Joe Fisher
11-27-2006, 9:51 AM
I recently bought some of Craft Supplies' Crush grind kits, (http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/cgi-bin/shopper?preadd=action&key=442-0100) and decided to try a mill this weekend.
Wood is sycamore, since that's what I seem to have on hand lately ;) The kit is very easy to use, but you need 4 sizes of Forstner or sawtooth bits - 1 3/4, 1 9/16, 1 1/16, and 15/16. I decided to go with the HSS sawtooth bits from Lee Valley (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=42245&cat=1,180,42240). While a bit more expensive than regular carbon steel, or those titanium coated HF bits, these will last me a lifetime. And BOY do they cut! These things chewed through end grain with no effort at all, and didn't get hot like regular Forstner bits. I highly recommend them if you don't mind spending a little extra up front. The only possible negative is the 1/2" hex shank on the bigger ones (1" and up, I believe). They don't fit in a standard bit extender.
Which is why this mill is so short :) In addition, I misread the directions that said, "Cut the bar off 1 1/8" above the body." I cut it off 1/8" above :eek: I just made a jam chuck for the body and turned 1" off. I then made a jam chuck for the top and turned it down to match. The picture was taken before the surgery. It still looks nice, but isn't as balanced in form as it was originally.
Oh, and if you're wondering what that little hole is on the top, I'll just recommend you be careful when shaping the top, since there's a 15/16" hole drilled in from the bottom of it :)
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b162/nostalgia75/Turning/pepper.jpg
-Joe
Wood is sycamore, since that's what I seem to have on hand lately ;) The kit is very easy to use, but you need 4 sizes of Forstner or sawtooth bits - 1 3/4, 1 9/16, 1 1/16, and 15/16. I decided to go with the HSS sawtooth bits from Lee Valley (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=42245&cat=1,180,42240). While a bit more expensive than regular carbon steel, or those titanium coated HF bits, these will last me a lifetime. And BOY do they cut! These things chewed through end grain with no effort at all, and didn't get hot like regular Forstner bits. I highly recommend them if you don't mind spending a little extra up front. The only possible negative is the 1/2" hex shank on the bigger ones (1" and up, I believe). They don't fit in a standard bit extender.
Which is why this mill is so short :) In addition, I misread the directions that said, "Cut the bar off 1 1/8" above the body." I cut it off 1/8" above :eek: I just made a jam chuck for the body and turned 1" off. I then made a jam chuck for the top and turned it down to match. The picture was taken before the surgery. It still looks nice, but isn't as balanced in form as it was originally.
Oh, and if you're wondering what that little hole is on the top, I'll just recommend you be careful when shaping the top, since there's a 15/16" hole drilled in from the bottom of it :)
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b162/nostalgia75/Turning/pepper.jpg
-Joe