Couple suggestions; look up a speed chart by drill size. The smaller bits should be ran alot faster and then decrease the speed as sizes get larger. An easy way to find the center of a round bar is to lay a scale (ruler) on top of the bar, bring the drill down on top and then move the bar back and forth until the scale protrudes horizontally. Clamp down the vise and you're ready to drill the exact center.
Yes pleas use that face shield; However, Please get you a leather apron to. Your have other soft targets on you for that broken drill bit to fly into and a good thick leather shield will keep you safer than a shirt. Better yet a Kevlar vest. I have seen a bit of busted drill bit fly into a wooden post 12ish feet away.
Dean, when making tools like this, try using some 303 stainless steel. It cuts really well and wont give you any corrosion issues for folks that live in high humidity places. McMaster Carr can supply you with that material very easily. Start your holes with a small centre drill, then continue as you have. Also for things like this WD-40 works ok for a coolant and a lube.
I have watched several videos of turners making tools with double ended ball end mills. After watching yours I ordered the end mills and made a couple of the tools. Turned a small goblet today and was amazed at the clean cut left by the tool! Thanks for your guidance.
Coming from the “dark side” of machining, the “run out” on your wood lathe drove me to distraction ; ) When I saw the light, and switched over to wood, I’m sure glad I decided to hang on to my metal lathe, which I will be using for this project. Great idea, and well explained. Thanks!
Loved this sooo much, I built my own but I used a S/S hollow rod, then drilled and taped it. I have a aluminum handle that the rod fits into with two set screws to hold the rod firmly. Came out so good. Thanks for the impetus to make my own.
Dean, Thanks for going into such detail. Slow and steady is the best way. I know this is a while back but do you recall what you used for the tool shaft? Was it tool steel or just HSS? Thank you. - Jack (another Texas guy)
Thus tool is one of those I have been meaning to make for a while....Some day when I get 'a round 2 it'.... I have been thinking about doing a lidded box video for a while...
you should make one I have not had mine that long but I have used it several times and really like it. I have watched your Videos for several years and have learned a lot from you especially when I first started. Thank you for sharing because it really helped me and I know your videos have helped others as well.
I have been watching some of your stuff for the past week or so. Your productions are very well done. This one was particularly well done. Very interesting. I may have to do one for myself. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe. Subscribed.
I will attempt to use a diamond home however it has 4 cutting edges and you can replace the ball mill for $7. So far I have done nothing and it is holding up well. But you are right eventually it will dull. Thanks for Watching!!!
Dean; Good video! Start the drilling with a center or spotting drill bit. You have quite a bit of wobble in the drill bit. It can stress the drill bit and break it. General purpose drill bits have too much "bite" for metal.
As soon as I can get to this, I'm going to try it. I am too far behind right now because of the holiday season. I'm so far behind, I'm going to have to work through lunch on the day of my funeral...
The one on the lathe was a Nova Infinity, however I did hot use the jaws to grip it. I used the center of the chuck to hold it in place and ran the bar through the headstock which did not have much wiggle room. hope this helps. Thanks for watching!!!
John I think you might be able to sharpen it with a dimond hone.however the tip has 4 cutting edges and is less than $7 and people tell me that they last for a very long time. Thanks for watching!!!
Dean, thanks for making this video. I have a question about the type of bar stock you used. I checked my local HD and they have zinc plated and plain rods available. Which one would you recommend?
It’s not a link or a site . It was The worldwide wood Turner’s meeting which is a zoom meeting on Wednesday nights you can go to worldwide wood turners.org and click on the site to go to the meeting hope you join us next Wednesday
Great video!!! I too saw the guys talking about it on WWWT and wanted to know how to make it. Thank you for doing this for us. Can you tell me want size metal rod you bought and where you got it?
Phillip the handle is made of wood if you are talking about the metal bar that holds the ball mill No that would not work its too much stress and would break. Thanks for Watching!!!
Couple suggestions; look up a speed chart by drill size. The smaller bits should be ran alot faster and then decrease the speed as sizes get larger. An easy way to find the center of a round bar is to lay a scale (ruler) on top of the bar, bring the drill down on top and then move the bar back and forth until the scale protrudes horizontally. Clamp down the vise and you're ready to drill the exact center.
Great video! I'm planning to go collect all of the parts and pieces of this tool build and making one for myself. Stay safe!
Thanks, you too!
Yes pleas use that face shield; However, Please get you a leather apron to. Your have other soft targets on you for that broken drill bit to fly into and a good thick leather shield will keep you safer than a shirt. Better yet a Kevlar vest. I have seen a bit of busted drill bit fly into a wooden post 12ish feet away.
Dean, when making tools like this, try using some 303 stainless steel. It cuts really well and wont give you any corrosion issues for folks that live in high humidity places. McMaster Carr can supply you with that material very easily. Start your holes with a small centre drill, then continue as you have. Also for things like this WD-40 works ok for a coolant and a lube.
Thanks for the tip!
I have watched several videos of turners making tools with double ended ball end mills. After watching yours I ordered the end mills and made a couple of the tools. Turned a small goblet today and was amazed at the clean cut left by the tool! Thanks for your guidance.
Glad I could help Jim, I love the tool and like you I am amazed at the clean cut it leaves. Thanks for Watching!!!
Dean.. would you please post a complete material list to make this tool . THANKS
I belive I included all the parts and pieces in the video. Thanks for Watching!!
Coming from the “dark side” of machining, the “run out” on your wood lathe drove me to distraction ; ) When I saw the light, and switched over to wood, I’m sure glad I decided to hang on to my metal lathe, which I will be using for this project.
Great idea, and well explained. Thanks!
