atconut
Member
- Messages
- 521
I recently got a Harrison lathe and i found myself short of a chuck key for the four jaw chuck. i tried all the chuck keys i have but none fitted. so being a Yorkshireman (not wanting to part with cash) i thought i'd make one. How hard can it be? well i picked up some what i thought was stainless bar 3/4 dia about a foot long years ago thought i'd use that. well i turned it but boy was it hard. it seemed to be really hard but only about 1mm in. after a close look i think it had been case hardened. I had one of those YOU WON'T BEAT ME moments. knackered two carbide tips turning it the swarf was glowing yellow. had to drill the hole with carbide endmills anyway it turned out ok in the end. so beware what you buy. If anyone see's superman i've got his kriptonite