What I learned from Bludworth ...

[WilleeCue]

Attached is a photo of the little mill/drill machine I bought last week.
It is just a lightweight unit but so are the jobs I plan to use it for and it is also a learning tool.
I spent a few days with Leornard Bludworth and he he may not know it but he taught me a lot about a milling machine and what it can be used for. I wold have never attempted doing a job like I just finished had it not been for the things he taught me by just being around him and watching him work.
I installed a ball bearing into the base of my Unique Taper/Shaper machine and it came out perfect. It really makes a difference as to how smooth the six cutter blade runs. If you ever get an invitation to visit Blud's shop I recomend you do it.

 

[blud]

call

Attached is a photo of the little mill/drill machine I bought last week.
It is just a lightweight unit but so are the jobs I plan to use it for and it is also a learning tool.
I spent a few days with Leornard Bludworth and he he may not know it but he taught me a lot about a milling machine and what it can be used for. I wold have never attempted doing a job like I just finished had it not been for the things he taught me by just being around him and watching him work.
I installed a ball bearing into the base of my Unique Taper/Shaper machine and it came out perfect. It really makes a difference as to how smooth the six cutter blade runs. If you ever get an invitation to visit Blud's shop I recomend you do it.

Hey Willie, please call me

blud

 

[Jon]

Good for you Willee, glad you are progressing (never ending journey). I like that bearing you installed, i'd bet it's smooth . Congrats.

Thanks,

Jon

 

[WilleeCue]

Good for you Willee, glad you are progressing (never ending journey). I like that bearing you installed, i'd bet it's smooth . Congrats.
Thanks,Jon

Yes, it has improved the performance of that equipment a bit.
The Taper/Shaper was not really designed to use that type of cutter but it adapts quite nicely. That blade spinning at 30,000 RPM is kinda scary and it throws the chips out so hard they will sting your hand but it sure makes fast work of cutting down and tapering wood. It will take a 1/4 inch deep cut with ease and leave the surface nice and smooth.

You are right about the never ending journey.
I was really impressed with Blud and his skill with a milling machine.
Perhaps someday I will find a standard mill machine that fits my budget.
(an a way to move it into my shop)
For now .. this little machine will help me learn some basics and it makes a much nicer drill press than one I had.

 

[cueman]

I would like to get a larger milling machine one day also Willee. I have one about twice the size of that one and another CNC mill about the size of yours. I know a couple of cuemakers that used the bearing like you did in the bottom but mounted 4 of the wing cutters about 2 inches apart on a mandrel and made it to where they could cut 4 cues at once. Then he made four spindles that hooke to the front of his three jaw chuch and a tailstock with four spring loaded spindles. That would be nice. Yet now they both use the single table saw shaft cutting machine for most of their turning. How much for the six wing cutters?
Chris
www.internationalcuemakers.com
www.cuesmith.com

 

[WilleeCue]

How much for the six wing cutters? Chris

Chris, I found a source for them at:

http://www.mytoolstore.com/everlast/evr22.html

They are suprisingly inexpensive ... less than $20 for the cutter and mandrel.
There are various blade thicknesses that you can buy.
I use the .080" one.

I use it on the Unique Taper/Shaper machine to do all the rough tapering of my butt and shaft wood.

http://www.uniqueinc.com/

Just for some background information ... this machine was designed to use 1/4" and 5/8" two flute router bits but can be easily modified to use these 6 tooth slot cutters.
Some people think these benchtop machines look like toys but believe me ... they are properly designed and do their jobs extremly well.
The big advantage to using a blade like this is speed as the 6 tooth cuter can make a much deeper cut when roughing down material.
The additional teeth also contribute to less vibration from the teeth striking the wood or at least raise it to a higher frequency that is less likely to induce harmonics in the material being cut. The down side is that they are more dangerious than a router bit and require some additional safety precautions.

 

[cueman]

Thanks for the link Willee. I used to buy the four wing cutters for my larger lathe. Too much viration for my smaller lathe. But if I add the bearing that might eliminate that problem. Thanks for the picture also.
Chris