07-17-2013, 07:00 AM
Tough decision tree there Ed. I believe you should first try the mill, at least get the hole started that way.
Of course the lathe allows you use a larger boring bar, but that rigidity is lost when you have a workpiece flopping around.
I have had pretty good success over the years using boring bars that are larger then turned down for a short length to fit into a boring head. I agree that you really should have a 3" or 4" boring head that takes at least 3/4" bars. Check this photo and see the long bar in the middle with a turned down end. That bar has a 3/4" end diameter which fit into my crappy Chinese boring head and holds a 1/4" HSS or brazed carbide bit.
![[Image: IMG_0288-r-1-1.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Dads%20shop/IMG_0288-r-1-1.jpg)
You want something similar. It's a quicky to make Ed, and cheap. Use the 1144 material you got.
Of course the lathe allows you use a larger boring bar, but that rigidity is lost when you have a workpiece flopping around.
I have had pretty good success over the years using boring bars that are larger then turned down for a short length to fit into a boring head. I agree that you really should have a 3" or 4" boring head that takes at least 3/4" bars. Check this photo and see the long bar in the middle with a turned down end. That bar has a 3/4" end diameter which fit into my crappy Chinese boring head and holds a 1/4" HSS or brazed carbide bit.
You want something similar. It's a quicky to make Ed, and cheap. Use the 1144 material you got.