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4:30 PM
March 8, 2011
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OK, well the nested scribe and spring center was fun but it was time to actually make something that I needed and to use on one of my builds.
I am using a whiskey bottle as a radiator overflow on a chopper I am building. So I attempted to drill through the cork that was in it and it blew apart. Picked up a piece of 6061 and turned this little guy this morning. I am sure the radius for o-rings is not proper but it works and fits great!
Now, I got a question for someone with more knowledge than myself. I attempted to knurl the top os this (hard to see in pic) but it did not turn out as well as the steel did. Is there a secret to knurling aluminum? I think it built up in the knurling teeth and caused a dirty looking knurl.
5:47 PM
February 10, 2011
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Some key things to know with knurling
The pitch of the teeth on the knurling tool has to fit into the circumference of the workpiece, if it doesn't it'll try and form impressions in between previous ones resulting in a cut up surface. The best way to find out what diameters work best with your knurling tool is to try some out. Make up a stepped shaft with diameters that increase in small increments, knurl each step and see what goes well. If you know the pitch of your tool's wheels then you can back calculate do derive diameters that it will fit into.
Use lots of low viscosity lubricant. Aluminium especially can result in a sticky sludge that's real messy, irrigate with lubricant as much as you can. Once the job is finished clean it in dish detergent and water. Clean your tool thoroughly after use.
Feed the knurling tool across the workpiece as soon as a depth increase is applied, otherwise it'll form a step the tool will have to climb over if it's allowed to dwell for too long in one place.
5:50 PM
May 4, 2010
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If you used lots of oil and started with clean knurles I am thinking the diameter of the stock might not be a multiple of the pitch of the knurles. I can not explain this in detail but I bet someone else can.
9:02 PM
March 8, 2011
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Thanks guys! I did clean the hell out of the knurling tool before starting and used lots of oil but thinking a thinner oil would have been better on the aluminum even for cutting. I am sure this is not a multiple that works well. Some where I read something about being a multiple of 9? Gonna have to do a bunch of reading on it so on future projects I know what works and what won't.
The best way to find out what diameters work best with your knurling tool is to try some out. Make up a stepped shaft with diameters that increase in small increments, knurl each step and see what goes well.
I like this idea!
8:06 AM
November 15, 2010
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Just winging it here-
Could you determine the pitch of your knurler, then after deciding the proper formula, calculate what diameters would work with it? Then you could keep a chart handy, and make your non-critical parts to match what works for your particular set of knurling wheels.
Sounds good in my head anyway.
Kevin
4:12 PM
April 16, 2010
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Jerry, Johnny and Kevin,
That's the kind of info us bewildered beginners need. Never thought of knurling in that light, but it does make sense, even to da Mammoth. Thanks guys.
– Don 'with visions of knurling swirling…' 
8:20 AM
January 9, 2009
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Wooly! You're Back! Good to see you again my friend.
@ Carr, just out of curiousity, what kind of whisky bottle? I'd like to see a pic when you get it all assembled.
Also, I haven't used oil when knurling (but that sounds like a good idea!), but I have used compressed air to blow the bits and specks away while knurling. Aluminum seems to create more knurling dust than other metals. I've produced dust about as fine as graphite before. The problem with using compressed air to blow the dust away is that it makes a mess, and it's not good to breathe metal particles, especially aluminum. So again, I think the flood with coolant/oil idea is probably the best.
However, if you'd like to try and clean your existing bottle top a bit you can try using a soft brass bristle brush to clean the aluminum gunk out of the knurl. That can help quite a bit.
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11:07 AM
March 8, 2011
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Here you can see the bottle. It is a Wild Turkey bottle…lol
Just a coolant overflow so no pressure. 2 lines run through the cap, one for overflow coolant to go in/out of and the other is just a vent.
I will try to remember to get a couple of pics of it finished with new aluminum cork in ot and everything assembled.
7:53 PM
January 9, 2009
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That's excellent! I'm more of a scotch fan myself, but you'd get funny looks with a bottle of Laphroaig or Lagavulin strapped to the bike – so I'd stick with the Wild Turkey.
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8:22 PM
March 8, 2011
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Tyler said:
That's excellent! I'm more of a scotch fan myself, but you'd get funny looks with a bottle of Laphroaig or Lagavulin strapped to the bike – so I'd stick with the Wild Turkey.
Thanks Tyler!
If you are interested you can see build in pics here from start to finish. Still waiting on paint but should be done this coming weekend.
http://smg.photobucket.com/alb…..%20VLX600/
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