Seeking some advice

[richardrouse]

Long story short,

I'm wondering if this is a good idea.. I'll provide the back story in a moment.

Would it be a good idea to chuck a 5/8" steel rod in the shopsmith, and use a file to shave a few thousands off from it?

Here's the why...

I picked up this neat old lathe at a yard sale.I'm not entirely sure of the age, but it looks old. The spindle that came with it was just threaded with 1/2 - 24 threads. I'm not sure when using that particular thread count fell out of fashion, but I'm sure it was long before I was born.

So, I had a new spindle made for it that would accept my spare shopsmith parts. I have a few extra spur centers and pen mandrel holders that could be put to use.
My idea was to use it in my classroom to turn pens and other small things in my downtime. Additionally, It would give me another creative outlet for kids when I teach design and manufacturing processes.
I've found that most kids love to pour their own pen blanks and turn their own pens... but bringing my shopsmith in is not desirable.

Anyhow, I got the new spindle back today...it was made precisely to my specifications... however, the spindle fits a little too snuggly within the brass sleeve bearings on the lathe's headstock.

I'm sure I could take the spindle back to the machinist and have him shave a few thou off the rod, but don't really want to do that.

I'm thinking I can remove a few thousands with a file while the lathe is spinning, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea.

[ERLover]

I dont see why not as long as you can keep it concentric. I think to keep the finish smooth I may use a course Emery clothe and also more control to you getting the size correct and not take too much off.

[everettdavis]

I agree. Emery cloth, and take it through some finer grits progressively.

I like to loop a strip of it over a paint stirrer and go back and forth until I get the size and the finish I need.

I am sure you have all the measurement tools you need there to get it spot on to where you want it.

Had a friend do something similar on a project and I smiled and reminded him that it wasn't just clearing enough to get it in, but out later. He headed back to his lathe.... scowling at me...

Saw a post sometime ago where a guy had adapted his Shopsmith with some milling capabilities...

Good luck and thanks for all you do with inspiring the next generation of kids to build things themselves!

Everett

[reible]

I'd take the lathe and the part back and have the person turn it to the right size so it fits. Using a file will leave a less then polished surface.

Did you happen to have to have the bearing area redone? It would be likely that too might need some work if it is that old.

Bearing shafts are often taken to .000X dimensions so that pretty much says it all. If you have to hold that for the whole contact area it is unlikely to happen with out some machine involved.

Could it work if you sanded it down, sure but it is not really the right way to go and since this is such a classic piece do it the right way.

Ed

[richardrouse]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I've got caliper and dial to make sure I'm concentric and aligned.

This current generation needs, more than others i think, to know how to take an idea from the drawing board and turn it into a physical thing.

Technology has dumbed this generation down in ways that I think no one ever intended.

[oldiron]

I would take the lathe and spindle back to the machine shop and have it done with the precision they can provide!

As for the kids, I've been saying for a good while now, The technological advances are going to cause many kids to become very dumb. They don't have to do traditional math the way most of us here had to do it. Too many calculators now days...

The video game systems are dumbing down the kids too... I have two nephews who are 17 and neither of them have any interest in obtaining a drivers license... I couldn't turn 16 quick enough... I knew how to drive a 4 speed by the age of 13... Of course, I had the upper hand since we have plenty of acreage to drive around on.....

Anyhow, Please do the best you can with showing the modern students of the hands on equipment. We need you more than ever because the rest of us won't be able to continue the manual labor and who's going to take over? Well, I have an idea and it's not ideal...

Mike

[ERLover]

In the my wife was on the school board from around the early 80s till about 2002 in very upscale suburb in which we lived, the public schools are comparable to good and better private schools. She was livid when at the high school in the late 80s they eliminated Industrial Arts, she came from a very educated family and siblings, brother PhD in math and a Professor at Boston College, very successful younger brother, a grad from SMU. A father that retired a Sr VP from a large and well run Utility Co.She did 2 years in college and said it isnt for me. Became very successful in her career she choose.
Point is why she was livid, "not everyone is college bound and some may want to pursue the trades". Well out voted that night and the I A budget went for computers, which is not a bad thing back then, but a balance was/is needed.
Now we see lack of trade persons, and college students in years of dept and unless a grad in the right degree, jobless.
My rant and end of my hijack.

[JPG]

A 1/2 - 28 tap can be purchased for about 15$ (A high carbon steel one for less than 3$).

Consider drilling a 7/16" nut to 15/32 and tapping the threads to fit the original shaft?

[richardrouse]

Hadn't thought of that! I got too focused on the Forrest and forgot to look at the trees.

Balance is right er lover! Public education in Florida is all out of whack. I miss industrial arts for the sake of industrial arts.

[TomHoffman]

I am and have been a wooden boat builder since 1980. When I started I had a need for a canoe and did not have $350 to buy an aluminum one. So I built my self one.

Now I follow Wooden Boat Forums. Every year some teacher some where starts a project in school to let the kids build one or more wooden boats. It is wonderful following the progress posted there.

Here is a link to the forum. You will have to read some posts to find this years latest builds.. I know one teacher has 4 boat building this year.

http://forum.woodenboat.com/forumdispla ... ing-Repair