OneGuyFromBarlick

This morning I spent an hour on turning the fourth blank down to 2" and cleaning Mrs Harrison up. I have made a lot of very hot small chips which are great for cleaning up but deadly if one gets on your skin as they spray off the cutter. Even worse if you got one in your eye so I used my head and wore the full face shield. No good being wise after the event when you are explaining what happened to the paramedics! After I'd finished I gave the visor a good wash in hot soapy water so that when I use it next I will be able to see better. Now for breakfast!

A busy morning. The first thing I did was vacuum the floor in the shed to get rid of all the tiny pieces of swarf I was treading all over the house! That done I marked all the blanks up ready for the next stage which is to mill out of the centre enough of the meat to make it easier to turn the crank pin. Anyone who has ever endured the interrupted cuts with over extended parting tools knows that the less metal that has to be cut out the better. I put a centre in each blank that will be used to locate the piece in the lathe offset ready for turning. Then I took the vise off the lathe and cleaned the table. I mounted the first shaft direct on the bed found a 1/2" end mill and mounted that in the mill and then marked the shaft for centre and depth of cut. I am ready now to start milling which I know will be a test of patience but one that is well worth it. Now I want my breakfast.

This morning was an hour spent patiently chewing out the meat of the centre of the crankshaft to lessen the purgatory of intermittent cuts and eccentric turning. Well worth the time and effort. I have one shaft cut out and the next for shaving mounted in the mill. Same again tomorrow but right now the task is breakfast!

This morning I sharpened both the 1/2" cutters I have selected for this job and then got on with cutting the meat out of the second blank. Once I'd done that I vacuumed my chips up and set up the third blank for gulleting tomorrow. Now I am after my breakfast.