Knurling tool - Chronos

[MattF]

Just wondered if anyone may have used one of these knurling tools from Chronos, and if so, do they do a decent enough job?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370501443264

 

[BrokenBiker]

we have 1 in college.

i dont like it personally, but others do.

i prefer this type

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marlco-Kn...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item33759e3617

 

[wrinx]

I would always use the second clamp type, it puts less strain on the lathe.

wrinx

 

[hotrodder]

Scott made detailed posts on the whys, hows, and cons of the non clamp type in this thread... http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=26225&highlight=knurling

 

[gavuk]

For the record ,i had only ever used the self centring knurlers ,at work and college, for nearly 30 years and had good results ,but my purchase was to go with a small Harrison L5 lathe at home, I choose to protect its bearings and chuck and went for the clamp style.
Within their size limitations they are great,for smaller lathes and smaller work they are better than a self centring for all the reasons Scott points out ,I'm happy with mine

 

[MattF]

Cheers chaps. So the likes of these would be okay then?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330701738225
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230781681274

How do you use those. Tighten up the top nut so that the wheels are touching the piece, and then just apply more pressure via that top nut to increase the depth of knurl?

 

[gavuk]

How do you use those. Tighten up the top nut so that the wheels are touching the piece, and then just apply more pressure via that top nut to increase the depth of knurl?

check out this video...KNURLING

check out RDG as well for knurlers

 

[Ed.]

I have 2 sets of them from Chronos in the scisser style, only used 1 so far but it did a good job.

 

[hareng]

I use a much bigger type than that Matt http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370501443264 Must have had it 20 yrs 3 pitch design.
Had it on my toy lathe and Harrison 140 and M300
No need to centre and not limited on what diameter to be knurled. I often knurl the outer face course pitch on 5 to 6" diameter round.

Video above, wheels not centred. Well the bottom wheel is. It would keep p ing me off winding in and out to get some where near on every diameter to be knurled. Then limited to conventional bar knurling up to a certain max diameter.
Very flimsy as well, look at it twisting.

 

[the artfull-codger]

I use a much bigger type than that Matt http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370501443264 Must have had it 20 yrs 3 pitch design.
Had it on my toy lathe and Harrison 140 and M300
No need to centre and not limited on what diameter to be knurled. I often knurl the outer face course pitch on 5 to 6" diameter round.

Video above, wheels not centred. Well the bottom wheel is. It would keep p ing me off winding in and out to get some where near on every diameter to be knurled. Then limited to conventional bar knurling up to a certain max diameter.
Very flimsy as well, look at it twisting.

you have the best of both worlds with the clamp type,you can knurl very small diameters by clamping above & below which you can't do with conventional knurls as the work will snap, then you can knurl any diameter you want by forcing it in as a conventional one with the wheels opened up & not clamping above & below.
slan go fol.

 

[MattF]

I use a much bigger type than that Matt http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370501443264 Must have had it 20 yrs 3 pitch design.
Had it on my toy lathe and Harrison 140 and M300
No need to centre and not limited on what diameter to be knurled. I often knurl the outer face course pitch on 5 to 6" diameter round.

Had another several hours of indecision after reading that. I ended up opting for the clamp type for the moment though, mainly because I'm specifically wanting it to do just a small brass piece, (a HT lead securing nut for a spark plug), that I'm working on at the moment, and can't see it being one of those things I'll be using too frequently, (famous last words ). Think I'm going to get one of those rotary jobbies with the three sets of wheels at some point too though. That's the type you have? They do look quite handy to save phaffing about changing wheels.

Very flimsy as well, look at it twisting.

Aye, I noticed that too. There was a hell of a lot of movement in that one in that video. Definitely didn't look too healthy, did it.

Cheers for all the advice btw chaps. It's greatly appreciated.

 

[hareng]

you have the best of both worlds with the clamp type,you can knurl very small diameters by clamping above & below which you can't do with conventional knurls as the work will snap/QUOTE]

Cant do face or angled knurling with clamp type thats what you do see any about.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/728921/1243581/384848217.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/728921/1243489/400969300.jpg
I do 100's just one weeks work http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/728921/1243489/401567390.jpg

With mine probably could do as low as 1/4" dia and self centring, simples just use a revolving centre. Regularly do 1/2" dia course unsupported with hole up middle.

Granted clamp type ok for the odd knurl jobby or a set repetitive diameter knurl but will flex then in x direction. Mainly due to the extra two joints.
In fact mine flexes 1 1/4" deep x 5/8" wide could do with a more substantial non chinese fixed one like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zeus-Form...364?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41654cdcfc

Knurls tend to displace the material rather than cut in to, take a measurement before and after.
Always find brass the easiest but hate the stuff.

Swings and roundabouts decent choice Matt.

 

[the artfull-codger]

I have a few of the conventional type but I wouldn't call my ''marlco'' clamp type knurling tool ''o-k for the odd knurl jobby'', it's a professional tool all case hardened steel, with no flexing,they're good for up to 4"" in dia, we allways used them at college,probably not made now, good old fasioned british engineering at it's best, I find alloy the easiest to knurl followed by brass & allways use coolant to flush away the inevitable bits that come off as we were taught to do at college.
slan go fol