Thank you very much! That's much faster and more efficient than some of the other techniques I've seen. I was brought up as part of the CNC generation - taught at school to program CNC machines long before we learned about manual machines - our teachers were very good and doing the best they could to prepare us for the future, money and resources were very tight and it saved a lot of money if we wrote CNC programs that our teacher could assess on a simulator instead of making parts from stock on manual machines - but when I only need a prototype for development and testing or 2 or 3 copies of something then making it on a manual machine is much faster than writing a program and tooling up a CNC machine. For my generation your videos are hugely valuable!
Hi Joe. Erik Louw again from South Africa. I never but never found any one of your lessons not very interesting. As a hobbiest I can follow and the way you explain make it also understandable for the novice. What I like most is the fact that you don't try to get a long video with all nitty gritty information. It is right to the point. Sometimes I battle with inch measurements, because most of the time we work here in metric. Keep up the good work.
Old Austin hobby machinist here. I made a custom height gauge years ago, but I'm glad I watched until the end. That file handle trick is just what I need! Thank you.
Great post my friend. This is likely the most important thing when setting up to use a lathe. If I ever find out who took the piece of metal straping from my tool tray I will declare a hanging, LOL. That trick of using an old, dead file as a hardware holder on the tool post id brilliant. THanks big time teach. Yer full of neat tricks for us tonight. Ya rock fella ! Take care teach. Your mentormship is so vry much appreciated EH !
One thing I have noticed mostly is how clean your shop is!!! Impressive! I work with a bunch of engineers and they always leave things lying around. Keeping a shop clean and organized saves frustration and is so functionally useful whenever you walk in!
Great info! I was also taught to use the tailstock in school. The tang of the file trick to me is plain old common sense, but I bet it's a Eureka moment for a lot of folks. I guess thats why your videos are always appealing..... a healthy dose of good old common sense is a valuable tool.
Hey Joe You are unbelievable. For many years I've been at the lathe, and still before the youtube channel file. So, I'm not inexperienced and not so young anymore. Here and there I see a different way of solutions. And that's exactly what I like most about your movies... Hugo - Belgium - W-VL
Every time i watch one of your videos, something like this tip comes up and i feel like an idiot. Why didn't i think of that. Like the videos almost as much as reducing material to chips!!
You describe my problem exactly, my tools are too high. Thanks for showing me, this is the most important lesson to learn, when new in lathing and owning a lathe. Mine will not cut properly, and it feels like I'm pushing the material. Thanks again for this.
You are the man. I have more fun with my lathe and I still have both my eyes and all 10 fingers due to things learned on your channel. Much thanks and cheers from Boston
Another great tip, Joe! Made one in less than 20 minutes and wonder how I got along without one! I have not commented before, but this little tool tip is so basic and so useful I finally had to say something. Thanks!
never used a different method.........a great thing to have in our tool box........must say worked at many factories over many many years,,,,,,,,,, when I have made the gauge a good many thought I was being a smart ass,,,,,,,, keep it up chap
Hi, I've got to say that I love your channel. I have had my lathe about 5 years and my mini mill for about 2years and I only found out about your channel this year. I would say that I have learnt more this year than in all the time I had my machines thanks to your teaching technique. I am a "why is it so" type of person. I enjoyed this video and will shortly be making one for my lathe. I liked the dial gauge holder that you have and looked to purchase one myself but they are no longer produced and while others make a similar one they don't appear as good. Also by the time I get one in Australia the cost looks like being over $300 for a magnetic mount. I saw that someone else asked if you could give us a breakdown of yours so we could machine one and I to would like to ask that and I am sure that there are others you would like to do it too. Cheers Mark
As someone who has made a career of fixing pointless complexity, I have a special appreciation for simplicity. This tool does just one thing, but does it perfectly. Half an hour's work; good for a lifetime. Great idea
I can't express how much help you are and the simple and easy to understand teaching methods you employ to make it easier to understand. I'm looking at property around Austin wanting to move from the Kansas City area. Retired from Bayer Corp. engineering maintenance machine shop area after 37 years. Maybe I'll get to meet you, you have definately been a great help as I have a small machine shop I built in my downstairs. Thank You very much.
Look me up when you roll into town. Property around here is getting extremely expensive with Apple and Tesla moving in and Dell already here. Outside city limits is still affordable if you don't mind country living.
Great video,Joe.I made the tool height gauge from 1 1/2 yellow brass because, it was easier than turning down a 3” bar of aluminum and,it’s heavier. I keep it in a pvc pipe with foam rubber glued inside the end caps.Thank you for the video.
