DIY Brass Scriber, Clickspring Inspired

[AJ.]

HI all, first post here. I posted this little project over on the Garage Journal forum and Grahame Collins suggested I come and check out this forum, so here I am.

I watched a youtube video some time ago by and Australian machinist and clock maker that goes by the name of Clickspring, if you haven't seen any of his videos then do yourself a favour and look them up, he is brilliant.


Anyway one of his videos is for a brass scriber which I have based this project on, mine is made slightly differently because I only used what I had lying around to get the job done.


First off I needed some brass rod, which I didn't have, but I did have a couple of old tap spindles that were brass :)


https://s14.postimg.org/u6557oowh/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


In the Video Chris used a sewing needle for his scriber tip, I didn't have any of those either, but I do have a heap of very small thread taps that I got in a lot deal off Ebay some time ago, they are really small and SAE so I will never use them, except for scriber tips :)


https://s14.postimg.org/gp86ot6v5/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


I needed to join the 2 spindles together, and obviously that would leave a join in the middle of my scriber, rather than try and hide it I thought I would highlight it, so I used a piece fo 6mm Aluminium in the centre as a contrast to the brass. It probably didn't contrast as much as I would have liked, but it turned out fine none the less. I used some 6mm all thread in the join, the tap spindles already had a hole from where the washer fitted in, so I didn't even need to drill, just tap the thread.


https://s14.postimg.org/z4snm80f5/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


Then screw it all together with some Loctite to hold it.


https://s14.postimg.org/fa6m048cx/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


Then it was into the lathe to turn it to size which is a nominal 9mm diameter, diam is not critical so I didn't even measure it. then taper the end and put some grooves in the handle for extra grip, sorry forgot to take photos whilst machining.


I drilled a hole in one end for the thread tap to be inserted, it was an interference fit so I had to hammer it home making it a nice tight fit. I then shaped and sharpened the tip on the lathe using a flap disc on the angle grinder.


https://s14.postimg.org/dv51beuf5/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


And the end result.


https://s14.postimg.org/75q86t53l/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


https://s14.postimg.org/9n1ze3jv5/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)





Cheers Andrew

[Grahame Collins]

Hi AJ,

Welcome to our MetalWork Forums,

Thank you for your post on your scriber.The notion of using an old tap spindle in lieu of a new bit of expensive and hard to get material (at least in my neck of the woods) is an awesome idea.:2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

The project certainly hooks my attention as I do have an interest in making small metalworking handtools and because it is an excellent example of the repurposing of a usually discarded or scrapped item and then transforming it into a tool which is useful but also visually appealing.
Please keep an eye out for a PM in which I'll send some links to help you understand and operate within the forum.

Clickspring is mentioned here in our forum on a regular basis.

Again a very big welcome

Grahame

[BobL]

Great job. I also like repurposing stuff and have used brass plumbing fittings in lost of my projects.

[jack620]

Nice job. I would never have believed that scriber came out of two tap spindles if I hadn't seen the progress shots.

[red box]

HI all, first post here. I posted this little project over on the Garage Journal forum and Grahame Collins suggested I come and check out this forum, so here I am.

I watched a youtube video some time ago by and Australian machinist and clock maker that goes by the name of Clickspring, if you haven't seen any of his videos then do yourself a favour and look them up, he is brilliant.


Anyway one of his videos is for a brass scriber which I have based this project on, mine is made slightly differently because I only used what I had lying around to get the job done.


First off I needed some brass rod, which I didn't have, but I did have a couple of old tap spindles that were brass :)


https://s14.postimg.org/u6557oowh/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


In the Video Chris used a sewing needle for his scriber tip, I didn't have any of those either, but I do have a heap of very small thread taps that I got in a lot deal off Ebay some time ago, they are really small and SAE so I will never use them, except for scriber tips :)


https://s14.postimg.org/gp86ot6v5/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


I needed to join the 2 spindles together, and obviously that would leave a join in the middle of my scriber, rather than try and hide it I thought I would highlight it, so I used a piece fo 6mm Aluminium in the centre as a contrast to the brass. It probably didn't contrast as much as I would have liked, but it turned out fine none the less. I used some 6mm all thread in the join, the tap spindles already had a hole from where the washer fitted in, so I didn't even need to drill, just tap the thread.


https://s14.postimg.org/z4snm80f5/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


Then screw it all together with some Loctite to hold it.


https://s14.postimg.org/fa6m048cx/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


Then it was into the lathe to turn it to size which is a nominal 9mm diameter, diam is not critical so I didn't even measure it. then taper the end and put some grooves in the handle for extra grip, sorry forgot to take photos whilst machining.


I drilled a hole in one end for the thread tap to be inserted, it was an interference fit so I had to hammer it home making it a nice tight fit. I then shaped and sharpened the tip on the lathe using a flap disc on the angle grinder.


https://s14.postimg.org/dv51beuf5/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


And the end result.


https://s14.postimg.org/75q86t53l/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


https://s14.postimg.org/9n1ze3jv5/image.jpg (https://postimages.org/)





Cheers AndrewNice work. I use worn chainsaw chain files - they are long enough to grind both a pointed & a chisel end. Only a couple of minutes work.

Sent from my CPH1701 using Tapatalk

[AJ.]

Thanks guys, lucky I took progress shots as evidence hey :)

I probably have heaps of other old projects and some current major projects that might interest you guys, I will post some more stuff up when I get a chance.

Cheers Andrew

[China]

I have been entertaining the idea of making a scriber since using buy commercial one as a pry bar proved fatal, I know just where a couple of old tap spindles are hiding
the notion of using old tap spindles never would have entered my head

[BaronJ]

Hi Guys,

Nice work on the scriber.

I regularly raid the local scrap yard for bits and pieces of material, and sometimes find bits of useful gear as well !

[chambezio]

Yep certainly agree with the methodology behind the making of the scriber. Using the tap, I would have tapped the hole using the said tap, screwed in in tight then sharpened it to suit. That way if the steel part was to have a mishap you could unscrew it and replace it with another tap and reshape.....just a thought

[AJ.]

Yep certainly agree with the methodology behind the making of the scriber. Using the tap, I would have tapped the hole using the said tap, screwed in in tight then sharpened it to suit. That way if the steel part was to have a mishap you could unscrew it and replace it with another tap and reshape.....just a thought

Yeah well that would have been the smart way to go about it, but I never claimed to be smart :rolleyes:

Cheers Andrew

[Nrcollar]

was the pics removed or am I missing something?
Nelson

[Grahame Collins]

was the pics removed or am I missing something?
Nelson

I think those pics may be from an external source and something beyond the control of this Forum has occurred.

Possibly some of our members may have been impressed enough to copy the pics and might post them for us.

< EDIT> I have completed a Google search and found 2 other forums where it was posted and the same has occurred- No pics

I found the following in Google images -this was one of the pics in the original article.

Grahame


374462

[Nrcollar]

I believe Chris would very satisfied with you gorgeous tool.
Wonderful job, enjoy you new tool.
Nelson