12-08-2024, 12:57 PM
I've been wanting to make one of these for quite a few years. Thanksgiving week finally gave me the opportunity to make one. First, I cut a block out of some steel I got as scrap. Had to buy a new bandsaw blade, as the old one just wasn't cutting it (pun intended).
Next, I made a P.V.C. angle block using my engineer's protractor. Then I set the part in the mill and cut the top and bottom faces parallel. Then I drilled a hole for the HSS tool bit. Plan was to simply file it out square. Unfortunately, my square file leaves far too large a radius in the corners, so I resorted to a combination of broaching using the tool bit and filing with needle files. It was a lot more effort than anticipated, and I have new appreciation for those old time apprentices that had to make stuff by hand.
Next step was to drill and ream a cross hole for the clamp. Then I set it up (as shown in another thread) for cutting the chamfers on the nose. Finally, I stuck it in the soft jaws and filed the whole thing smooth and even, adding the radii where I thought it needed more clearance. A quick wipe on the deburring wheel resulted in this:
Now I needed a way to clamp the tool in place. I decided on split cotters, as they are quick and easy to make, and have a surprising amount of clamping force. This was the result of that endeavor:
And all assembled:
Finally, here it is in the modified QCTP holder. Tool is sticking up way too far in this pic:
Next, I made a P.V.C. angle block using my engineer's protractor. Then I set the part in the mill and cut the top and bottom faces parallel. Then I drilled a hole for the HSS tool bit. Plan was to simply file it out square. Unfortunately, my square file leaves far too large a radius in the corners, so I resorted to a combination of broaching using the tool bit and filing with needle files. It was a lot more effort than anticipated, and I have new appreciation for those old time apprentices that had to make stuff by hand.
Next step was to drill and ream a cross hole for the clamp. Then I set it up (as shown in another thread) for cutting the chamfers on the nose. Finally, I stuck it in the soft jaws and filed the whole thing smooth and even, adding the radii where I thought it needed more clearance. A quick wipe on the deburring wheel resulted in this:
Now I needed a way to clamp the tool in place. I decided on split cotters, as they are quick and easy to make, and have a surprising amount of clamping force. This was the result of that endeavor:
And all assembled:
Finally, here it is in the modified QCTP holder. Tool is sticking up way too far in this pic:
Full of ideas, but slow to produce parts
