Some really boring pictures

[Greenbuggy]

Get it?

Did some boring on the lathe apron a couple days ago. The ole logan now has a proper electrical plug, chinese QC Tool post and a properly machined T-nut to hold it down. I bored out both sides of the apron to properly fix the slop and out-of-round holes the rack gear goes into, and bored one side of the apron for the handwheel shaft. Tonight will probably be spent putting enough of the apron back together to actually use it as a manual lathe again.

With my Cheapo chinese QCTP and toolholder set I got a fixed knurling set, but want something better. Thinking about buying a really nice Dorian knurler thats adjustable. Anyone here have any experience with them?

[precisionworks]

Bushings are a ton of work, but well worth the effort.

Thinking about buying a really nice Dorian knurler that's adjustable. Anyone here have any experience with them?

Dorian has so many models that you might want to zero in on one of them, as they offer both cut knurlers & form knurlers. Plus, the form knurlers can either be bump or straddle. The only pdf catalog I have is from 1998, so prices may have changed: Dorian Knurling Full Catalog, 52 pages.

Travers Tool had some of the straddle tools at 90% off recently, but those sold out fast. I use two Eagle Rock scissor knurl tools which are easy to set up, produce a nice knurl, and not too costly. Various Dorian knurlers show up on eBay on a regular basis - on of my friends picked up two of the cut knurling tools for around $250 each (retail is about $1250 each).

EDIT: If you plan to knurl anything tough or hard (like 4140HT or Ti 6-4) you'll want the optional solid carbide pins and the cobalt knurling wheels. In addition to Dorian & Eagle Rock, Accu-Trak has a good selection.

2nd EDIT: Good reading on cut versus form knurling.

[MarkBall2]

From everything I've read (don't happen to have one of these yet), the scissors style knurling tool is the best. The push type that goes on the QCTP really puts the pressure on the compound. The scissors type only puts pressure on the part being knurled.

I have the push type. I've used it once & could see the compound flexing. Haven't used it since, nor do I plan to. I'm planning on building a scissors knurler eventually.