Has anyone ever used this attachment to use to shape a new tip on a Harbor freight mini lathe? It is a Ball Turning Attachment.
Tip shaper for Mini Lathe
- Thread starter patrickjuhlin
- Start date
dave sutton
Banned
i had the one from chris hightower. basically the same. thats about the only product that chris makes i dont like. they dont stay sharp enough and you willl tear out layers on your tips. its very annoying . you will stop using it as fast as you get it. atleast i did. learn the utility blade method. takes practice but it the best way. they are ultra sharp and you use it a few times and toss it and grab a new one
I already use a utility blade. I am just seeing if anyone out there likes this type of a tool to produce a consistent shape. I don't like the idea that the bit gets dull quickly. Thanks for the input.
dave sutton
Banned
id stick with the utility blade its the fastest and easiest way once you learn.
There is a video that Jack Madden made
http://www.onthebreaknews.com/CueTips.htm
Look at Part IV How your tip is shaped
He show using a device that looks like that.
The other videos are worth looking at if you have the time.
http://www.onthebreaknews.com/CueTips.htm
Look at Part IV How your tip is shaped
He show using a device that looks like that.
The other videos are worth looking at if you have the time.
I have the same tool and it comes standard with HSS. Do you have something else you use to get "thousands" of tips cut with just one sharpening?
It works beautifully when sharp, but can rip a tip apart when dull. What's your secret? Thanks
Gene
> Really high quality HSS stays sharp a while if you only use it on leather tips and not phenolic. Travers,MSC,and Enco also have 5,8,and 10% cobalt content HSS that is really nice. Just make sure you don't let it get hot when grinding it to shape.
I had to make the exact opposite of the fixtures shown here for class. Mine was made for cutting radiused grooves on the OD of a part. One like this would take me less than an hour to make if I had materials cut to size to start with.
For me,I prefer to use the cemented carbide style cutters for the bulk of the cutting,then take off the last .002-.005 with the blade. When the blade gets too dull for that,I use it for shaping. For shaping,I turn my tool post around and use an unground HSS blank to lay the blade on,and turn it with my hand to simulate the same cutting motion these fextures shown here use. No problems other than with laminated tips in general.
Shop around until you find a brand of blade you like,then buy a shitload of them. My findings,along with several others here,are that the sharpness and durability of the typical heavy-duty Stanley utility blades have declined badly. I've been using these kinda serrated ones I found at Big Lots,but also like the Irwin Bi-Metal. The Irwins are sharp as hell,but don't stay that way for long,least with me. Tommy D.
I had to make the exact opposite of the fixtures shown here for class. Mine was made for cutting radiused grooves on the OD of a part. One like this would take me less than an hour to make if I had materials cut to size to start with.
For me,I prefer to use the cemented carbide style cutters for the bulk of the cutting,then take off the last .002-.005 with the blade. When the blade gets too dull for that,I use it for shaping. For shaping,I turn my tool post around and use an unground HSS blank to lay the blade on,and turn it with my hand to simulate the same cutting motion these fextures shown here use. No problems other than with laminated tips in general.
Shop around until you find a brand of blade you like,then buy a shitload of them. My findings,along with several others here,are that the sharpness and durability of the typical heavy-duty Stanley utility blades have declined badly. I've been using these kinda serrated ones I found at Big Lots,but also like the Irwin Bi-Metal. The Irwins are sharp as hell,but don't stay that way for long,least with me. Tommy D.
The tip shaper offered by Unique Products is the best available. It holds the utility blade sections. I use the big Olfa HB blade sections & its wonderful. The Olfa HB's are a tad big for what the shaper was designed for but all you need is to snap off the back area of the blade with pliars after its mounted.
I can use the blades like Dave Sutton, hold them secure & it works fine...just that the Unique shaper is easier...and safer.:thumbup:
I can use the blades like Dave Sutton, hold them secure & it works fine...just that the Unique shaper is easier...and safer.:thumbup:
Tap tap tap. I thought this was the dumbest thing I had ever seen until I started using it. Now, I do know if I can live without it. However, I sharpen my HHS about every two weeks.
With a tool this easy to use, there is no way I would ever hold a utility blade to shape a tip. I make my living with my fingers.....
I am still using the round cutter that came with it. I have my lathe turning at 1500 rpm and usually take 4 or 5 small cuts to get a tip shaped. I only use it on layered tips. I don't think I am doing anything different, but it just keeps cutting great.
Edit. I went and checked the cutter and it still feels sharp to me. I also noticed that it is square not round, just a rounded cutting area. That shows how often I have had it out.
Last edited:
dave sutton
Banned
i use my tool post with cutting tool to shape. 3 fingers one on the blade to hold it tight to the tool and 2 fingers on the other hand to pivot. ala joe blackburn.
heres a video with joe. about 1:30 in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9LOyy729ik
in 8 years ive never had a blade flip out or even a single cut from this method.
heres a video with joe. about 1:30 in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9LOyy729ik
in 8 years ive never had a blade flip out or even a single cut from this method.