A very late comment. Today I tumbled into this video. It comes like a gift from heaven. Having a few indicators like this it looks like everything or anything is a standard. The real Chinese one the holder doesn't even need to be slided onto the indicator. My Swedish bought one, likely a Chinese but in better quality, uses other dimensions, but it works. Watching Randy Richards I know he sells dove tail cutters but they are way to large. You really opened up a new way out for me Dale!
BillStill Dale - I'm a retired accountant and am trying to learn some machining techniques on my HF lathe and milling machine. Your videos are very instructive. I especially like your pragmatic approach to creating things, such as the dovetail post for a test indicator.
Gday Dale, massive thank you, you have just saved me from buying a dovetail cutter, I didn’t give it a thought of modifying a file to cut in the dovetail, brilliant idea, thanks Dale for sharing this, much appreciated, Cheers Matty
I did a indicator bracket like that years ago, I simple ground up a small single point tool out of a broken endmill for the dovetail. I removed most of the dovetail slot with a small endmill and the just touched the sides with the 30 deg cutter I had ground up. I use a cheap bench grinder just for grinding small tool bits, gun parts, etc. Whatever works, different ways to do most things......
I liked the way you approached this. I was thinking maybe of a side hole through the side of the rod with a small what we call grub screw same as you used and cut a slot in the middle and tightened the grubscrew to close the slot. Then I am just a hobby guy learning the best way from you brother. I am very impressed with your method. God Bless my friend From Alistair in Scotland
Using a file to make something is a lost art. I made a small bolt with a triangular file,It took allot of time and tested my patience but it can be done. The old masters had to make their own files to cut their threads. Another excellent video.
Great episode. I will try to make a dovetail for my dial test indicator. I really like your videos they contains a lot of information that can be used by hobbyist like me. The camera work is great and you are very good in explaining what you do. I look forward to the next episode.
Hi Dale Nice little project. What I like about this one is that if you do not have a mill, with a little judicial filing you can come up with the dovetail. You do not even need the collett chuck, just a 3 jaw chuck on the lathe. Heck if you want a little fitting and making practice with a little care you can do the whole thing by hand on the bench. regards from the UK
+Gary C I'm told a good gunsmith can cut a true and level sight dovetail into a fully finished and blued gun barrel by hand filing with no starting slot. I'm never going to be that good. But today I doubt many would attempt it since most will have a mill of some type. Metal checkering with files is still more common, but even that is probably slowly dying out with more owning CNC equipment I guess. Great demonstration Dale.
+Turning Point I love my files, and not since I'm yet to own a milling machine, I've always loved them, and even enjoy shaping surfboard foam or large sections of auto body filler repairs with a "SureForm" to get to rough shapes before blocking. I enjoy shaping things with my hands...Aloha, Chuck
+Knolltop Farms Yeah it's pretty relaxing sometimes just shaping a piece of material with a simple tool and your eye's. A great deal tougher than it looks tho. And a file WAS the first milling machine. :-)
Nice solution. For mounting on a longer bar, you could make the dovetail the same way, cut a thin slot along the length of the rod in the bottom of the dovetail, and put a small screw sideways through the rod to squeeze the slot shut (clearance hole 1 side of slot, threaded on the other side of slot).
I just recently discovered your channel and want to say that you do great videos. Your presentation in this and the other videos I've watched so far is delightfully clear and detailed but still quick enough to avoid any desire to skip ahead. Nicely done. On this one I applaud your quick and easy use of the file to do a job of this sort. I'd also suggest that making the first hogging out cut could have also been easily and quickly done with a small square section file or a combination of a hacksaw and small square file instead of the milling machine. It also would be a suitable option for anyone without a small milling cutter at hand. And it fits in with your idea of using what we have and not feeling like we need every tool out there.
Great job Dale! And I have to say, I did notice a difference in your approach to this video since the survey. Even noticed the metric referencing, MUCH appreciated :) I didn't have to keep pausing for conversions this time LOL
Awesome little tutorial. I also really loved the way you did the fast forwarding with the music behind it. It reminded me a lot of clickspring, which is a great thing actually.
