Dials.

[Alan .204Participant @alan-204]

Simple question this time, what type of tool do you use to make out feed dials thinking you make the tool but some advice would be welcome, the dials will be made from mild steel.

Regards Alan.

[Alan .204Participant @alan-204]

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Alan

Do you mean the index wheels on slides?

Ian

[Alan .204Participant @alan-204]

Its one of Mr Halls grinding rest's and there are three feed dials to make, its the simple rest as I don't know enough yet to make the advanced one but I keep trying.

Al.

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

I am sure someone could describe this better than I can, but basically once you have finished turned the OD of the dial, leave the work in the chuck. The lines can be cut with a fine pointed lathe tool (on its side) by racking the saddle or using the top slide.

Obviously you need some way of indexing the work but if you have no dividing plate (or a gear mounted on the spindle) you can achieve near perfect results by wrapping first a strip if paper round the chuck body, cutting it dead to length (one circumference) then removing the paper and marking the correct number of lines equispaced on the strip.

Replace the paper strip and stick it to the chuck, rig up a pointer and if possible lock the spindle although bearing and belt friction should hold it still enough whilst you traverse the cutter.

Using the top slide you can cut lines of different length easily.

One thing, Unplug the lathe from the mains! save mistakes.

Ian

[AndyfParticipant @andyf]

There's some help here, though once the marks have been engraved, I prefer to keep the dial collar on the same mandrel and mount it in a crude (MDF) affair with a number punch-sized slot when whacking the numbers in; my headstock bearings wouldn't like the knocks.

Rather than using the feedscrew dials to get lines of uniform length. I use a crude depth stop on the toolholder, as shown on the bottom third of this page.

Andy

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Alan,
If you plan to make a lot of dials it may be worth making this tool.

Les.

[Author]

Posts