- Joined
- Mar 25, 2018
- Messages
- 131
I knew I wanted a spider; so I made one. My intended purpose was to help center lengthy pieces of work (like a rifle barrel) along the full length of the spindle bore. What I did not anticipate was that it would also save me money. And I like money.
With brass being sold by the inch I don't want any more waste material than necessary. Cutting a length of brass from a piece of long stock so that I have enough to hold it in the chuck and still work with it often meant wasting an inch or two. Now I find that I don't have to cut a length. I just thread all three feet of a thin (e.g. 5/16 inch) brass rod through the spindle bore, hold it in place with the spider (otherwise it's gonna flop around - and that can get ugly fast) and the only waste is the swarf from what I turn off the blank.
With brass being sold by the inch I don't want any more waste material than necessary. Cutting a length of brass from a piece of long stock so that I have enough to hold it in the chuck and still work with it often meant wasting an inch or two. Now I find that I don't have to cut a length. I just thread all three feet of a thin (e.g. 5/16 inch) brass rod through the spindle bore, hold it in place with the spider (otherwise it's gonna flop around - and that can get ugly fast) and the only waste is the swarf from what I turn off the blank.