A nice solution (borrowed from another RUclips creator) for never having the right-sized shank on such an adapter is to make a stepped adapter. You might make one with 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch steps, each about 1/2 inch long. The slight downside is that the smallest diameter step is the one with the longest stick-out, but indicators don't exert much lateral pressure. (You wouldn't want to put such steps on a 1" drill bit it or a face mill.) You might have to come up with a different clamping system if you want a 1/4 inch step on the adapter. A crossing setscrew with a cone point bearing against an angled end on the plunger, maybe.
Dale, love your videos. Great that you are willing to share. I have a tip for you that may be of benefit. I noticed in this video that your drill bit slips in the chuck from time to time. Also noticed that after inserting the bit you only applied the chuck key to one of three holes. An old timer told me that a three holed chuck should be tightened in each hole. It avoids scoring up the shank of the drill bit, preserves the bite on the chuck jaws, and if my memory serves me correctly, there is better centering of the drill bit or a reamer. Thanks again.
'Thought occurred to me , that the holding setscrew could be a knurled thumbscrew; with the diameter slightly less than the shaft diameter . . . * ( No extra tools to use = faster setups ! ) :) Good channel . . . subbed ! Hmmm , come to think of it; the 'setscrew' could be Brass - threaded on one end, with knurling . . . one piece, instead of two ! ( even a simple slot cut into the brass rod would allow it to be 'set' with just a screwdriver ? . . . the options are as varied as the operators' imagination ! Dream it up - then make it COOL ! Cheers Dale !
lart almighty Dale !!! i need one of these attachment for my test indicator as the one that came with the indicator was a piece of rubbish and fell apart not long after buying the thing. i have looked around for a replacement but with no luck. anyhow, never thought about making one. appreciate the tutorial.
Excellent. That will be my next project. What if you instead of the set screw used a cylinder allen head screw, where the head is about the the same diameter as your holder and have a slight knurl on its head so it can be finger tightened? Just a though, and I don't know if the dimensions match up....
Great design. I've always had an attitude of accomplishing all I can with the limited resources available, and spending money only as a last resort. Of course that has gotten me into some difficult situations where I should have just spent the money. It's a difficult line to find, both in hobbies and business.
I wonder if you would consider building a Sine Bar. It’s something cool and as far as I can tell (I’ve checked and asked) nobody on YT has or will do one. I have you and 2 others to ask. Thanks!!
+Shaun Tucker Pick a collet size that is compatible with other machines that you have, if your mill can fit a rs32 that would be my choice, and look into Doubleboost channel, he built a re32 collet holder to fit his lathe, I copied it and it works, so it cannot be that hard.
Hi, Been watching your video's recently and have certainly found them very informative and interesting. My qualifications are in commercial diving and electronics, though I have done a verity of machining. Keep up the good work!
Nice. It did not occcur to me that you could file up a small dovetail. For a 45 deg dovetail you would have to hunt up a square file. And thanks for the metric conversions, although for all practical purposes it suffices to give the measurement to the nearest "cent" -- .01 mm which is about .0005". I work in metric, and I appreciate getting my bearings.
Cool idea & vid Dale, I may go make a couple of different length one this weekend. One question though:- Is there an advantage with the locking system you used (with the rod) rather than the outer threaded collar or lock nut that you see on most bought ones? Cheers, Bo
Hi Dale thanks for your tips ... my question is about the round stock holder in your vise , man that’s super cool !! I am guessing you. Made it ? Please if so or how does it work thanks from a rookie Again thank you for sharing your knowledge it means a lot to me Charlie
The sped up video selections are great, the music on the other hand seem a little too loud. I can't speak for everyone but I rather like the sound of the machines in motion, even sped up :). Sped? Looks completely wrong but Google says it's right lol.
I dont mind the music but you're right it is a bit louder than the rest of the video.Hopefully he'll address it on newer videos and figure out how to lower it in the editing process. To be fair all too often people forget these aren't professional productions and that it takes some practice.