Joe, my name is Carlo Piaia one of the places I used to work at was Tydeman Machine Works in Redwood City and they had a tool height adjustment tool, that was approximately an inch or so in diameter, after they found the Center Height they attached another piece of material the same diameter, and offset it by about a quarter inch and reattached it with a 1/4-20 cap screw the so you could measure right side- up tools and upside down tools. Thanks Joe I like your videos
Great Video, Great Tip - I even bought that US General 387 magnetic base (@ 5:53) Great tip (@ 7:57) on using the old file tang, too! Thank You - Joe Pie - you have taught us all a lot! Please keep posting the great videos.
Another good one Joe Nice white-board and live demo, it's not the length it's the content especially when you're not gloating about new tools, new stuff, look at my machines, ya ta, ya ta. There's a place for that but it's about gettin things done. Come'on guys let's get those subs up for Joe.
Greetings Joe, Yes, I am a fan. Please keep up the good work. Iam a hobbyist willing to learn. I would like to make a recommendation in regard to the "Setting the lathe tools on center" video. In addition to feeling the tool height, which is neat, I lower the work light behind the standard and bridge a scale to the tool. Now setting the proper height is easy. Now I see the light! Regards, Rod D.
Hey Joe, Love your channel, I am a very experienced machinist but there is always something to be learned from others. This video shoes a great way to accurately set center height on tools, I agree it is most important. When I had a production shop I had exclusively Hardinge machines and they made an adjustable center height tool similar to yours, it had a top piece that folded out for setting upside down tools. Your method of setting the gauge is so simple and easy, great job.
I like your idea but what I did was turn a piece of stock in the lathe and measured the diameter divided that by 2 and wrote it down. I then set a height gauge on my cross slide and measured the distance from the top of my cross slide and the top of the stock I turned. Next I took the number I wrote down and subtracted that from the distance I measured, that is the center of the stock in the lathe. It was 3.781. Now all I have to do is use my height gauge to set my cutting tool at 3.781. Works better than anything else I have done and it is very fast. Parting is a breeze now. Thanks for you videos they are informative and from someone that knows what they are doing.
pbysome No, not really. By turning the material gently in the lathe you are guaranteed that it is accurately centred on the lathe axis. It's one of the few cases where there is no tolerance - at least above a molecular level. It can't be anything else due to the lathe geometry. Far more accurate than using a pin in a collet, or worse, a three jaw chuck. and not everyone has accurately ground pins to hand either. Joe's method is good if you have a pin but no height gauge. In fact you can afford to be around minus 10 thou off centre without too much trouble. 30 thou is far too much though. Under height is better than over height, much less chance of a dig in. Bob UK.
Hi Joe, This was one of the first machining projects I did, and still to this day is one of the best centering tools I own and use. Love the cut file tip, priceless man, thanks for sharing! Regards, Ray
Great idea Joe! I've been using an old height gauge I found laying around our shop to center the tools for my protrak lathe, but need one for my bigger lathe too. Im making one of yours tomorrow! Like your videos!
Excellent tool Joe. I made one of these yesterday and reset several of my tools. Some of my BXA quick change blocks won't go down quite far enough to center the tool and I may have to grind the bottoms a little to lower the tools on center. But at least now I know for sure what the height needs to be! Thanks, and please keep the videos coming!
Joe, you always explain things so clearly! Hardinge lathes used to come with a similar post specific to each particular machine, only those had a cap on them so you could use the underside to see if the tool was too high and the top of the post proper if it was too low. I once saw a guy use a neat trick to center a tool - take your 6" scale and trap it between the tool and the work. Look from the tailstock toward the spindle. If the scale is vertical, you're on center. If the upper end is toward the right, it's too high. To the left, too low. Not as precise as Joe's method, but really quick more effective than it would seem. Of course, Joe's method is dead nuts accurate and very quick once you have your post.
Hi Joe, I love your videos - such innovative thinking please don't stop making them. I was a design engineer on the space shuttle main engines for Rocketdyne. We had a special projects machine shop that had three guys that were master machinists. I dropped in there any chance I got just to watch how these guys did things and to pick their brains regarding how to change a design to make the part as efficiently as possible. You would have fit right in there with those guys. One fellow was an old German tool and die maker - he thought outside the box just like you. Thanks for all the time you spend making these videos - I've been machining parts in my side design and prototype parts business for about 45 years now and you have taught me some great tips - which goes to show you're never too old to keep learning. Thank you.
Little tools like this are real time-savers. I made a square-U with the base of the U flat and parallel to the tips. I hold the tips against the face of my lathe chuck, straddling a jaw. The base gives me a parallel surface I can use to align the angle of my QC toolpost, especially the parting tool. I also made a dedicated little jack for my dividing head that lets me set the chuck exactly horizontal in a snap. The list goes on! Now that I'm old and senile, I need to label all these tools so I will know what they're for when I haven't used them in a year! Love your channel.
