Cheap Tubing Notcher for your Lathe

[Tmate]

A milling attachment is heavy and cumbersome, and there is always the chance of accidentally dropping it on the ways. I came up with this piece to cut notches in tubing without resorting to a milling attachment.

Chuck up a hex shank hole saw, mount this little attachment, and you are good to go. The longitudinal power feed makes it automatic. It cuts solids like butter as well.

 

[Johnwa]

Great idea!

 

[Tmate]

Here's a smaller version on a mini-lathe:

 

[6.5 Fan]

Great idea for short pieces.

 

[YotaBota]

This could also be mounted to a QCTP by bolting or welding a piece of square stock to the back side that matches the QCTP tool holder, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8 etc.
What RPM, feed speed did you use for that size pipe?

 

[Tmate]

Don't recall the RPM or feed rate, as this was about 15 years ago. Pretty slow though.