Hi Dale. Did you make the 5C collet chuck for the Enco lathe? I have a similar lathe with a 5MTin the spindle and a D1-4 cam lock and have been interested in building a collet chuck like the one you have. That would be an interesting project for you to show. Thanks, Paul
+Paul Jones Start with a **soft** MT5 to MT3 sleeve and bore the 5C taper with it mounted in the spindle. Shorten it and make a drawbar. Done. About 20 bucks for an unhardened taper adapter last time I looked.
A very late comment. Today I tumbled into this video. It comes like a gift from heaven. Having a few indicators like this it looks like everything or anything is a standard. The real Chinese one the holder doesn't even need to be slided onto the indicator. My Swedish bought one, likely a Chinese but in better quality, uses other dimensions, but it works.
Watching Randy Richards I know he sells dove tail cutters but they are way to large.
You really opened up a new way out for me Dale!
Hello Dale. At 60 years old decided to start a new hobby. Every video you publish I learn something new.
Thank you very much.
BillStill
Dale - I'm a retired accountant and am trying to learn some machining techniques on my HF lathe and milling machine. Your videos are very instructive. I especially like your pragmatic approach to creating things, such as the dovetail post for a test indicator.
+William Stillman
Thanks Im glade you liked them.
a lot more can be done with a file then most people realize. good job Dale.
+Chris Anderson
thanks
wow sorry for the multiple post no idea what happened.
Great design and execution of a fairly simple attachment, without using a bunch of special tools to get there!
+Bob Korves
Thanks
Cool I like the attitude of using what is in the shop is how it's made
+Mert Silliker
Thank
Gday Dale, massive thank you, you have just saved me from buying a dovetail cutter, I didn’t give it a thought of modifying a file to cut in the dovetail, brilliant idea, thanks Dale for sharing this, much appreciated, Cheers Matty
I did a indicator bracket like that years ago, I simple ground up a small single point tool out of a broken endmill for the dovetail. I removed most of the dovetail slot with a small endmill and the just touched the sides with the 30 deg cutter I had ground up. I use a cheap bench grinder just for grinding small tool bits, gun parts, etc. Whatever works, different ways to do most things......
I needed one of those the other day. Its snowing outside of Boston today. Grrat snow day project. Thank you.
+Roy Lucas
:-)
Excellent idea and job. Congrats.
I liked the way you approached this. I was thinking maybe of a side hole through the side of the rod with a small what we call grub screw same as you used and cut a slot in the middle and tightened the grubscrew to close the slot. Then I am just a hobby guy learning the best way from you brother. I am very impressed with your method. God Bless my friend From Alistair in Scotland
Thanks Alistar
Using a file to make something is a lost art. I made a small bolt with a triangular file,It took allot of time and tested my patience but it can be done. The old masters had to make their own files to cut their threads. Another excellent video.
+Bob Cartwright
Great comment
Very cool Dale! Your locking system gave me ideas for a bunch of other projects!
+jjs4x
Im glad I could help.
Nice, good to see people thinking outside the box.
I like how you designed it so the brass would not fall out of the rod. Will bank that idea for future use.
+1OlBull
Thanks
Great episode. I will try to make a dovetail for my dial test indicator.
I really like your videos they contains a lot of information that can be used by hobbyist like me. The camera work is great and you are very good in explaining what you do. I look forward to the next episode.
+antonius7913
Thank you
Slick! Good thing you did the collet block video last week, or you would have a bunch of people asking what that little fixture was! 😊
+Dustin Masters
LOL
Excellent Dale, a great simple project to make
+Rich ok
Im Glad you liked it
Hi Dale Nice little project. What I like about this one is that if you do not have a mill, with a little judicial filing you can come up with the dovetail. You do not even need the collett chuck, just a 3 jaw chuck on the lathe. Heck if you want a little fitting and making practice with a little care you can do the whole thing by hand on the bench. regards from the UK
+Gary C I'm told a good gunsmith can cut a true and level sight dovetail into a fully finished and blued gun barrel by hand filing with no starting slot. I'm never going to be that good. But today I doubt many would attempt it since most will have a mill of some type. Metal checkering with files is still more common, but even that is probably slowly dying out with more owning CNC equipment I guess. Great demonstration Dale.