Joe, I am an apprentice to the machine trade and find your videos very helpful. Thank you for sharing your great tips and vast experience with all of us . Looking forward to future videos.
Hey Joe, I found a very similar indicator holder to yours and love it. Mine is called "Erick Magna Model 200" They can be found on Amazon as well as other vendors. I just wanted to pass the work along in case someone would like to pick one up. I have found them easier to use than the Noga style that seem so popular now. Thanks for all of your great content.
Excellent. The tips are really great for those of us who are on a steep learning curve. The white board preps are vital to my understanding. I watch your video, move out to the garage and use the demo once again, as needed, to attempt to repeat your demo. While doing this I also keep a notebook of certain things I wish to recall. Your videos are well designed for this type of learning. Many thanks.
I always wanted to learn how to use machining tools but nover got around to learning .After looking at one of your vid and illustrations you have ignited that old flame ,Amazing teacher you are Mr J.P Thanks for taking the time out to teach the world , I cant stop watching the vids.Excellent
Thanks Joe. That is a good way to do it. Adding to that theme, you can add a little overhang, even with the top of your reference pin, to help you reach to where the cutter is. No more than 1/2” or so works well.
Joe- made one of these and I'm getting way better surface finish, parting is a breeze, and it makes working on the lathe so much better. Never realized how off center my tools were and what a difference it makes. This is a must have tool for anybody with a lathe.
Good info and video. We were on vacation in Mobile Alabama and I got a chance to observe two machinist working on two 15" swing lathe's with lantern style tool post. They both had a standard like the one you made but the had a small piece of steel, bolted on the top, that overhung on one side so when they changed to a different tool they could swing the compound over and under the overhang. That set the tool height, then lock the tool down, then swing the compound back to the part and lock it down and start cutting. Thanks again. You can use a small drill drift to lock that knurled nut also.
Another brilliant idea/video!! I've had the live centre in the middle of a part and needed to set/check tool height (which of course I should have done before chucking up the part). Thanks
Great advice and the file tang trick is a gem and why I have started watching your channel. I made a Hardinge-style tool height gage knock-off and use it every day for the tool setups. I like your short and to the point videos.
Thanks again, Joe. Just made one of these center gauges today for my 40's Atlas 10", and you're right - it's a simple solution that works great! It took me some time to "sneak" the 6061 round stock to the precise length a few thou at a time, but I can't thank you enough. Most precise gauge I've ever used for setting tool height!
Joe, There are several terrific machinists on you tube. You are one of the best! Your teaching style makes seemingly complicated things very easy. I look forward to all of your videos! Thank you for sharing you wealth of knowledge. All the best, John
nice technique for setting tools, another quick way i found is to lightly pinch a small piece of sheet stock between the cutter and your part then adjust tool height until the sheet stock is pointing vertical.
Small stuff like that centering gage can mean so much in the quality of finish work not to mention insert tool life and time saved in setup, where in the end your tool is actually on center and not ( close enough). Thanks Joe,
More expert tips. Thank you! For me, the reason I find these tips so valuable is that you include simple to understand, yet very detailed explanations and descriptions. You are an amazing craftsman and teacher. I really appreciate the effort and time you take to organize your thoughts and share them in such a seamless way. That only happens for those who really know the subjects they are presenting. All the best to you! Joel.....
great vids Joe over the pass 35 years i have passed so much information on myself and set up can't be stressed enough take time and make a jig or fixture to aide in their set ups just small things like this will aide someone that has struggle keep up the great work
Long time viewer/subscriber. Once I got done cracking up over how obvious the two ball trick is but *only in retrospect*, I felt like an 2x idiot for not having watched this when it came out - I needed that. Thanks again, Joe!
Joe, that pin method is sheer brilliance in it's simplicity! And that file tang taper squeeze play is a good thing to remember. When I was manufactured engineer at one of the companies I worked at.... I had this one machinist that kept all of his nails trimmed except one pinky nail - which he usually let grow out to one quarter of an inch. It was his "educated measuring nail". He could run along the surface and tell the surface finish as good as the surface finish standard would do..... And he would use it for matching surface heights like you did with your finger. Personally I prefer my index fingernail! 🤗
Joe, thanks for another awesome video. I’ve been watching your very informative content for only a few weeks now and have learned so much already. I look forward to exploring more! Keep up the good work! 👍
This is an excellent tool. The best I could muster (for those tools which permit it) was to trap a thick shim between the tool tip and the workpiece to form a tangent. When it was on center the tangent was vertical, off center off vertical. I like your idea better. Thank you again.
