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Thread: Toolmakers buttons
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21st Jun 2016, 01:08 PM #1Senior Member
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Toolmakers buttons
Good afternoon,
I have been reading recently in old books about the use of toolmakers buttons for precisely locating where to bore a hole.
It's an old technique, and I suppose with the advent of jig borers and digital readouts the technique has died out. Or has it?
Is there any company still making them? I believe commercially available buttons were hardened and ground and very accurately paired.
Thanks,
Joe
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21st Jun 2016, 01:15 PM #2Golden Member
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- Sep 2008
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- Riddells Creek, Vic.
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They are probably still available from Starrett. I made a couple of sets during my apprenticeship and still use them occasionally.
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21st Jun 2016, 01:25 PM #3Most Valued Member
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- Oct 2007
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Joe I don't see any good reason why you shouldn't make your own, and their accuracy would be limited only by the accuracy of the material you use. Much of the traditional techniques relied on tooling that could be made in the workshop and not just bought from a store. Time was cheaper then compared to now! It's possible to think outside the square when searching for accurately ground materials like this, and gudgeon pins are something that I've used for accurately ground material like this. There's likely plenty of other alternatives, and you could always lap anything to the level of accuracy limited only by your patience and measuring capabilities.
My personal knowledge of toolmaker buttons comes when setting up on a lathe faceplate, and that's used so seldom now that I think you'd find few people would use either in general industry. On the mill, as you say, the DRO is now king. Buttons can be VERY time consuming to set up on, but are capable of extremely accurate relative positioning with quite rudimentary equipment.
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21st Jun 2016, 04:16 PM #4Senior Member
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- Melbourne, Victoria
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Thanks, I appreciate the comments. I probably will make a set at some point. I don't have an urgent need for them, but I'd like to start making a clock soon, and I think I can put this technique to good use. I didn't think of gudgeon pin's, that's a good idea.
Thanks,
Joe
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21st Jun 2016, 11:45 PM #5Most Valued Member
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- May 2011
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Gudgeon Pins make good blocks for milling also, beauty is the hole is already in there for clamping.
KrynTo grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
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