Shopsmith Forums

You only need a relatively shallow hole, not bored all the way through, correct? So the hole does not have to be absolutely perfectly centered, does it?

I'd lay the handle flat on the main or auxiliary table, shimmed as necessary to make it level. Then clamp it in the padded jaws of a handscrew clamp, clamp the handscrew clamp to the table, and drill the hole in horizontal boring mode.

Gary

Hand clamp from Gary (greitz) is an excellent recommendation. It is what I'd use!

Best wishes!

Pix of said pizza cutter handle. I have no vise, or wood clamps. I like the horizontal bore idea, just need to hold it tight and keep it level.
I also only have standard SS tooling and chucks ect.

[ATTACH]20500[/ATTACH]

Horizontal boring will do the trick.

Does the face (where you need to drill) of the handle sit square to a table when laid flat? If not, you may need a shim to keep the face square to the drill bit.

Use a center finder to find the center measure multiple times cut once.

Looks good!!

Horizontal boring mode:

Position miter gauge so the handle will be in position to be bored(lock in place).

If the od is different at the two ends, shim the smaller end.

Position the rip fence to act as a support for the 'far' end.

Drill slowly. Hold securely if no clamps available.

This be end grain, so choose yer bits carefully. Brad point 1st choice, Forstner second, twist drill=last resort.

If you use twist drills, I would work up to final size gradually.

Hole drilled. Vert bore, brad point bit, upside down scrap of hard wood flooring with grooves-for a cradle, handheld clamping with a soft rag.

If I were to do this before turning the project, it would interfere with my drive center. ?

Next issue, whats the trick for screwing in the insert?? I have 3400 screw drivers and none span the slot well or are too thick for the slot. I was thinking, just screw it in, it will tap its own threads. Hmm, crooked and crazy and very hard to screw in. This pizza cutter kit is way smarter than me.

Isn't this a simple kit for simple people. Anyone done one of these.?

I'm a mow-ron

The internet is a great tool. It appears this is a common problem with the pizza cutter kit as per Rockler customer reviews.

I found a 15/32 drill bit and put a glove on and turned it by hand to bore the hole out. I went up 1/8 from where I started in a couple of steps. Then rounded out the lip of the hole just a tad. Barely started the insert, then threaded in the pizza cutterhead until it was flush with the insert. Then used the whole assembley to screw in the insert. Tight fit.

I guess its pretty common to split the wood from not drilling the hole larger.

I'm still a mow-ron...but a mow-ron with a pizza cutter!

If you do another one, bore the hole first and then use a 60 degree live center in the tail stock. This will ensure that the hole is concentric with the turning. The standard live center won't work, so you need the 60 degree center.

What Art said re: live center.

Here's a tip for the heli-coil inserts.
Find a bolt and 2 nuts the same thread pattern as the pizza cutter.

screw the nuts onto the bolt.
screw the bolt into the heli-coil insert.

screw the nut closest to the insert so it comes into contact with the insert.
use the second nut as a jam nut. by screwing it down against the first.

use the appropriate size wrench to screw the insert into the hole.

when finished installing the insert, loosen the the second nut, then loosen and remove the bolt.

install pizza cutter,

cut pizza,

eat,

DONE! YUM!