Turning Thin Stock on a Lathe

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Jul 19, 2023, 06:28 PM
rgsparber

Turning Thin Stock on a Lathe

I recently needed to make two washers 15 thou thick. Here is how I did it.

Your comments are welcome. All of us are smarter than any one of us.

Thanks,

Rick
Jul 19, 2023, 08:08 PM
DIYer


Thanks rgsparber! We've added your Thin Stock Turning Method to our Machining category,
as well as to your builder page: rgsparber's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-thin-stock-turning-method"> <img src="/uploads/259903/homemade-thin-stock-turning-method.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-thin-stock-turning-method">Thin Stock Turning Method</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/rgsparber">rgsparber</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/lathe'>lathe</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
Jul 22, 2023, 04:15 PM
cognitdiss

If you don't want to un-temper your shims during removal you can stand the glued-up end in a shallow pan of acetone instead of heating. A bit of a soak should dislodge it presently.
Jul 22, 2023, 05:52 PM
cognitdiss

If you don't want to un-temper your shims during removal you can stand the glued-up end in a shallow pan of acetone instead of heating. A bit of a soak should dislodge it presently.
Jul 22, 2023, 08:38 PM
tooly

I wonder if the shim could be held by a revolving pressure pad on the tail stock, I have used this method on thicker materials. Some care would have to be taken with thin shim stock.
Jul 22, 2023, 08:41 PM
rgsparber

Quote:

Originally Posted by tooly

I wonder if the shim could be held by a revolving pressure pad on the tail stock, I have used this method on thicker materials. Some care would have to be taken with thin shim stock.

How would I make the ID cut?

Rick
Jul 22, 2023, 08:43 PM
rgsparber

Quote:

Originally Posted by cognitdiss

If you don't want to un-temper your shims during removal you can stand the glued-up end in a shallow pan of acetone instead of heating. A bit of a soak should dislodge it presently.

I’ll give it a try.

Thanks!

Rick
Jul 22, 2023, 08:49 PM
tooly

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgsparber

How would I make the ID cut?

Rick

Ha i was not thinking of the ID, Would have to be done if you had one of those thin material punch kits.
Jul 22, 2023, 10:00 PM
cognitdiss

Quote:

Originally Posted by tooly

I wonder if the shim could be held by a revolving pressure pad on the tail stock, I have used this method on thicker materials. Some care would have to be taken with thin shim stock.

That or bolting the shim stock to the end of the bar with a small headed fastener and a thick backup washer, perhaps one for each cut diameter. Elsewise the shim will "bulge..."

Thin shim washers can be an important part when stacking up to a tolerance, good to have multiple ways to make them.
Jul 23, 2023, 12:07 AM
Don42

Hey, Rick! I've done that too.

My dad made jewelry out of rocks by grinding and polishing them. The rocks were stuck on to sticks with stuff called dop wax. i've never tried it, but I've often wondered if this might work for machining things as you describe. I'd think that super glue would be a thinner bond than dop wax.

Use of accelerator spray might help the superglue cure in air-starved regions. My experience has been that when accelerator spray is used the glue cures RFN so ya either get it right first try or ya must fall back and try again.