Many do that, but depending on the grind and which surface you bump against, the tool could still be off. Always set the tool for the operation being performed.
Very useful tip! I'm making one tomorrow. Also, love the magnetic indicator holder with the quick release. And, the file trick for holding the thumb nut is great. Cool video.
Another good video. Your comment about storing things on the head stock is a good one. After an incident that took out one of my flourescent lights I vowed to limit the clutter on top the lathe. I took a cafeteria tray and screwed it to a tall bar stool. I can put all the tools I need for a job on another tray, carry it over and it nests nicely into the one thats screwed to the stool. Portable table at a good height. I have found the trays very handy for keeping tooling for different jobs layed out and ready to go. Easy to clean, easy to store. A guy could mount one to the headstock easily enough so other trays nest on it. Just an idea that worked for me.
I too have seen tools launched by chuck jaws. They just go bam and disappear. Just wait for a second and you'll hear it hit somewhere if its not sticking out of your chest or forehead. I stage my measuring tools and cutting tools on 2 separate rags on my bench.
The height tool is neat. I made mine out of two 1/2 inch bolts. Of course I faced the bolts off. I joined them in an extra long nut used to join all thread. I put two jam nuts on it to lock it in place. I'm not a "machinist" but have operated lathes for 20 + years. This little trick makes my life easier.
Sir, thank you for the education, it is highly appreciated. I teach machining at a college in South Africa and I can tell you that most machining problems come from a tool that is not centered. I will implement this technique.
The more I watch your video's the more I'm starting to get great work come out of my work shop it so good to have some one that is will to show the tips of the trade and the reasons why for the do's and don't that make all the difference when seeing it done -thumbs up from me and please keep on making these vedeo's.
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Thank you very much! That's much faster and more efficient than some of the other techniques I've seen.
I was brought up as part of the CNC generation - taught at school to program CNC machines long before we learned about manual machines - our teachers were very good and doing the best they could to prepare us for the future, money and resources were very tight and it saved a lot of money if we wrote CNC programs that our teacher could assess on a simulator instead of making parts from stock on manual machines - but when I only need a prototype for development and testing or 2 or 3 copies of something then making it on a manual machine is much faster than writing a program and tooling up a CNC machine.
For my generation your videos are hugely valuable!
Hi Joe. Erik Louw again from South Africa. I never but never found any one of your lessons not very interesting. As a hobbiest I can follow and the way you explain make it also understandable for the novice. What I like most is the fact that you don't try to get a long video with all nitty gritty information. It is right to the point. Sometimes I battle with inch measurements, because most of the time we work here in metric. Keep up the good work.
Thank you.
Old Austin hobby machinist here. I made a custom height gauge years ago, but I'm glad I watched until the end. That file handle trick is just what I need! Thank you.
File trick is a nice bonus. Never know what I’ll learn when I hit the play button. Thanks Joe.!
I call that an embedded jewel.
Great post my friend. This is likely the most important thing when setting up to use a lathe. If I ever find out who took the piece of metal straping from my tool tray I will declare a hanging, LOL. That trick of using an old, dead file as a hardware holder on the tool post id brilliant. THanks big time teach. Yer full of neat tricks for us tonight. Ya rock fella ! Take care teach. Your mentormship is so vry much appreciated EH !
One thing I have noticed mostly is how clean your shop is!!! Impressive! I work with a bunch of engineers and they always leave things lying around. Keeping a shop clean and organized saves frustration and is so functionally useful whenever you walk in!
Love the simple logic.
30 years a welder fitter, I trust my fingers more than my eyes.
This is now to the top of the list of needed tools.
Thanks.
Great info! I was also taught to use the tailstock in school. The tang of the file trick to me is plain old common sense, but I bet it's a Eureka moment for a lot of folks. I guess thats why your videos are always appealing..... a healthy dose of good old common sense is a valuable tool.
It should be bottled and served in schools. Seems to be a lack of it these days.
Hey Joe
You are unbelievable.
For many years I've been at the lathe, and still before the youtube channel file.
So, I'm not inexperienced and not so young anymore.
Here and there I see a different way of solutions.
And that's exactly what I like most about your movies...
Hugo - Belgium - W-VL
Thanks Hugo. I visited Belgium a few years ago. Great beer!!
Every time i watch one of your videos, something like this tip comes up and i feel like an idiot. Why didn't i think of that. Like the videos almost as much as reducing material to chips!!
