• Scam Alert. Members are reminded to NOT send money to buy anything. Don't buy things remote and have it shipped - go get it yourself, pay in person, and take your equipment with you. Scammers have burned people on this forum. Urgency, secrecy, excuses, selling for friend, newish members, FUD, are RED FLAGS. A video conference call is not adequate assurance. Face to face interactions are required. Please report suspicions to the forum admins. Stay Safe - anyone can get scammed.
  • Several Regions have held meetups already, but others are being planned or are evaluating the interest. The Calgary Area Meetup is set for Saturday July 12th at 10am. The signup thread is 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!

Cutting HSS Lathe Bit Stock

HSS does not lose it's hardness by "overheating". That's what makes it special. It has to be heated above the critical temperature (~1850 deg. F) and cooled very slowly to anneal it. There aren't too many ways to cut it other than abrasive.
 
Downwindtracker2 said:
I was not pleased with my attempt at a compound angle on the top so I cut it off. I used a Zip Cut. I think that overheated. What's a better way to 3/8" stock ?
Click to expand...

What @MrWhoopee says.

Not a chance you will ruin it. I only cool it so I can hold it without branding my paws. Ignore the blue colour when it cools or grind the blue colour off when/if you hone it.
 
I think that maybe you are _trying_ to cut off the end, but the saw you used didn't work. That would not be a surprise. Even among those with machine tools, actually cutting HSS is almost impossible. Grinding is just about the only way.

So if you have messed up the grind, just grind it some more ;)
 
Dan Dubeau said:
I use a zip wheel.
Click to expand...

Gez, do I ever feel dumb.....

I have only ever used a bench grinder to shape the whole damn thing. And I've done some pretty amazing grinds!

It's no wonder the RCMP think I'm the only guy in the world with no fingerprints.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top