And don't use WD40/penetrating oil to spray down the bed when your done, it dries really sticky and if you finish your work with a file or emery clothe it may cause problems. That stuff is like sand. Any 30 weight oil works awesome( it's what I use). What assories did you get with your lathe?
Lets learn how to make titanium nails and dabbers!
- Thread starter researchkitty
- Start date
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
Planned to spend tonight working on the lathe, ended up waiting at the vet's for 3 hours for a dog to get stitches in his eye. Little bastards like to fight!
Spent a couple hours tonight setting up the tool heads and figuring out what other "stuff" I need.
Made part of an aluminum nail (obviously, not for use, the aluminum would be the very very wrong material for lighting on fire
), but found I need to get a wheel to make some tools as the ones come with it arent even sharpened. There's a place called LittleMachineShop.com that sells pre-ground ones for a few dollars each, also need a parting tool and a few other small things.
Learned a lot today, tomorrow the aluminum and titanium grade 2h stock comes in tomorrow!
Spent a couple hours tonight setting up the tool heads and figuring out what other "stuff" I need.
Made part of an aluminum nail (obviously, not for use, the aluminum would be the very very wrong material for lighting on fire
), but found I need to get a wheel to make some tools as the ones come with it arent even sharpened. There's a place called LittleMachineShop.com that sells pre-ground ones for a few dollars each, also need a parting tool and a few other small things.Learned a lot today, tomorrow the aluminum and titanium grade 2h stock comes in tomorrow!
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
Thats how I started, too.I wish I had as much time as you guys....
Just picking up machining... and glass blowing....wow..
Most I've done is just "pick up growing"
You'll graduate in time, too! 
Yay! Titanium is here! Grade 2.
dankshizzle
Glassblowing Moderator
Is that titanium expensive?
dankshizzle
Glassblowing Moderator
wheres your videos of you doing it? what am i missing? i seen the h.f. instructional videos
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
It's about $30 for a 12" long rod 1/2" in diameter. Shits very expensive.
Those werent me............. BUt thanks
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
Tooling on these lathes is pretty unique to learn. Apparently the bits you buy in stores to cut the metal with, even though they are carbide tipped and look sharp to start, need to be ground and sharpened before using on a lathe. You use different tools for facing, making tapers, making shoulders, cutting off, threading, etc.... Each tool post holds four tools as long as the tools go in the same direction on the holder. Now I have two tool posts with the proper tools on them, ground sharp as shit and ready to go. I used a tin snipper and a mountain dew can for shims by recommendation of LittleMachineShop.com (<---- Awesome ppl & site) and spent a few hours getting everything perfect.
Everything is centered, ready to cut.
Even though the titanium is here, I want to work on making dabbers and dabber stands before working on the nails themselves. They are much easier to learn on and shape. I've got a few notebook pages full of ideas for new nail designs that I think would be real fun. Tomorrow a pile of aluminum arrives, and I'll be working on that in the afternoon.
Here's the tooling all set and level and sharp ready to cut......
Everything is centered, ready to cut.
Even though the titanium is here, I want to work on making dabbers and dabber stands before working on the nails themselves. They are much easier to learn on and shape. I've got a few notebook pages full of ideas for new nail designs that I think would be real fun. Tomorrow a pile of aluminum arrives, and I'll be working on that in the afternoon.
Here's the tooling all set and level and sharp ready to cut......
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
HE is the best product on the market right now. I do, however, dislike their dabbers. Its tiny, 3 inches long. I lose it all the time. Its also too thin and tends to bend at the tip, and bending titanium isnt recommended, bending it back has a good chance of breaking them. For the 1/8" stock they need for the dabbers, they should be 5 inches long. Its OK, mine will be.I'd love some cheap dabbers...
I love my HE dabber but they retail $20.... But I still bought a spare to keep in the drawer in case I loose my main
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
No clue! I wouldnt expect anything from me titanium-wise for a few weeks though, theres a lot to learn.
Purplestickeypunch
Active Member
Yep. It will happen so fast you will have time to see the inner workings of your hand before it starts to bleed. Don't fret, you'll probably pass out soon afterwards though
I'd add ponytails, necklaces, long sleeves, hell a shirt tail can cause you to have a bad day at the lathe.
Might suggest adding a foot pedal switch. One that you must stand on to allow the motor to run.
dankshizzle
Glassblowing Moderator
Can't wait to see how this goes!
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
First titanium dabber and aluminum stand..... Gettin there!
dankshizzle
Glassblowing Moderator
Awesome! That didn't take long!!
jdro
Well-Known Member
I like. Sold.
First titanium dabber and aluminum stand..... Gettin there!
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
Thats just the first one! Wait till I learn to cut em nicer and really polish cut them too.
By the way -- the titanium dabber is real rough -- the dabber stock I ordered is the wrong grade, grade 5, which cuts like steel. Grade 2 is what titanium we use for oil, since its the purest grade with the best heat properties available. The stands most likely will be all in aluminum, with an aluminum dabber or titanium dabber, and I'd like to get a multi-dabber stand one to hold the dabber one for a shovel for scraping dishes etc..........
Ok back to the lathe....
By the way -- the titanium dabber is real rough -- the dabber stock I ordered is the wrong grade, grade 5, which cuts like steel. Grade 2 is what titanium we use for oil, since its the purest grade with the best heat properties available. The stands most likely will be all in aluminum, with an aluminum dabber or titanium dabber, and I'd like to get a multi-dabber stand one to hold the dabber one for a shovel for scraping dishes etc..........
Ok back to the lathe....