2017 - The Original "What Did You Buy Today?" Mega Thread

[darkzero]

What are you using a radius gauge for? Another one of those items I can't think of a purpose for.

Radius gauges are very useful. It's one of those things that I personally don't use that often but when I need to I'm glad I have them. They're for, well measuring radii of course. Not a real necessity unless you are making parts where you need to make the radii exact or copying a part & you need to know a radius size. Other ways around it, you could just use a piece of round but the guages are nice & easy to handle.

I didn't get me a set until I got me a set of corner rounding end mills & some radius turning tools. But even though a set of radius gauges aren't needed just having these cutters IMO.

A set like Randy's is pretty expensive. I have a full set by Mitutoyo. I waited patiently to find a nice set on ebay.

 

[Dan_S]

A set like Randy's is pretty expensive. I have a full set by Mitutoyo. I waited patiently to find a nice set on ebay.

They are really useful though when you need to figure out what a radius is. Thankfully they are stainless, so unless you really abuse them, they will outlast your grand children.

 

[hman]

What are you using a radius gauge for? Another one of those items I can't think of a purpose for.

I can't count the number of times I've had to make an "educated guesstimate" about the internal or external radius of something I was trying to work with, and/or do an accurate job of 3D CAD modeling. Sometimes it isn't critical. Other times it is - such as when something else has to either clear the original part or to fit it closely. Radius gauges would definitely have helped numerous times. I do plan to get a set soon.

 

[mikey]

Radius gages are also useful for marking out rounded corners on wood or metal projects; draw the corner and grind to shape. I have a Mitutoyo set and have yet to use them for their intended purpose - cut a corner radius to specs, mostly because I only work for myself.

 

[Nogoingback]

Not a tool, but I found a 1959 edition of the Boston Gear catalog in a used book store for 5 bucks.

 

[wawoodman]

Got me a set of ER-40 collet blocks with bearing nuts. I do have a super spacer but sometime I don't feel like setting it up just for something quick. I use ER-40 collets in the mill & for work holding in the lathe. I don't own any 5C collets so these made more sense for me to get. I was shocked, they arrived in 1 business day all the way from Europe!

I really like those holders. But I'm in a bit of a quandry. I have a number of TG-100 collets. (A member of one of the forums, whose name I am ashamed I don't recall, made me an adapter to fit on my SB Lathe.) And I have R8 collets to fit in the mill. Do I really want to get involved with 5C (or ER-40) collets, as well? I've only seen the blocks for 5C and ER-40s. And I know I'm not good enough to make them, myself.

 

[BFHammer]

Got me a set of ER-40 collet blocks with bearing nuts. I do have a super spacer but sometime I don't feel like setting it up just for something quick. I use ER-40 collets in the mill & for work holding in the lathe. I don't own any 5C collets so these made more sense for me to get. I was shocked, they arrived in 1 business day all the way from Europe!

Very snazzy. I saw these the other night and thought - cool I wonder what all you could do with those? Later that night I was watching a youtube video (ThisOldTony) of making a drawbar from round stock and using a hex block collet in the mill to make the head of the bolt!

 

[Hukshawn]

What did that arbor press set you back? I wouldnt mind finding one.

 

[Nogoingback]

100 bucks. I've been watching CL for a couple of months and this was the best one for the money I could find.

 

[Nogoingback]

Got/made me a new tool post wrench today. Got a couple of Kent Moore brake wrenches on ebay. They're about 20" long. I shortened the worst looking one which looked much worse than the other one pictured. Stripped it down to bare metal & blackened it with a new solution I just got. I must say I'm pretty happy with it. This stuff gave me the best results I've tried so far with other blackening solutions.

I got tired of using my Armstrong Engineer's wrench. I did not want to make a handle that replaces the nut like some do. This "new" wrench is so much better to use, matches the angle of the TP handle perfectly. I'm glad I came across these wrenches just randomly.

That wrench looks great. Do you mind telling us what solution you used to blacken it?