Small Whatsit

J

joe_m

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I'm going through a machinist chest full of small stuff, most of which I recognize as incomplete projects or broken bits that were saved for "just in case." I'm also finding a lot of stuff that I'm sure is a complete something, but I just don't know what the something is (and can't find it with a quick flip through my old b&s or starrett catalogs).


I have no doubt this is an obvious one, but I am not ashamed to say I am still a newb. It's probably like me posting a picture of a hammer on the woodworking forum and asking what it is.
1.75" long
3/8" diameter
The flat is marked F&D (company?)
1/4 (and that's not the diameter - I'm certain the diameter is 3/8)
HS M2 (high speed steel of type M2?)
The flat end opposite the point has a small angled hole in it that looks like it would support the tip of a live/dead center.
I've found a few so far. And I think I found at least one that looks like it was shopmade. So what is it and what's it purpose?

thanks
Joe

fdwhatsit.jpg
 
I have a couple of those that I've made. Primary use is when tapping a hole with a tap handle in the mill you chuck it up and use it to keep the tap handle square to the work. Other uses are to roughly locate on a center punch location. I'll post some pictures in a little while when I go out to the shop. They are made by grinding a end mill shank in a spin fixture.
 
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You just need to apply a small amount of downforce with the quill while turning the tap handle to keep the tap square. Can also be used in a tailstock chuck on a lathe the same way.

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That's cool - I just tapped 3 holes in a backplate last week and I did it the exact same way except instead of this little piece I threw a small punch in the chuck. But why would it be marked 1/4?
 
I have a special drawer in one box for "ground round pointy objects" that contains a couple of those, among other things. Shop made tooling aids, good for lots of stuff.
 
I made some from broken end mills by turning them with a ceramic insert, works great!!!:drool:
 
  • Old Machinist is spot on with this topic. A center like this is a must for any machinist. Use them when tapping and lining up punch marks.
 
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