+Turning Point I love my files, and not since I'm yet to own a milling machine, I've always loved them, and even enjoy shaping surfboard foam or large sections of auto body filler repairs with a "SureForm" to get to rough shapes before blocking. I enjoy shaping things with my hands...Aloha, Chuck
+Gary C
Thanks for your great comments
+Knolltop Farms Yeah it's pretty relaxing sometimes just shaping a piece of material with a simple tool and your eye's. A great deal tougher than it looks tho. And a file WAS the first milling machine. :-)
Nice solution. For mounting on a longer bar, you could make the dovetail the same way, cut a thin slot along the length of the rod in the bottom of the dovetail, and put a small screw sideways through the rod to squeeze the slot shut (clearance hole 1 side of slot, threaded on the other side of slot).
great idea.
Looks like there is more than one way to skin a dovetail. really good vid thanks.
+RPWLKR1
LoL
I just recently discovered your channel and want to say that you do great videos. Your presentation in this and the other videos I've watched so far is delightfully clear and detailed but still quick enough to avoid any desire to skip ahead. Nicely done.
On this one I applaud your quick and easy use of the file to do a job of this sort. I'd also suggest that making the first hogging out cut could have also been easily and quickly done with a small square section file or a combination of a hacksaw and small square file instead of the milling machine. It also would be a suitable option for anyone without a small milling cutter at hand. And it fits in with your idea of using what we have and not feeling like we need every tool out there.
Great job Dale! And I have to say, I did notice a difference in your approach to this video since the survey. Even noticed the metric referencing, MUCH appreciated :) I didn't have to keep pausing for conversions this time LOL
+69hytek
Im glade you like it
Excellent! I would haven given you two thumbs up on this one if we could. Thank you for sharing the design and techniques.
+Glenn Felpel
thank you very very much
Nicely done Dale! It works for me and will be saving that tidbit in my favorites file - no pun intended!!
😀
Great little project, Dale. Thanks for sharing!
+Herb Blair
Thanks for watching
Awesome little tutorial. I also really loved the way you did the fast forwarding with the music behind it. It reminded me a lot of clickspring, which is a great thing actually.
+The Betrayer
What a great compliment, comparing me to Click Spring, Thank you.
Love your videos Dale. I have learned very much from watching and enjoy every one.
thanks for your positive supportive comments :-)
Nice and easy, thanks for the tip.
Nice project, Dale. Thanks!
+Joseph Magedanz
Thanks
Great video and tip. Perfect since I just ordered square and hex collet blocks after the previous video. Thanks!!
+Joey Cloning :-)
Very interesting video, Thanks Dale!
Thanks for that how to dovetail and all your great videos.
Great video Dale.
That is good thinking, make what you need from what you have. Nice project. Thanks for the video.
A nice solution (borrowed from another RUclips creator) for never having the right-sized shank on such an adapter is to make a stepped adapter. You might make one with 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch steps, each about 1/2 inch long. The slight downside is that the smallest diameter step is the one with the longest stick-out, but indicators don't exert much lateral pressure. (You wouldn't want to put such steps on a 1" drill bit it or a face mill.) You might have to come up with a different clamping system if you want a 1/4 inch step on the adapter. A crossing setscrew with a cone point bearing against an angled end on the plunger, maybe.
Another good tip. Thanks again.
Glad I could help
Just what your channel says....very nice tip/trick/instruction! IMO, I like the FF clips!
+outsidescrewball
Thanks
+Metal Tips and Tricks (Dale Derry) Go Dale Lightning! ;)
This is so encouraging.
Nice new stem for the indicator.
+ILGopher
:-)
Nice work Bud!
Thanks
Man I need a mill. With only a 6" atlas lathe I'm pretty limited. Keep up the good work!!!