Thanks Mark, and Thanks for Watching!!!
Loved this sooo much, I built my own but I used a S/S hollow rod, then drilled and taped it. I have a aluminum handle that the rod fits into with two set screws to hold the rod firmly. Came out so good. Thanks for the impetus to make my own.
Glad it worked for you, Thanks for Watching!!!
I did the exact same thing you mentioned. It is difficult to find a S/S hollow rod. But I found one and actually turned a wooden handle.
Dean, I liked this and I got to make one. I did notice that in amazon there were also carbide. Would not that make better sharper tool?
Very well explained Dean. Looking forward to your video using this tool.
Thanks Rick, and Thanks for Watching!!!
Dean, Thanks for going into such detail. Slow and steady is the best way. I know this is a while back but do you recall what you used for the tool shaft? Was it tool steel or just HSS? Thank you. - Jack (another Texas guy)
Very cool, very well explained, I will be trying it, thanks for sharing
Thanks Poul, and Thanks for Watching!!!
Super video Dean
Thanks and Thanks for Watching!!!
If you have an Ace Hardware near you, that is where you can find all sizes of SAE and metric?
I will be building my ball mill tool tomorrow.
Good luck Terry It's a great project to build and a great tool for hollowing. Have fun!!
Nicely done..Handy tool..
Thanks Greg and Thanks for Watching!!!
Explained well. Good one Dean.
Thanks Doug and Thanks for Watching!!!
You can use M2 HSS to true up the face of that piece of bar stock, and even make a pilot hole so the bit will center better.
Thank you, I learn something every day, Thanks for Watching!!!
Thus tool is one of those I have been meaning to make for a while....Some day when I get 'a round 2 it'.... I have been thinking about doing a lidded box video for a while...
you should make one I have not had mine that long but I have used it several times and really like it. I have watched your Videos for several years and have learned a lot from you especially when I first started. Thank you for sharing because it really helped me and I know your videos have helped others as well.
Great job!!!
Thanks Ronnie, and Thanks for Watching!!!
Excellents Dean’s 👍
Thanks Denis, and Thanks for Watching!!!
The flash point of transmission fluid is really low compared to cutting fluids.
I have been watching some of your stuff for the past week or so. Your productions are very well done. This one was particularly well done. Very interesting. I may have to do one for myself. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe. Subscribed.
Thank You, and Thanks for Subscribing and Watching!!!
I found the individual bits at Ace hardware.
Cooking spray works well as a cutting fluid
Great tip! Thanks John!!!
Wonder if the ball mill could have been chucked and use to drill out the hole for itself?
I guess it could be done that way, Thanks for Watching!!!
Hello Dean. I enjoyed your video. Like any lathe tool I imagine at one point that this will need to be sharpened. How do you plan to do it?
I will attempt to use a diamond home however it has 4 cutting edges and you can replace the ball mill for $7. So far I have done nothing and it is holding up well. But you are right eventually it will dull. Thanks for Watching!!!
Dean; Good video! Start the drilling with a center or spotting drill bit. You have quite a bit of wobble in the drill bit. It can stress the drill bit and break it. General purpose drill bits have too much "bite" for metal.
Great Tip Randy, Thanks and Thanks for Watching!!!
As soon as I can get to this, I'm going to try it. I am too far behind right now because of the holiday season. I'm so far behind, I'm going to have to work through lunch on the day of my funeral...
I can relate to being behind. Thanks for Watching!!!
Dean, what kind of chuck did you use to hold the at in the lathe? It has to be one that will close down on 5/8”.
The one on the lathe was a Nova Infinity, however I did hot use the jaws to grip it. I used the center of the chuck to hold it in place and ran the bar through the headstock which did not have much wiggle room. hope this helps. Thanks for watching!!!
Hi and thanks for sharing 👍. How do you sharpen this wonderful apparatus?
John I think you might be able to sharpen it with a dimond hone.however the tip has 4 cutting edges and is less than $7 and people tell me that they last for a very long time. Thanks for watching!!!
Dean- sorry for all the questions but what tap and die sizes did you use for the handle and the metal shaft (that holds the bit)?
the tap size for the metal shaft is 1/4-20 to hold the tool in the shaft. the handle uses inserts. Thanks for watching!!!
Dean, thanks for making this video. I have a question about the type of bar stock you used. I checked my local HD and they have zinc plated and plain rods available. Which one would you recommend?
I used the plain one but I would think both would work. Thanks for Watching!!!
Great video! How long did you cut your 5/8” rod?
about 11.5 inches with 7.5 inches protruding from the handle. Thanks for Watching!!!
Too bad you did not post a link to the original vid or a link to the site where they were talking about it
It’s not a link or a site . It was The worldwide wood Turner’s meeting which is a zoom meeting on Wednesday nights you can go to worldwide wood turners.org and click on the site to go to the meeting hope you join us next Wednesday
I would have started with a center drill then went with a 3/8” bit with cutting fluid
Good tip thanks for watching!!!
Great video!!! I too saw the guys talking about it on WWWT and wanted to know how to make it. Thank you for doing this for us. Can you tell me want size metal rod you bought and where you got it?
The Bar is 5/8 and I got it at Home Depot. Thanks for Watching Casey!!!
Do you think I could just make the handle out of wood? Instead of a metal handle.
Phillip the handle is made of wood if you are talking about the metal bar that holds the ball mill No that would not work its too much stress and would break. Thanks for Watching!!!
why bother,
Thanks for Watching Colin!!!
Why not? 😜
Hey make me the tool I will make the handle....You can contact me at
if you are not comfortable making the tool I am sure a local machine shop could do it for you for next to nothing. Thanks for Watching!!!