Projects In Metal, LLC Free Metalworking Projects, Plans, Tips, and Tricks for the Amateur Machinist

Here’s a nice weekend metalworking project for you, an adjustable tailstock for a 5c collet indexer! I have noticed in several articles that there seems to be a lot of interest in an adjustable tailstock for a 5c Collet Indexer.  Over the years I have accumulated three of these handy gizmos and not a one of them came with a ... Read More »

In this metalworking project Jim walks us through the steps required to build a handy cross slide retractor for the lathe. This modification simplifies the threading process by allowing the user to quickly retract the threading tool away from the part with a lever rather than by using the cross feed dial. It's also useful when making finish passes as the tool can be retracted prior to moving the carriage (thus your tool doesn't drag across the finished surface). The dimensions in the free drawings for this modification are for the popular G0602 10x22 lathe by Grizzly, but the drawings can be easily modified to fit the dimensions of other lathes. Read More »

Russ shows us his handy tap guides that are easy to make and convenient to have! Read More »

Russ shows us how he designed and built a portable coolant system that he uses with multiple machines, including his lathe and mill. Read More »

Harold Hall shows us how to make a simple rotary table for the home shop. Each step is fully documented with over 20 excellent photos. Read More »