Thread: Workholding

I need skim a smidgin off the face of a 3/8" mudguard washer to reduce the thickness.

Any bright ideas on how to hold it securely in either the lathe or mill in order that I can face the entire surface?

I don't have a magnetic vise which would have made the job a doddle.

Originally Posted by Gavin Newman

I need skim a smidgin off the face of a 3/8" mudguard washer to reduce the thickness.

Any bright ideas on how to hold it securely in either the lathe or mill in order that I can face the entire surface?

I don't have a magnetic vise which would have made the job a doddle.

Some rare earth magnets would do the trick, much cheaper than a magnetic vise too!

I have done this many times by drilling a shallow hole about the size of the washer in piece of hardwood place the washer in the hole and then upend onto a beltsander.

!!! WARNING - NON-OHS compliant method !!!!
I have also just held washers on a belt sander using my fingernails - problem is they get bloody hot! You get a free fingernail trim in the processl

If you don't happen to have a belt sander.

Ditto the hole in the board -then superglue-
Board is held in chuck and ever so lightly skimmed.
any successive skim's done after a cooling period.

Heat lightly with soldering iron to release superglue.


Use decent superglue-the crap brand didn't work.
Worked for me.

Extra hint -have some bloody patience and don't forget anything (such as the washer is hot) in your rush to reclaim skimmed washer that you have just heated ..

Grahame

Using Loctite to glue it to a piece of steel also works..

Thanks for all the suggestions, that'll get me going tonight. .RC.- any idea what grade loctite?

Rgds - Gavin

Depending on how many of these washers you need to take a (smidgen) off the price of the loctite adhesives are between $8-$45.
The cheaper being a Super glue and the others a small bottle.
Look at the locite web site or other allternatives.

Originally Posted by Gavin Newman

Thanks for all the suggestions, that'll get me going tonight. .RC.- any idea what grade loctite?

Rgds - Gavin

I cannot remember wht grade I used Gavin, probably one of the retaining compounds...Superglue would be cheaper but I usually have loctite on hand but no superglue..

You can face a short piece of round steel in the lathe and wthout removing the steel, glue the washer on with epoxy glue. Very carefull and gently, face it off. Remove with heat. By far the best way is described below.

Drill and tap a UNC1/4-20 thread in the end of the same short bar. The stubby bar should be about the same OD of the washer to be thinned. Make a clamping washer with a small ledge on it that will fit the hole of the 3/8 washer and hold the washer assembly with a cap screw. Make the clamp washer about 1mm (.040") bigger in diameter than the hole in the washer you are thinning and then face off the amount you need. When you get to the clamp washer, keep machining and face off the whole lot. When the clamp washer is machined away, the washer you want will fall off. There will be a small burr around the hole that you can simply remove with a fine file or even an oilstone. This is the cheapest way and the most accurate way. It take only a few minutes to make the assembly. Face the threaded stub off before clamping the washer to it. This will ensure that the washer is parallel. The big plus is that your fingers stay the same length and remain cool. Have done this many times, works great, quick and easy.

Kody

Thanks all for your help, rushed home from work and tried Kody's last method - worked a treat and the job is done. I'm going to try the other methods on the weekend when I have more time (and hopefully it's a bit cooler int he workshop - it's currently about 43 C at the lathe) so I have a number of different ways next time I need to do this.

Rgds - Gavin