You describe my problem exactly, my tools are too high. Thanks for showing me, this is the most important lesson to learn, when new in lathing and owning a lathe. Mine will not cut properly, and it feels like I'm pushing the material. Thanks again for this.
You are the man. I have more fun with my lathe and I still have both my eyes and all 10 fingers due to things learned on your channel. Much thanks and cheers from Boston
Outstanding.
Another great tip, Joe! Made one in less than 20 minutes and wonder how I got along without one! I have not commented before, but this little tool tip is so basic and so useful I finally had to say something. Thanks!
never used a different method.........a great thing to have in our tool box........must say worked at many factories over many many years,,,,,,,,,, when I have made the gauge a good many thought I was being a smart ass,,,,,,,, keep it up chap
I am watching a 7 year old video. It is still a gem. 😊😊😊
Hi, I've got to say that I love your channel. I have had my lathe about 5 years and my mini mill for about 2years and I only found out about your channel this year. I would say that I have learnt more this year than in all the time I had my machines thanks to your teaching technique. I am a "why is it so" type of person. I enjoyed this video and will shortly be making one for my lathe. I liked the dial gauge holder that you have and looked to purchase one myself but they are no longer produced and while others make a similar one they don't appear as good. Also by the time I get one in Australia the cost looks like being over $300 for a magnetic mount. I saw that someone else asked if you could give us a breakdown of yours so we could machine one and I to would like to ask that and I am sure that there are others you would like to do it too.
Cheers Mark
I may have to make that video.
As someone who has made a career of fixing pointless complexity, I have a special appreciation for simplicity.
This tool does just one thing, but does it perfectly. Half an hour's work; good for a lifetime. Great idea
I can't express how much help you are and the simple and easy to understand teaching methods you employ to make it easier to understand. I'm looking at property around Austin wanting to move from the Kansas City area. Retired from Bayer Corp. engineering maintenance machine shop area after 37 years. Maybe I'll get to meet you, you have definately been a great help as I have a small machine shop I built in my downstairs. Thank You very much.
Look me up when you roll into town. Property around here is getting extremely expensive with Apple and Tesla moving in and Dell already here. Outside city limits is still affordable if you don't mind country living.
This is an issue I've had as a hobby machinist for years with lathe work. Best centering method I've seen yet. Love the little "File" trick as well.
I like your work Joe, direct and to the point, no stuffing around.
Joe as usual yet again another great and simple add on for us Home machinists
THANK YOU JOE.
Martin in the uk
Joe I gotta say after a long day at work I love sitting back cracking a beer and watching your tutorials/Tips and tricks.Keep them coming sir!
Great video,Joe.I made the tool height gauge from 1 1/2 yellow brass because, it was easier than turning down a 3” bar of aluminum and,it’s heavier. I keep it in a pvc pipe with foam rubber glued inside the end caps.Thank you for the video.
Joe, my name is Carlo Piaia one of the places I used to work at was Tydeman Machine Works in Redwood City and they had a tool height adjustment tool, that was approximately an inch or so in diameter, after they found the Center Height they attached another piece of material the same diameter, and offset it by about a quarter inch and reattached it with a 1/4-20 cap screw the so you could measure right side- up tools and upside down tools. Thanks Joe I like your videos
Great Video, Great Tip - I even bought that US General 387 magnetic base (@ 5:53)
Great tip (@ 7:57) on using the old file tang, too!
Thank You - Joe Pie - you have taught us all a lot! Please keep posting the great videos.
Glad to help.
Another spot on production from Joe, all these tips and tricks are really helpful for me and a colleague, thank you from the UK.
Another good one Joe Nice white-board and live demo, it's not the length it's the content especially when you're not gloating about new tools, new stuff, look at my machines, ya ta, ya ta. There's a place for that but it's about gettin things done. Come'on guys let's get those subs up for Joe.
Thanks for this great comment. I really appreciate positive feedback. Stay tuned.....more to come.
Greetings Joe,
Yes, I am a fan. Please keep up the good work. Iam a hobbyist willing to learn.
I would like to make a recommendation in regard to the "Setting the lathe tools on center" video.
In addition to feeling the tool height, which is neat, I lower the work light behind the standard and bridge a scale to the tool. Now setting the proper height is easy. Now I see the light!
Regards, Rod D.
Once again you make, what seems to be a difficult set up, appear easy. Thank you for all your videos.
Thanks Joe. I learn something every time you post a video, no matter how simple.
Hey Joe, Love your channel, I am a very experienced machinist but there is always something to be learned from others. This video shoes a great way to accurately set center height on tools, I agree it is most important. When I had a production shop I had exclusively Hardinge machines and they made an adjustable center height tool similar to yours, it had a top piece that folded out for setting upside down tools. Your method of setting the gauge is so simple and easy, great job.
