But as you can see from the pictures, it works just as well for smaller items.

If you decide to make your own please take a few pictures of the process and post them to the forum!

Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

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It’s a simple project for making a set of clamps that fit an X2 Mini Mill (Sieg / Harbor Freight / Grizzly) and these clamps would make a great first project for anyone who owns an X2 or similar sized mill.

The original instructable can be found here. However, for those of you who don’t have an instructables.com account, I’ve provided a PDF copy of the project instructions as well as the drawing below. Doc also provides SLDDRW and SLDPRT files of the drawing in his instructable for those of you with CAD capabilities.

Thanks again for letting me share this with my readers Doc!

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If you’re a clockmaker (or have some other need for cutting precision gears) and you don’t want to spend $8K on a quality Burgeon, take a look at Michel’s detailed plans. FYI, the plans are in French (for example, the index plate pin is called a “pointeau”), but that shouldn’t prevent anyone from being able to read the dimensions (which are metric).

“This is milling machine for clockmaking that I designed for use with a Dremel. This machine is based on a milling machine from the Bergeon company. The goal was not to duplicate the Bergeon design exactly, but rather to alter the design to allow for the use of a Dremel. A lightweight Dremel is easy to mount thus avoiding the need for a larger motor and pulley (like in the Burgeon design). On my site you will find photographs as well as the method of construction.

Also on my site there are other projects which might be of interest to your visitors: A quick change tool post that I designed which has proved to be very handy, as well as a stainless marking gauge, which was a very beautiful project to create.

-  Michel”

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This Brass Marking Gage is the 4th of 5 great projects from Ken.

Here’s what Ken has to say about this latest project:

“This next little project was a real test of my newly learned skills, and involves turning, milling, drilling, tapping, threading and knurling. All these operations were done on my Unimat 3 mini lathe/mill. Being a novice, if I can do it, so can you.

I chose brass for the body, mainly because of what material I had on hand, and when polished, would look the part.

The body and adjusting block were drilled out 10 dia in one piece, then parted off with a slitting saw. See earlier Slitting saw project.

I use this item to scribe lines a certain distance in from the edge of the work, or down the centre line. The scribed lines are used to locate hole centres, etc.

The thumb screws and adjustment wheel were knurled with my knurling tool, see earlier Knurling tool project. The diamond pattern was achieved by swinging the knurling around on the saddle.

I use my digital vernier to set the distance, then transfer this to the marking gauge. Fine adjustment is achieved by using the adjustment wheel.

I find this little gadget very handy, it’s almost too good to use. Might even be a usefull item for wood workers.”

- Ken

Ken originally posted these plans back in 2007 (along with 4 others) on the Metalworking section of Woodworking Australia’s Woodwork Forums. Here’s a link to Ken’s original Marking Gage post in the Metalworking section of the forum. Check back next week for Ken’s final project, a slightly different Joinery Marking Gage.

Thanks for sharing Ken!

If anyone has any questions about this, or any other project, please leave a comment. And as always, if you have any plans you’d like to share with the site, please submit your plans using the tab at the top of the page.

Thanks!

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Units: (in)

Nick Carter of CarterTools has a set of plans for a Knurling Tool he designed specifically for his Taig Lathe. So if you are a Taig Lathe owner, you might want to consider building Nick’s Knurling Tool rather than modifying Ken’s Knurling Tool that was posted last week.

I’ve provided a PDF copy of the plans below, but you can also visit Nick’s site to see the original plans here.

CarterTools has lots of great resources for the Taig Lathe and Mill, so be sure to check it out if you’re a Taig owner.

Thanks Nick for letting me share your Knurling Tool plans with my visitors!

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Below you’ll find plans for a scissor-type Knurling Tool from Ken.

Here’s what Ken has to say about his Knurling Tool plans:

“This little knurling tool works extremely well, even I was surprised. It was designed to fit onto the saddle of my Unimat 3 lathe via two screws and two tee nuts. Just change the body to suit your lathe.

It is of the clamping style, which has a few benefits over the conventional single sided style, plus, there is a bonus. With knurling rollers on each side of the work, very little strain is applied to the chuck spindle, and more importantly, the work.