With a little patience and dedication you could do the whole thing with files and your lathe
The music with the fast speed video makes this one work!
+1dnr91
:-))
Dale, love your videos. Great that you are willing to share. I have a tip for you that may be of benefit. I noticed in this video that your drill bit slips in the chuck from time to time. Also noticed that after inserting the bit you only applied the chuck key to one of three holes. An old timer told me that a three holed chuck should be tightened in each hole. It avoids scoring up the shank of the drill bit, preserves the bite on the chuck jaws, and if my memory serves me correctly, there is better centering of the drill bit or a reamer. Thanks again.
100 per cent correct
Great How to / DIY (Do it yourself) Dale, thanks for sharing, taking the time to to shoot the video, edit, and upload. ;-)
+Stanwood Dave
It my pleasure
'Thought occurred to me , that the holding setscrew could be a knurled thumbscrew; with the diameter slightly less than the shaft diameter . . . * ( No extra tools to use = faster setups ! ) :) Good channel . . . subbed ! Hmmm , come to think of it; the 'setscrew' could be Brass - threaded on one end, with knurling . . . one piece, instead of two ! ( even a simple slot cut into the brass rod would allow it to be 'set' with just a screwdriver ? . . . the options are as varied as the operators' imagination ! Dream it up - then make it COOL ! Cheers Dale !
+georgewocosky
Great comment, thank you
Nice machining music.... reminds me of Abbey on ncis.
Great idea. Will be making that.
This is very good information. I like this video. Thanks for all your knowledge on machining.
I tip my hat to you good sir, that was excellent...
+Guds777
:-)
lart almighty Dale !!!
i need one of these attachment for my test indicator as the one that came with the indicator was a piece of rubbish and fell apart not long after buying the thing. i have looked around for a replacement but with no luck. anyhow, never thought about making one. appreciate the tutorial.
+raymond sinnott
Im glad I could help out
Good job😀 I like the way you think.
+Martjst
:-)
Very nice work.
lol..i created a dovetail on a ms block using only a hacksaw..it fitted perfect..
Thanks real simple my lathe has been set up about two weeks now
+John R Pannell
I hope you get a lot of use out of it.:-)
Making it happen!
Good job! :)
I like it. Thanks for sharing.
+sam yeates
Thank you
This is a great small project.
very nice ,from pakistan
Very cool idea, well done, excellent video. I think the music was fine.
+Bill Wadley
Im glad you like the music :-)
Excellent. That will be my next project. What if you instead of the set screw used a cylinder allen head screw, where the head is about the the same diameter as your holder and have a slight knurl on its head so it can be finger tightened? Just a though, and I don't know if the dimensions match up....
Great episode. keep it up. Thank you.
+joseph sebesta Thanks
Great clip, very informative, cheers Dennis
You're like the Mr. Rogers of machinists!
Great design. I've always had an attitude of accomplishing all I can with the limited resources available, and spending money only as a last resort. Of course that has gotten me into some difficult situations where I should have just spent the money. It's a difficult line to find, both in hobbies and business.
+Jon Miller
Saving money verses saving time is a double edge sword Lol
I think I'll make a few of these thank you.
+Ed G
my pleasure
this is a great problem solving level
Making it happen!
Just takes a little determination :)
Nice video !
Thanks for your video,it's helpful.
You nailed it!!!!
+Joe G
Thank you very much
nice one, also liked the music in the time laps parts :)
+ionsparks
Thanks
Great Idea! Thanks
+David Haxton
Thanks
Love it - great to watch Dale - nice job. :)
+ChrisB257
thanks
I wonder if you would consider building a Sine Bar. It’s something cool and as far as I can tell (I’ve checked and asked) nobody on YT has or will do one. I have you and 2 others to ask. Thanks!!
nice work!
+DoRite Fabrication
:-)
loving the work. if someone only had a 7x14 Chinese lathe would you recommend buying a rs32 or rs40 collet system?
+Shaun Tucker ER32 collet system!