I like your idea but what I did was turn a piece of stock in the lathe and measured the diameter divided that by 2 and wrote it down.
I then set a height gauge on my cross slide and measured the distance from the top of my cross slide and the top of the stock I turned.
Next I took the number I wrote down and subtracted that from the distance I measured, that is the center of the stock in the lathe.
It was 3.781.
Now all I have to do is use my height gauge to set my cutting tool at 3.781.
Works better than anything else I have done and it is very fast.
Parting is a breeze now.
Thanks for you videos they are informative and from someone that knows what they are doing.
Joe's solution is a lot simpler than that though?
pbysome No, not really. By turning the material gently in the lathe you are guaranteed that it is accurately centred on the lathe axis. It's one of the few cases where there is no tolerance - at least above a molecular level. It can't be anything else due to the lathe geometry. Far more accurate than using a pin in a collet, or worse, a three jaw chuck. and not everyone has accurately ground pins to hand either. Joe's method is good if you have a pin but no height gauge. In fact you can afford to be around minus 10 thou off centre without too much trouble. 30 thou is far too much though. Under height is better than over height, much less chance of a dig in. Bob UK.
Hi Joe, This was one of the first machining projects I did, and still to this day is one of the best centering tools I own and use. Love the cut file tip, priceless man, thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Ray
Your explanation of the geometry cleared up a lot questions I have had, as a bonus I learned how to be more in control of the machine. Outstanding.
i made this tool and have found that my tools cut more easily and longer without needing to be touched up. A great addition to the inventory
It may have been one of your shortest videos but I gleaned several important bits of machining wisdom from it.
Great idea Joe! I've been using an old height gauge I found laying around our shop to center the tools for my protrak lathe, but need one for my bigger lathe too. Im making one of yours tomorrow! Like your videos!
Excellent tool Joe.
I made one of these yesterday and reset several of my tools.
Some of my BXA quick change blocks won't go down quite far enough to center the tool and I may have to grind the bottoms a little to lower the tools on center.
But at least now I know for sure what the height needs to be!
Thanks, and please keep the videos coming!
Joe, you always explain things so clearly!
Hardinge lathes used to come with a similar post specific to each particular machine, only those had a cap on them so you could use the underside to see if the tool was too high and the top of the post proper if it was too low.
I once saw a guy use a neat trick to center a tool - take your 6" scale and trap it between the tool and the work. Look from the tailstock toward the spindle. If the scale is vertical, you're on center. If the upper end is toward the right, it's too high. To the left, too low. Not as precise as Joe's method, but really quick more effective than it would seem. Of course, Joe's method is dead nuts accurate and very quick once you have your post.
Hi Joe, I love your videos - such innovative thinking please don't stop making them. I was a design engineer on the space shuttle main engines for Rocketdyne. We had a special projects machine shop that had three guys that were master machinists. I dropped in there any chance I got just to watch how these guys did things and to pick their brains regarding how to change a design to make the part as efficiently as possible. You would have fit right in there with those guys. One fellow was an old German tool and die maker - he thought outside the box just like you. Thanks for all the time you spend making these videos - I've been machining parts in my side design and prototype parts business for about 45 years now and you have taught me some great tips - which goes to show you're never too old to keep learning. Thank you.
Thanks. I like those kind of environments.
Little tools like this are real time-savers. I made a square-U with the base of the U flat and parallel to the tips. I hold the tips against the face of my lathe chuck, straddling a jaw. The base gives me a parallel surface I can use to align the angle of my QC toolpost, especially the parting tool. I also made a dedicated little jack for my dividing head that lets me set the chuck exactly horizontal in a snap. The list goes on! Now that I'm old and senile, I need to label all these tools so I will know what they're for when I haven't used them in a year! Love your channel.
Thank you so much for taking the time to really explain your methods, they are so hopeful in learning
I'm glad I found this channel. Fantastic tips and tricks.
Sunday afternoon job, sort out tool centering once and for all, after 45 years of faffing about! Brilliant Joe thank you.
And, you don't need fancy measuring devices to make the gage.
Great tips from a veteran machinist. Makes lots of sense.
Thank you
B.Fox, Thank you for THE very best description of the importance of center height ! Been using this for 20 yrs. Great video,Thanks.
Thank you.
So direct and to the point of the function. Will be watching you more, a lot of people are over complicating way things with a lathe.
Joe, I am an apprentice to the machine trade and find your videos very helpful. Thank you for sharing your great tips and vast experience with all of us . Looking forward to future videos.
