Tool and cutter grinder head

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

I am planning to build the tool and cutter grinder as per MEW issue 159,in the construction it calls for a length of ground silver steel or stainless steel for the support column,as I have a small budget what do others think about using a “chunk” of motorcycle fork leg as they are hard chromed and ground to size and are very stiff.Also I have some to hand!

Regards Pailo. 

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Pailo, I’d say if its the right size, I’d say go for it, mind you thats just me, I build most of my stuff from recycled materials. Got some MC forks myself, and have thought of using them in a like manner. Ian S C

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi pailo, if its the right size and parallel (i.e its not worn out of round or anything) and you can cut, face, drill and tap it OK, I would agree with Ian, use it. I don’t know anything much about M/C’s, but I’m sure it will be strong enough for any punishment you are likely to give it. I use allsorts of reclaimed bits for my jobs, saves the pennies for something else.

 

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 01/11/2010 16:47:53

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I used a length of aluminium alloy scafold pole I found by a roundabout for the column on my grinder! I’m sure hard chromed suspension fork would be far superior.

 

Neil

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 01/11/2010 19:58:43

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

Thanks for the replys chaps,you just can’t beat a bit of recycling,I will go ahead with the project.I thought that it would make a suitable column.

Regards Pailo.

[VersabossParticipant @versaboss]

Pailo, pay attention when you try to cut the hard chromed tube. Hard chrome is d**n hard!

Remove the skin with an angle grinder. I don’t know if m.c. forks are hardened; maybe not. I have some pieces of hydraulic rams, which also are hard chromed. Some are hardened through; I had to throw them in the scrap bin. Others are unhardened below the chrome, but very tough and usable material. It is possible to turn away the outer skin with a carbide insert and a cut of say 0.5 -1 mm depth, but the insert is a bit maltreated afterwards!

Greetings, Hansrudolf

[Bill PudneyParticipant @billpudney37759]

Motorcycle fork legs are VERY highly stressed, so the material is of a high quality, certainly higher than silver or ordinary stainless steels.  As the legs also have bushes and oil seals sliding up and down when on a motorcycle, they are very well and consistently finished.

So your fork legs would make really good machine tool parts!!

 

As has been said, be careful cutting them tough.

Best of luck

cheers

Bill Pudney

[Author]

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