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  • Several Regions have held meetups already, but others are being planned or are evaluating the interest. The Ontario GTA West area meetup is planned for Saturday April 26th at Greasemonkeys shop in Aylmer Ontario. If you are interested and haven’t signed up yet, click here! Arbutus has also explored interest in a Fraser Valley meetup but it seems members either missed his thread or had other plans. Let him know if you are interested in a meetup later in the year by posting here! Slowpoke is trying to pull together an Ottawa area meetup later this summer. No date has been selected yet, so let him know if you are interested here! We are not aware of any other meetups being planned this year. If you are interested in doing something in your area, let everyone know and make it happen! Meetups are a great way to make new machining friends and get hands on help in your area. Don’t be shy, sign up and come, or plan your own meetup!

Search results

  1. Chris Cramer

    Metal lathe options

    That is a good point, I would have to use an even backing pad used with abrasive discs to grind the bottom very even. Removing material from the bottom is literally the only way to bring the tool down. Grinding the top would only add more space to raise the tool.
  2. Chris Cramer

    Metal lathe options

    Yeah, that is what I figured. If they are carbide I'm wondering if I could Sharpen them. I have a good amount of sharpening equipment that I use for both my knives and for carbide gravers.
  3. Chris Cramer

    Metal lathe options

    The hight of the tool post itself cannot be adjusted. Shims are used to change the height of the tool, which can only raise the tool. That is why I need to remove material from the shank to get them to the correct height. Your probably right that the tool shanks are supposed to be 3/8 instead of...
  4. Chris Cramer

    Metal lathe options

    I did test the alignment of the chuck with the tail stock, the tip of the live center lines up with the center of the chuck. The tools are all carbide and I just found that the 1/2" holders of every tool hold the tools about a mm above the center of the chuck, so I'll have to grind down the...
  5. Chris Cramer

    Metal lathe options

    Every tool from the facing tool, turning tool, and gouging tool breaks chips of the metal stock. I Started with 1" stainless steel round bar and did lots of experimenting with different speeds and feed rates all done manually. The facing and turning tools will leave a fairly nice finish by...
  6. Chris Cramer

    Metal lathe options

    I purchased the vevor 7x14 mini lathe. I tried turning some steel and it does work, but the metal is removed not in clean spirals but in small flakes. I don't know if that is because of the tools I purchased or because the 3 Jaw chuck doesn't hold the stock perfectly. It was the same case with...
  7. Chris Cramer

    Metal lathe options

    I'm now debating whether to get the Vevor 550W mini lathe on sale now for $678 or the 650W mini lathe for $1000. The 650W machine caught my attention not as much for the higher power, but for the durability, and the more precise operation. It's also been much higher on the list of every review...
  8. Chris Cramer

    Metal lathe options

    Thanks for the tips. It makes good sense that the mass, torque and strength of the machine would be critical to cut metal despite the hardness of a carbide cutting tool. Metal lathes are also quite a bit bigger than wood lathes. I still live with my dad in strathcona in the SW of Calgary. My...
  9. Chris Cramer

    Metal lathe options

    What is the required HP to work metal? I am looking at the affordable 8 x 13 wood lathe from KMs tools https://www.kmstools.com/king-canada-8-quot-x-13-quot-variable-speed-wood-lathe.html However I'm not sure if it can be used with metal. What exactly is the difference between a metal and wood...
  10. Chris Cramer

    Laser Engraving

    Before I got the laser engraver, while I was making a lot more jewelry, I had tried my hand at hand engraving with gravers and a graving vice. That method gives you much more control of the depth and angle of the engravings, but takes quite a bit of patience and control.
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