Looking for stock tube material for lathe work. 1" OD - 3/16" ID - SS, Delrin, anything?

[subver]

Actually, I do have a dremel, and I have that workstation. I didn't think it would be accurate or strong enough to get a nice hole through stainless steel. What bit do you use for that? What about thick stainless steel?

I hope I still have all the pieces, I haven't used that dremel station in a while, but thanks for the reminder! I will definitely have to look into this

 

[subver]

My dremel also only has one speed, so I can't slow it down, which I think is required for drilling stainless steel. Bummer.. maybe I would be better off with getting one of those cheaper drill presses?
I wonder if this would do the job?

edit: ok after doing some searching, I've read that for drilling stainless steel it should be about 100-200 RPM... This one starts at 250 RPM (12 speeds, up to 3100 RPM) - I wonder if this would be good enough?

There is this one that says 0-8500 RPM, but I don't think it's precise (just a low-high dial), and it's only like $67, so I dunno if it'll be too cheap for this kind of work?

edit 2: I just read this on another site, though:
"1600 rpm for a 1/4" bit is about right for mild steel"

I imagine the holes I will need to drill with a press would be about 1/16" to 1/8"

Ok.. so more reading.. sorry for such a long rambling post. For a 1/8" hole in "tool steel" I would need about 1500 RPM. So the smaller the hole, the faster I would need (surface speed, right?) - that's probably good in my case. Maybe that 12 speed 250-3100 RPM would be good afterall? Or even one of the cheaper ones?

 

[slimest]

To drill a small holes in stainless steel I use carbide bits 0.6mm diameter made for printed boards. But these bits are very fragile. I just use а broken fragments and sharpen their tips as a real drill bit using diamond disk. These bits work great to make small holes in, say, eGo tubes. 20000rpm is OK
Of course this works only with thin SS. For thick steel you need a HSS bits and cooling liquid.

When I told about precision work using Dremel Workstation, I meant that sometimes it's very convenient to put your Dremel to this thing and position it horizontally. You can hold a component with both hands.

 

[slimest]

One more thing about the Dremel Workstation: it has plastic adjustment screws, so you can avoid play in this system.

 

[subver]

ok, yeah I may as well try this before buying a drill press. It's just that everything I've read seems to warn you against using a high RPM on SS, but if this will actually drill nice 1/16" - 1/8" holes through about 1/2" SS I will be happy. I need to find some SS to test this on now.

edit: I think my dremel runs at 35,000 RPM if that helps

 

[slimest]

Actually it's enough for me to have lathe (small but strong enough, good old thing) and Dremel with its Workstation. Never even thought about a drill press...

Here is my beloved lathe

P.S. My Dremel can be adjusted from 5000 to 33000 RPM

 

[subver]

Unfortunately my dremel is only one speed..
I still wouldn't mind buying a 4 jaw chuck for the lathe if it's easy enough to do. The 3 holes would all be on the center line, no 120 degrees apart or anything like that. One center hole 3/16" with 2x 1/8" holes on either side.

 

[zoiDman]

Unfortunately not.. I was hoping to accomplish this with a lathe. If it's not possible to do with a lathe maybe I will save up for an inexpensive drill press after I get a lathe.. I'll have to look up how much they are. I'd love to be able to do it on a lathe, though!

edit: ok so a quick search on ebay, they aren't too expensive for a mini drill press. Not sure if it'll be enough for what I need. But if I DO need a drill press, I suppose I don't need to buy the 4 jaw chuck for about $90, I could get a drill press instead, as I would basically be buying them for the same function.

Just saying that a Drill Press is Going to be Much Easier to make holes then a 4-Jaw Chuck. And a Prill press comes in Very handing for other and or Bigger things.

For precision work I use Dremel Workstation: dremel workstation | eBay

Very useful and versatile device. Of course you have to have a Dremel

Every one should own a Dremel. I use mine for all kinds of things.

 

[subver]

Ok, well since I already have the dremel and workstation, I suppose I will give that a shot first. You're right, though, that the drill press could be used for other things as well. I can get a 550-3050 RPM Drill Press at Home Depot for about $120 - just don't really know how the quality is or anything..
That 4 jaw chuck I was going to buy is like $90, and I could get a drill press for a little more than that, so maybe I will go for the drill press..
Still need to try the dremel, though...

I'm so indecisive! I just want everything to be perfect!

 

[zoiDman]

I bought a Radial Drill Press Similar to this a couple of Years ago.

Amazon.com: SHOP FOX W1670 1/2-Horsepower Floor Radial Drill Press: Home Improvement

It's nice to be able to Tilt the Head to make Quick and Dirty Holes on an angle.

 

[subver]

Nice, that might come in handy as well. ANy thoughts on that $120 one at Home Depot? Or maybe I should try ebay?

