How To Approach This Job

If you are going to use the hacksaw over the bed, then consider putting some clean wood over the ways.
Just in case the saw slips....
Also, unplug the lathe or hit the disconnect, not just the switch.

Daryl
MN
 
Transformer said:
Is there a way to hold the 1/4 thick pieces to face the other side in the lathe?
Click to expand...

There are (at least) two lathe accessories commonly called a "spider".

One type (also called a "cat head") helps to hold odd shaped things and still centre them and turn them on the lathe like these:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/clever-things-we-do-in-our-shops.42684/#post-367464
http://www.angelfire.com/d20/lathework/page12.htm

The other type goes between the jaws of your 3 or 4-jaw chuck and helps to space things out from the face of the chuck like this:
http://neme-s.org/Spider.htm

These are just the first pictures of each type I found, various designs show up here regularly.

That second type could help you with facing the 1/4" thick washers. They do not allow much for the chuck to hold onto, so only light facing cuts are appropriate. I'd never use them for OD turning. That link for the second type also shows how you can use parallels instead.

-brino
 
Why all the hack sawing and facing? Maybe I missed something in this thread that makes that necessary but when I make washers or spacers I just face off the stock once to get started. I grind a little angle into my parting tool so that the loose piece falls off first and as the tool keeps going it faces the stock remaining in the chuck. Repeat as necessary.
 
Great links Bruno.

I never said you have to hacksaw. I just said I hate using a parting tool & that's what I'd do instead.

I use parallels to hold my work at the correct spacing from the chuck.
 
epanzella said:
Why all the hack sawing and facing? Maybe I missed something in this thread that makes that necessary but......
Click to expand...

Yup you missed something. The OP stated that his current arrangement (his equipment, his experience, whatever) may not be up to heavy parting without using the tailstock for support. So we were trying to give an alternative.

However, I bet if he applied all the techniques linked to in post #8 above (locking the carriage, rigid tool, proper height, reduced spindle speed, etc.) he could learn to do the parting off operation safely and effectively. A great opportunity to extend his abilities!

-brino
 
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I've never tried it but I've read s few members post that parting from the back side made things easier.
 
I have parted things off with using the center in the end of the part many times. You do have to be careful. Be prepared, and stop the lathe as soon as it parts, then back the center up and remove the part.
I would drill and turn to size. If doing this in cnc mode, you could program a little chamfer on both edges with the part off tool before cutting off.
 
Going along with what Paul said I've seen a YouTube where after the work was cut most of the way their they went to the innate to finish the part & left the work having from the tool.
 
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