This means that very small diameters can be knurled without bending anything.

I am not going into construction details, except to say that some improvisation took place.

The grooves for the circlips were cut with a small hardened screw driver bit. The sort that fits into your battery operated drill, just perfect.

Attached are a couple of drawings showing the assembly and details, and some pictures.

Knurling at low speed took very little pressure to produce a nice crisp knurl, even in mild steel.

I said there was a bonus, if the entire knurling tool is swung around on an angle, say 15 degrees, a diamond pattern will result. Not bad eh from a set of straight knurling rollers?

Might not be orthodox, but it works.”

- Ken

Ken originally posted these plans back in 2007 (along with 4 others) on the Metalworking section of Woodworking Australia’s Woodwork Forums. Here’s a link to Ken’s original Knurling Tool post in the Metalworking section of the forum. Check back next week for Ken’s next project, a Marking Gage.

Thanks for yet another contribution Ken!

Another good Knurling Tool design can be found in “Lathework, a Complete Course” by Harold Hall. I reviewed this excellent book a while back. To see a picture of the Knurling Tool you can make from the plans in the book, click here and read the review. In my opinion, the book is well worth the price.

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Here’s a nice set of plans by Clark P. for a small 5cm vise for your mill. Clark wrote a great instructable on the project that I’ve linked to below. You can view instructable via the embedded player, or you can download a PDF copy of the step-by-step plans (at the very bottom of the post below the flash player).

You can also download a copy of the PDF plans directly from the instructables website, but you need to be a member to do that, so I’m saving you that step by linking to them here.

A small low profile machine vise – More DIY How To Projects

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Bill H.  submitted a set of plans for a very nice carriage stop he recently completed for his 8×14 lathe.

Here’s what Bill wrote about his project:

“Here is a simple heavy duty carriage stop for a 8×14 lathe sold by Lathe Master and Harbor Freight. There is extra metal to allow you to modify the design to hold indicators, stops, micrometers, etc.”

-Bill H.

Thanks for your submission Bill!

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Material: Steel
Units: (in)

Here’s a great project for a rather advanced Dividing Head by Tony Jeffree.

This project made the cover of Projects In Metal Magazine (Vol 10, No. 5 – October 1997 issue).

Shortly after the publication in PIM in 1997, the Author released an updated version of the plans on the web (May 1998).

To access the plans to build this Dividing Head, please visit Tony’s Site.

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Material: Aluminum and Brass
Units: (in)

I’ve looked all over for a fun set of plans to use as a beginner milling project. Oddly, it’s been hard to find a suitable project. Luckily I came across a set of highly detailed, step-by-step (seriously, 30 pages) set of plans for a nifty little project by Frank Ford called the “Two Slider“. I’ve seen something similar in the past made from wood called a Smoke Grinder, and I remember feeling a bit autistic as I cranked away mindlessly on the handle of the wooden toy … for several minutes. If nothing else, this project would serve as a nice little conversation piece at your next dinner party.

Frank’s site is full of great projects, tips, and ideas so I encourage you to check it out when you have a chance. Also, I’ve converted his Two Slider instructions to PDF for easy printing (that way you can take a set of plans with you to the mill), but they are no substitute for the original plans. If you decide to tackle this project you really should take a look at the original set of plans on Frank’s site, if for no other reason than the fact that you can click on all the images for a larger view.

Oh, and if you’re still trying to figure out how this project works, here’s a GIF from Frank’s site that illustrates its function.I’ve included the plans below in PDF format. Take note that the numbering on the pages is a bit odd so if you print the plans, make sure to keep them in order and staple them together.

Also, as a new machinist you may not already own a suitable T-Slot Cutter (AKA Woodruff Keyseat Cutter), so I’ve included a few links to some e-bay auctions below to help you find one (you’ll be cutting a slot with a bottom width of just over .600, but the slot itself is only .400. So a 3/8 inch (.375) cutter should work fine – but be sure to double check the plans before you purchase).

If you have a set of plans for one of your first lathe or mill projects, please consider uploading them and sharing them with others who visit this site. Thanks!

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