 

[subver]

Basically... if I have to spend more than that $120 on a drill press, I may as well go with that 4 jaw chuck to drill those off center holes. At least for now. Then down the road I can spend a little more money on a better drill press if I still need it.
So I guess it's a toss up right now between a cheap drill press and a 4 jaw chuck for the lathe..

 

[zoiDman]

Nice, that might come in handy as well. ANy thoughts on that $120 one at Home Depot? Or maybe I should try ebay?

Ryobi doesn't make High End Tools but then Again, they don't make complete Junk either.

I would suggest to try and find a Drill Press that you can buy Local and avoid having one shipped to you. If you got that Drill Press from Home Depot and there was a problem, you could just chuck it in you car and take it back.

If you get it on e-Bay, your going to have to pay for return shipping.

 

[zoiDman]

Basically... if I have to spend more than that $120 on a drill press, I may as well go with that 4 jaw chuck to drill those off center holes. At least for now. Then down the road I can spend a little more money on a better drill press if I still need it.
So I guess it's a toss up right now between a cheap drill press and a 4 jaw chuck for the lathe..

If I had me choice of a Drill Press verses a 4-Jaw Chuck it would be the Drill Press.

 

[subver]

Thanks zoiDman, yeah I think I might go for the Home Depot Ryobi. $120 isn't that bad and it's more versatile than the 4 jaw chuck. Worst case scenario, I can return it..

I don't think I will be wearing the drill out too bad, going slow and steady and using oil should help. I've been reading a mix of reviews, too, some 1 star and more 5 stars, but that's like that with everything I ever read reviews on. I may as well try it myself. Hopefully I won't ever have to go below 570 RPM, but I shouldn't really need to go larger than 1/8" on stainless steel anyway, and I think that should be about 1500 RPM, so it should work out nicely.

Phew, thanks for all the help! I've got a whole lot of stuff to buy now...
the 7x12 or 7x14 lathe, drill press, tools and stock material to start.

Can't wait to start working!!

 

[subver]

Ok, this might be a really stupid question as well. If I get this 7x14 lathe - what size tools do I get? Do I still need to get a cutoff tool holder and stuff like that?
Should I still get this kit?
The lathe doesn't really have a brand name, so I can't tell the compatibility.. I just don't want to overlook anything.

I need turning tools, a 1/16" cutoff tool (for O ring slots) and to drill center holes that won't exceed 3/16" - do I still need those center drills or can I just use high quality drill bits?

 

[Java_Az]

Ok, this might be a really stupid question as well. If I get this 7x14 lathe - what size tools do I get? Do I still need to get a cutoff tool holder and stuff like that?
Should I still get this kit?
The lathe doesn't really have a brand name, so I can't tell the compatibility.. I just don't want to overlook anything.

I need turning tools, a 1/16" cutoff tool (for O ring slots) and to drill center holes that won't exceed 3/16" - do I still need those center drills or can I just use high quality drill bits?

The 7x machines all will take the same tooling. This company here商品展示 makes almost all the lathes sent here to the US. The USA Companies that import them get them made to their specifications. So might have different motors color bed lengths and so on. So pretty much all 7x? tooling should work on any of these lathes.

Center drills are just to start a hole they are fat and short so they wont walk like a regular drill bit can do. which just means the reg drill bits can bend when starting a hole causing the bit to walk and you will get a hole that is not dead in the center. So center drills are important for precision hole that have to be in a certain spot

 

[subver]

Ok perfect. Yeah I just read a lot on all these lathes being the same. I think I'm still gonna go with this 7x14 - I believe that has the brushless motor as well? Not 100% sure...
That seller only has a 7 day money-back guarantee, though.. I wish I could buy this somewhere locally.

I wish the Harbor Freight 7x12 had the brushless motor, I would feel more comfortable getting it locally, and I'd have 90 days to return it.
Decisions.. decisions..

The main thing that bothers me is this review on Amazon - he basically got a lathe that didnt work.. but then again, it's the 7x12 400w, not the 7x14 550w

There's also this one which I suppose is the same.

I wonder if it'd be worth it to get the HiTorque 7x12 at LMS - ugh I'm so indecisive! Sorry guys haha

 

[Java_Az]

I wonder if it'd be worth it to get the HiTorque 7x12 at LMS - ugh I'm so indecisive! Sorry guys haha

You would be better off getting the 7x16 from micro mark it ends up cheaper after shipping. MicroLux 7x16 Mini Lathe

 

[subver]

Ok, so is that essentially the 16" version of the 7x14" 550w lathes on ebay? I jsut don't want to get a crappy lathe, but I want to spend the least amount of money. Especially because I will be working on under 4" pieces.. mostly at least.