Smallest Boring Bar

[Historian]

<< http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/tiny ... n=08-28-18 >>

A possible useful tool for machining.

[fishman]

Ive got one roughly that size made from a 1/4" HSS blank

[T-Rex]

If interior features aren't needed, end mills work great.

[fishman]

If interior features aren't needed, end mills work great.

I never thought to put an endmill in my 3/8" boring bar holder. Ive got 3/8 shank endmills in several cutting diameters

[cdhknives]

I asked about this in a machinist forum I frequent and got interesting answers...

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads ... his.69611/

Best answer I found and used:

https://www.amazon.com/Micro-100-BB-200 ... B00Q8KR7AM

[fishman]

http://www.mikestools.com/11970-Sherlin ... QUARE.aspx

The one you got is probably better but I've always used these because one came with my lathe and it works.

[Capt. Link.]

A possible useful tool for machining.

Thanks Historian the D nose is a versatile tool indeed.I use them to cut pockets for socket head bolts in a pinch!
-CL

[ECCO Machine]

If interior features aren't needed, end mills work great.

This. Especially using ball end mills to give a radiused bottom in your bore. Oftentimes the helix of the flutes works out far better than a flat cutting edge, too.

I also routinely use square end mills to clean up and start over if a pilot drill tries to walk, or if I need to pilot & drill after parting but still have a little bit of a hole remaining from the split point drill.

[Historian]

A related YouTube that gives a run through of
skills that can used to make K's and also have
a useful ER Collet holder:

<< https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Elk8o1Xlhg >>

Our younger members who consider buying some good
old American Lathes will find this a good starting point.

In particular the use of a pencil in video to center the piece to be turned
brought back fond 'wide eyed 1955 freshman's intro to running his
first piece on Institute's Atlas 618 table lathe.

"Leave that DTI alone! You can true a piece in 4 jaw chuck with just a pencil.
Hold pencil as if it was a bit, turn on lathe, and see where there is no pencil mark.
This is direction you have to pull piece in."

"Nostalgia is not what it used to be." - anon