Pipe machining frustrations.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

Why does every job in this hobby end up needing three others doing before you can start!

I have reached the stage in my clock project where I need to machine the winding drums. They are 42mm OD and 85mm long. I have sourced some steel pipe 42mm OD with 4mm wall. Now I just need to machine it on my little Taig lathe.

I do have a couple of live centres, the standard Taig one (1/4″ diameter), and a couple of Chinese ones based on a bearing carrier that can be held in the tailstock drill chuck – on the right below. But nothing that is going to help with the pipe.

So after a bit of work I now have a basic pipe centre that should do, and what feels like several miles of aluminium string.

Then I realise that the fixed steady  for the Taig has a maximum capacity of 11/2″ (38mm) – so now before I can actually start the real job I need to decide whether to make a bigger fixed steady (will I ever use it again), or possibly an expanding plug I can put in the end of the tube to support it while I face the tubes to length. Three drums and six ends to do!

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Normal method is to turn a piece of wood to a tight fit in the tube end and put a centre in that. If you think the centre in wood may not be firm enough drill and glue in a bit of brass.
If you want a fixed steady again wood is good enough.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

personally if you are expecting a Taig to machine steel pipe of that dia you are on a hiding to nothing.Find a friend with a 3 1/2 ”  plus lathe and beg a morning off him.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

Just a quick report back – first workshop session since I asked for help.

Thank you Bazyle for the wood suggestion, I happened to have some old curtain pole which was a perfect fit, and it worked like a charm, as did the pipe centre, although I did things in the wrong order and turned the pipe before facing using the wood as a centre.

Turning the 90mm long 42mm diameter pipe at 260 rpm, 0.15mm depth of cut and power feeding at 0.05mm/rev worked way better than I expected. With a bigger lathe it would presumably have gone a lot quicker, but I now know what’s possible. Two more drums to go.

[Author]

Posts