier to grind relief angles.
Only problem with sand castings is you may get some sand grains trapped in surface that buggers up tool making re-sharpening necessary. (it was a problem when I was in factory in 70's, some things never change)
At least it's not as bad as finding a partially melted centre drill in a cast iron part, more common than anyone imagines when you get cheapest foundry you can find (and makes re-grinding brazed carbide tools a PITA, no angle grinders or replaceable tips for us back then
The 'stores' did keep white spirit in stock though as we did sand cast aluminum at least a few times a week (booking out half gallon, store-man always wanted to know how long the run was, almost like he was paying for it , even worse with 'shop rags' had to bring in ten to get new 10🙄)
Kerosene works equally well although I've been using old engine oil 'thinned down' with some diesel for years (particularly since retirement, things got expensive while I wasn't looking)
Diesel from gas station pump is way cheaper than kerosene around here, about $4.50 gallon instead of close to $17.50 gallon 'lamp oil'- (central Florida 2023, haven't checked recently)
Nice to see you keeping up the Kiwi tradition of 'shed engineering'
Impressed you got the holes right. Have just done the same thing and had to do a bit of filing...
Very careful measurement... plan B was to widen the holes with a bigger drill bit than necessary if I had to, for extra clearance.
Turned out great
When Gingry wrote that book, there wasn't Amazon or the internet to get stuff from.
Making do, or getting by, are common expressions here in America.
I was in college in the 80s when I had to order a catalog from an obscure technical book publisher to find all of Gingery's books. And they were pretty crudely printed, softcover books back then, too. I think I still have them packed away somewhere.
Nice one Allen. That's much better now it's running reasonably concentric. Have you clocked it in to see how much runout it has now?
You know, I completely forgot about that!
@@HaveAGoAlan Never too late! :)
I have already forgotten. Do you have a 3 jaw chuck too?
No, no 3 jaw chuck. This is my first one (I've heard that a 4 jaw independant chuck is preferable to a self-centering 3 jaw.)
@@HaveAGoAlan I’m not a machinist, but my understanding is that a 3 jaw is great for everyday cylinder spinning. It saves a lot of time in adjusting and indicating in a 4 jaw. A 4 jaw can do groovy off centre setups. If you start with just one, it makes sense to go with a 4 jaw, so you can do it all.
This is acceptable if you need no more precision than 0.05-0.1 mm. But it is lower than the lowest precision class equipment.
It is. Sad part is, probably the most accurate power machine tool I have right now though :)
@@HaveAGoAlan Actually it means that if you need to make something precise, it demands quite amount of labour and thinking. And some sweat and tears possibly)
Can you talk a bit louder great video