Thanks Todd. Feel free to send me a message offline if you have a certain question.
going out to shop to make one now for my brand new lathe ....thanks Joe keep up the great work and videos.
Hey Joe, I found a very similar indicator holder to yours and love it. Mine is called "Erick Magna Model 200" They can be found on Amazon as well as other vendors. I just wanted to pass the work along in case someone would like to pick one up. I have found them easier to use than the Noga style that seem so popular now.
Thanks for all of your great content.
Excellent. The tips are really great for those of us who are on a steep learning curve. The white board preps are vital to my understanding. I watch your video, move out to the garage and use the demo once again, as needed, to attempt to repeat your demo. While doing this I also keep a notebook of certain things I wish to recall. Your videos are well designed for this type of learning. Many thanks.
Thanks.
I use this tool all the time as from seeing this video 2 years ago. Kind of the "Occams Razor" approach of keeping things simple. Thanks Joe
Its a handy reference to have available. Easy to make too.
I got one of these standards with one of my lathes & was going to make one for the other lathe - now I know a quick way to do so!
I always wanted to learn how to use machining tools but nover got around to learning .After looking at one of your vid and illustrations you have ignited that old flame ,Amazing teacher you are Mr J.P
Thanks for taking the time out to teach the world ,
I cant stop watching the vids.Excellent
Thank you for the compliment. I am glad it helps.
Thanks Joe. That is a good way to do it. Adding to that theme, you can add a little overhang, even with the top of your reference pin, to help you reach to where the cutter is. No more than 1/2” or so works well.
Agreed.
Joe... You never cease to amaze me
Brilliant videos Joe I'm a toolmaker for 30 years and I have learned great tips from you
We can all learn something from each other. No doubt in my mind. thanks for watching.
I love your measurement techniques...when you starting out in engineering these tricks are invaluable. Top marks for being short and to the point.
Thanks Rupert.
Joe- made one of these and I'm getting way better surface finish, parting is a breeze, and it makes working on the lathe so much better. Never realized how off center my tools were and what a difference it makes. This is a must have tool for anybody with a lathe.
Glad you like it.
Good info and video. We were on vacation in Mobile Alabama and I got a chance to observe two machinist working on two 15" swing lathe's with lantern style tool post. They both had a standard like the one you made but the had a small piece of steel, bolted on the top, that overhung on one side so when they changed to a different tool they could swing the compound over and under the overhang. That set the tool height, then lock the tool down, then swing the compound back to the part and lock it down and start cutting. Thanks again. You can use a small drill drift to lock that knurled nut also.
Another brilliant idea/video!! I've had the live centre in the middle of a part and needed to set/check tool height (which of course I should have done before chucking up the part). Thanks
Great advice and the file tang trick is a gem and why I have started watching your channel. I made a Hardinge-style tool height gage knock-off and use it every day for the tool setups. I like your short and to the point videos.
Thanks for the comment Paul. Stay tuned.
Thanks again, Joe. Just made one of these center gauges today for my 40's Atlas 10", and you're right - it's a simple solution that works great! It took me some time to "sneak" the 6061 round stock to the precise length a few thou at a time, but I can't thank you enough. Most precise gauge I've ever used for setting tool height!
Excellent. Keep the bottom knick free and it should serve you well.
Joe,
There are several terrific machinists on you tube. You are one of the best! Your teaching style makes seemingly complicated things very easy. I look forward to all of your videos! Thank you for sharing you wealth of knowledge.
All the best,
John
Thank you John. It does take some effort to shoot and edit these. Nice to know they are appreciated.
There is so much good information in this clip -- absolutely excellent!
nice technique for setting tools, another quick way i found is to lightly pinch a small piece of sheet stock between the cutter and your part then adjust tool height until the sheet stock is pointing vertical.
Small stuff like that centering gage can mean so much in the quality of finish work not to mention insert tool life and time saved in setup, where in the end your tool is actually on center and not ( close enough). Thanks Joe,
Joe, you are a Great teacher and machinist/ inventor. Thank you.
Thank you
Another solid video. Keep them coming. All these little tricks are great.
More expert tips. Thank you! For me, the reason I find these tips so valuable is that you include simple to understand, yet very detailed explanations and descriptions. You are an amazing craftsman and teacher. I really appreciate the effort and time you take to organize your thoughts and share them in such a seamless way. That only happens for those who really know the subjects they are presenting. All the best to you! Joel.....
Thank you Joel. Its good to know these videos are landing in good places. Best to you as well.
Great tips Mr Joe! Thanks, for sharing your knowledge!
great vids Joe over the pass 35 years i have passed so much information on myself and set up can't be stressed enough take time and make a jig or fixture to aide in their set ups just small things like this will aide someone that has struggle keep up the great work
My tooling shelf has hundreds of fixtures. Well worth the time it took to make them.
