MachinistBlog.com » Mini Lathe http://www.machinistblog.com Plans, projects and how-to's for home machinists Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:37:09 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= How to Grind and Use the ‘Contrary Finishing Tool’ http://www.machinistblog.com/how-to-grind-and-use-the-contrary-finishing-tool/ http://www.machinistblog.com/how-to-grind-and-use-the-contrary-finishing-tool/#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 18:47:28 +0000 Bick http://www.machinistblog.com/?p=2847 This excellent article was written by Bob Bickerton, a new contributor to Machinistblog.com. It was originally published to the files section of the Yahoo 7x12minilathe discussion group.

The slowest feed rate on the Mini-lathe is about .004 in/revolution. This is fine for many applications but when you want a nice, smooth turned finish the

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]]> http://www.machinistblog.com/how-to-grind-and-use-the-contrary-finishing-tool/feed/ 4 Free Plans: Ball Turning Tool Post for the 7x Mini-lathe http://www.machinistblog.com/free-plans-ball-turning-tool-post-for-the-7x-mini-lathe/ http://www.machinistblog.com/free-plans-ball-turning-tool-post-for-the-7x-mini-lathe/#comments Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:27:18 +0000 Rob http://www.machinistblog.com/?p=2505

I want to tell you about Ralph Patterson’s free plans for a ball turning tool post that will fit a 7-by-whatever mini-lathe, and show you how he used it to fix a broken shower head.  I’ve also included a YouTube video that shows a similar tool post being used to make a

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]]> http://www.machinistblog.com/free-plans-ball-turning-tool-post-for-the-7x-mini-lathe/feed/ 10 A Homemade DRO for the 7x Mini-Lathe http://www.machinistblog.com/a-homemade-dro-for-the-7x-mini-lathe/ http://www.machinistblog.com/a-homemade-dro-for-the-7x-mini-lathe/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:53:33 +0000 Rob http://www.machinistblog.com/?p=2070 The DRO uses an inexpensive digital dial indicator that's held in place on the apron with powerful rare-earth magents. The stop clamps to the top of the cross-slide and presses against the indicator's plunger, which measures the movement of the cutting bit.

This article describes how I added an easy-to-make DRO (Digital

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]]> http://www.machinistblog.com/a-homemade-dro-for-the-7x-mini-lathe/feed/ 6 Lever-Operated Tailstock Cam Locks – Three Well Known Designs you Can Build and a Kit you Can Buy http://www.machinistblog.com/lever-operated-tailstock-cam-locks-three-well-known-designs-you-can-build-and-a-kit-you-can-buy/ http://www.machinistblog.com/lever-operated-tailstock-cam-locks-three-well-known-designs-you-can-build-and-a-kit-you-can-buy/#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:39:17 +0000 Rob http://www.machinistblog.com/?p=7 It has been more than a year and a half since I bought my 7×12 mini-lathe and I finally decided I needed to get serious about building or buying a cam-operated tailstock lock for it. A lever-operated lock is probably one of the most popular modifications for the mini-lathe because it increases your productivity by

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