+Shaun Tucker Pick a collet size that is compatible with other machines that you have, if your mill can fit a rs32 that would be my choice, and look into Doubleboost channel, he built a re32 collet holder to fit his lathe, I copied it and it works, so it cannot be that hard.
Cool video
+baggd65 :-)
good job 👍😉
+DEAFBOY80
Thanks
Hi, Been watching your video's recently and have certainly found them very informative and interesting. My qualifications are in commercial diving and electronics, though I have done a verity of machining. Keep up the good work!
+Natalie Gosper
Im glad you fine metal working interesting.
Excellent
Nice. It did not occcur to me that you could file up a small dovetail. For a 45 deg dovetail you would have to hunt up a square file. And thanks for the metric conversions, although for all practical purposes it suffices to give the measurement to the nearest "cent" -- .01 mm which is about .0005". I work in metric, and I appreciate getting my bearings.
+Juan Rivero
Thanks for telling me how far I should carry out the decimal point on the metric system. :-)
The way I remember it is .01 mm is "one cent". A cent is five tenths so "a cent is half a thou".
Good idea with the file.....!!! ;)
+pierre beaudry
Im glad you liked it ;- )
Where do you get the collet setup. U love this style. Can you get it for an MT4 spindle?
+KOR
I don;t know
Cool idea & vid Dale, I may go make a couple of different length one this weekend.
One question though:- Is there an advantage with the locking system you used (with the rod) rather than the outer threaded collar or lock nut that you see on most bought ones?
Cheers, Bo
+Bo Vejby
Yes one big advantage, it easier and faster to make. LOL
+Metal Tips and Tricks (Dale Derry)
Fair E-Nuff. LOL
Hi Dale thanks for your tips ... my question is about the round stock holder in your vise , man that’s super cool !! I am guessing you. Made it ? Please if so or how does it work thanks from a rookie
Again thank you for sharing your knowledge it means a lot to me
Charlie
HI Charlie It"s called a collet block. and you can buy them on ebay or at Shars
Thanks I just located your other video outlining the function and use as well . I just ordered a set Best Regards Charlie
While watching your work at the mill I noticed that you have a raiser on it. What's the advantage and/or disadvantage of having one?
use a lever type dial indicator to find the center of the rod. It's the best way of doing it
GOOD JOB
Thanks
Just an idea, would it have been possible to thread the brass and add a small thumb wheel, rather than having a grub screw?
good job
thanks
I was always wondering how you make those very small dovetails.
+1970chevelle396
I hope that solved your Question
Brass is grabby. Would you use a negative or 0 rake geometry on the bit like a brass drill bit?
I wish you would come back 😢
Your amazing sir
Interesting , Thank You
+zoebaby11ss
Thank you
like the music.
The sped up video selections are great, the music on the other hand seem a little too loud. I can't speak for everyone but I rather like the sound of the machines in motion, even sped up :). Sped? Looks completely wrong but Google says it's right lol.
+Micheal Double I agree. Not sure why creators have to put in the loud music. But great channel and projects.
I dont mind the music but you're right it is a bit louder than the rest of the video.Hopefully he'll address it on newer videos and figure out how to lower it in the editing process.
To be fair all too often people forget these aren't professional productions and that it takes some practice.
Micheal Double sped is better than speededed! 👍😄
I sped alot of time watching this channel. Almost like being in a classroom.
Hi Dale. Did you make the 5C collet chuck for the Enco lathe? I have a similar lathe with a 5MTin the spindle and a D1-4 cam lock and have been interested in building a collet chuck like the one you have. That would be an interesting project for you to show. Thanks, Paul
+Paul Jones
No. I did'nt make the collet holder, It came with lathe.
+Paul Jones Start with a **soft** MT5 to MT3 sleeve and bore the 5C taper with it mounted in the spindle. Shorten it and make a drawbar. Done. About 20 bucks for an unhardened taper adapter last time I looked.
+Jeff Iscool Great tip. Thank you, Paul
Now we have a holder
next episode - "How to build a dial indicator"
+Bob Shepherd
LoL