Long time viewer/subscriber. Once I got done cracking up over how obvious the two ball trick is but *only in retrospect*, I felt like an 2x idiot for not having watched this when it came out - I needed that. Thanks again, Joe!
Joe, that pin method is sheer brilliance in it's simplicity! And that file tang taper squeeze play is a good thing to remember.
When I was manufactured engineer at one of the companies I worked at.... I had this one machinist that kept all of his nails trimmed except one pinky nail - which he usually let grow out to one quarter of an inch. It was his "educated measuring nail". He could run along the surface and tell the surface finish as good as the surface finish standard would do..... And he would use it for matching surface heights like you did with your finger. Personally I prefer my index fingernail! 🤗
Another great video Joe, I have learned so much watching your channel.
Joe, thanks for another awesome video. I’ve been watching your very informative content for only a few weeks now and have learned so much already. I look forward to exploring more! Keep up the good work! 👍
Thanks. I hope I've gained your subscription. Tell about 10,000 of your closest friends !!
This is an excellent tool. The best I could muster (for those tools which permit it) was to trap a thick shim between the tool tip and the workpiece to form a tangent. When it was on center the tangent was vertical, off center off vertical. I like your idea better. Thank you again.
Many do that, but depending on the grind and which surface you bump against, the tool could still be off. Always set the tool for the operation being performed.
Simple but clever. Thanks Joe
Very useful tip! I'm making one tomorrow. Also, love the magnetic indicator holder with the quick release. And, the file trick for holding the thumb nut is great. Cool video.
Thanks Jim.
Top of my to do list as well, great explanation!
Awesome! And that "end of an OLD File" trick, was like frosting on a Cake!
very good, have seen quite a few of your videos and they are all excellent., toolmaker for 30 years.
Thanks. Been at this full time since 1976
Super discussion,instruction, demonstration
Found your Video I've always had problems finding the center after changing tools. Made a jig just like yours. Works great. Thanks
Simple too.
Just discovered this channel. Great videos! Am going one by one through all of them.Thanks for all the hard work producing them.
Thanks for watching. It really does take some time to do this.
Hi Joe, love all your videos, clear precise & exacting! Keep it up. I'm just a humble beginer strugling for precision. Fantastic
Thanks, will do!
Hello Joe, great tool tip. I made one for my Mini-lathe. Works perfect and quickly. Keep the tips coming. Kurt Kenyon, Seattle Wa.
Nice. You'll have it for a long time.
Good vids. I've run machines for long time and I've learned many things from you. Many thanks.
/Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and tricks of the trade. Very much appreciated!!!
Looks like one of those tools that are so simple to make and even easier to use .... Fantastic job !!!
Its very handy when you do a lot of O'ring grooves.
As always straight to the point and no BS, thanks again!
Another good video. Your comment about storing things on the head stock is a good one. After an incident that took out one of my flourescent lights I vowed to limit the clutter on top the lathe. I took a cafeteria tray and screwed it to a tall bar stool. I can put all the tools I need for a job on another tray, carry it over and it nests nicely into the one thats screwed to the stool. Portable table at a good height. I have found the trays very handy for keeping tooling for different jobs layed out and ready to go. Easy to clean, easy to store. A guy could mount one to the headstock easily enough so other trays nest on it. Just an idea that worked for me.
I too have seen tools launched by chuck jaws. They just go bam and disappear. Just wait for a second and you'll hear it hit somewhere if its not sticking out of your chest or forehead. I stage my measuring tools and cutting tools on 2 separate rags on my bench.
Thanks Joe from over the pond in Craven Arms, UK. Great ideas.
Another great tip, I'll make one of these, many thanks for your expertise Jack from over the pond
The height tool is neat. I made mine out of two 1/2 inch bolts. Of course I faced the bolts off. I joined them in an extra long nut used to join all thread. I put two jam nuts on it to lock it in place. I'm not a "machinist" but have operated lathes for 20 + years. This little trick makes my life easier.
Sir, thank you for the education, it is highly appreciated.
I teach machining at a college in South Africa and I can tell you that most machining problems come from a tool that is not centered. I will implement this technique.
Another short-cut master piece Joe,thank's
Joe, these are really great - hope you are still at it!
New guy on the block. Can't wait to see what's to come...great content!
So simple, so smart. Thank you!
The more I watch your video's the more I'm starting to get great work come out of my work shop it so good to have some one that is will to show the tips of the trade and the reasons why for the do's and don't that make all the difference when seeing it done -thumbs up from me and please keep on making these vedeo's.