This is a metal and wood project. I originally made the the 2J collet holding block while working in the tool room many years ago. It is precision ground tool for use on a surface grinder to put 2, 4,or 6 flats on a punch or any round piece it will hold. It uses 2J collets and I used the ones they had in the tool room. I had it stashed away for years since I did not have an collets for it nor a surface grinder. I retrieved it and thought I could use it to machine wood and metal parts with it in my mill and looked into a set of 2J collets and they were very expensive ( 7 were almost $300). So I found way around that. I turned a 2J collet made to accept nylon inserts that I made to whatever size I needed. So I have been making the inserts as the need arises. They are not as accurate as the original collets but do very well for what I make in the shop. The collet is inserted into the block and they is a key inside to align with the keyway on the collet. After putting in the proper bushing and part, I tighten the collet in with the wrench I made for it. Now having all these parts around made a need for a box to store all this stuff.. The box is made in my usual style of lock mitering and gluing 6 pieces together and then cutting the curve on the bandsaw. I made provisions for the block, the wrench and room for a whole lot more inserts (I presently have only 6). This gives an idea of how it is used: Cheers, JIm
Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day
This is the top of the storage box food chain. Awesome Jim
I feel so inadequate. I'm using a pre-used plastic tub that at one time held oleomargarine to hold the few collets, and reducers I have. A total shop storage failure I am....
Thank you all for all the nice comments. I make most of my stuff out of necessity and I make it to last. When you go from a tool room, where you have some of the best equipment ,to your own shop, there is a big drop in capability and accuracy that you are used to. Slowly I'm adding more stuff to improve the capability and accuracy without going broke doing it.
Hi Larry. I have a machinist tool box full of precision tools I made in the shop. I worked nights for a lot of years and always had 2 or 3 machines running at the same time- one for the company job and 2 for my "government" work. There were just 2 of us on at night and we both made personal tools all the time...and I was the heat treat guy at night so everything was hardened and ground!! I'll post a few more of them some time! Lumberjocks was just wood stuff so they never got posted there!
Hi Ryan. I have set of R8 collets for my mill but they are a lot cheaper to buy than those 2 J collets and they don't go up to 1 1/2". When I got out of the shop and into Quality Assurance I knew I'd need some machine tools at home since I did not have access to them at work. I bought a mill and a metal lathe and use them all the time.
Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day