The British pound, British machine tools, small spaces and die filers.

[TorontoBuilder]

I've been slow on restoring my chipmaster, since I'm waiting for warmer weather so much of the stripping can be done outdoors. That hasn't prevented me from thinking about where this lathe will go when I bring it home.

Very likely it will end up pushed to the very back of a one car garage. Basically, I'll have one of the smallest metal shops in Canada. Which got me thinking of how to add functionality to such a small space, and naturally I started thinking of all the types of lathe accessories that could be used but my memory is not what it once was. I can think of milling, grinding, and slotting attachments. Then I recalled seeing a tailstock mounted die filer about a month ago while browsing my old issues of Live steam (Oct 1977) so that lead me to google lathe mounted die filers, and low and behold both Harold Hall and Edgar Westbury designed lathe mounted versions. Westbury's is the best I've seen and allows for the mounting of saw blades as well. Perfect for pairing with a British lathe I think. The question is can I modify it for my lathe? With current exchange rates it's less expensive than the MLA-18 filing machine from Andy Lofquist at Metal Lathe Accessories, and than either die filer kit from Martin Models.

So what else can I mount on a lathe?

Pretty much even with shipping.

 

[6.5 Fan]

Very interesting die filer, perfect for a home machinist with limited room.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Very interesting die filer, perfect for a home machinist with limited room.

I really like the bow that will support both ends of a file of saw blade...

 

[6.5 Fan]

Yes that is a neat feature.

 

[gerritv]

Clever design. However I will strongly recommend that you add an overarm with a hold down for the work, Your pinched fingers will remind you if you didn't add that.

 

[Janger]

Great post @TorontoBuilder It's a cool project. Here I have gathered up a few links.

Sawing and Filing Attachment - hemingwaykits.com

Unique projects for the small workshop owner. Please browse our Toolroom and Engine Bay for our latest project kits.

www.hemingwaykits.com

$156USD.

FILING MACHINE (MLA-18)

Similar price

4 Piece Die Filer Casting Set

This is an inexpensive casting set that will help you build all your other tooling and models. It is perfect for a beginner’s project. This die filer is a replica of a turn of the century (circa 1900) filing machine which originally was used for filing sheet metal dies. The die filer is used for...

www.martinmodel.com

similar price. This one has a much simpler rotation to linear motion conversion but only 3/4" stroke.

Harold Hall's machine
http://www.homews.co.uk/page44.html

Questions:
Could inside key ways be made with these tools effectively?

Do any of them move a bit forward on the down stroke and a bit back on the return similar to some jig saws? That might eliminate any tendency to pinch fingers.

 

[gerritv]

Could inside key ways be made with these tools effectively?

Possibly, but you can also do the with the ELS4 Pro

 

[Proxule]

Great post @TorontoBuilder It's a cool project. Here I have gathered up a few links.

Sawing and Filing Attachment - hemingwaykits.com

Unique projects for the small workshop owner. Please browse our Toolroom and Engine Bay for our latest project kits.

www.hemingwaykits.com

$156USD.

FILING MACHINE (MLA-18)

Similar price

4 Piece Die Filer Casting Set

This is an inexpensive casting set that will help you build all your other tooling and models. It is perfect for a beginner’s project. This die filer is a replica of a turn of the century (circa 1900) filing machine which originally was used for filing sheet metal dies. The die filer is used for...

www.martinmodel.com

similar price. This one has a much simpler rotation to linear motion conversion but only 3/4" stroke.

Harold Hall's machine
http://www.homews.co.uk/page44.html

Questions:
Could inside key ways be made with these tools effectively?

Do any of them move a bit forward on the down stroke and a bit back on the return similar to some jig saws? That might eliminate any tendency to pinch fingers.

Harold Hall is my hero - amazing site and literature / intellect!

 

[Proxule]

Any one have drawings I can look over from either one of these kits?

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Harold Hall is my hero - amazing site and literature / intellect!

+1

except his die filer is not as nice as edgars

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Great post @TorontoBuilder It's a cool project. Here I have gathered up a few links.

Sawing and Filing Attachment - hemingwaykits.com

Unique projects for the small workshop owner. Please browse our Toolroom and Engine Bay for our latest project kits.

www.hemingwaykits.com

$156USD.

FILING MACHINE (MLA-18)

Similar price

4 Piece Die Filer Casting Set

This is an inexpensive casting set that will help you build all your other tooling and models. It is perfect for a beginner’s project. This die filer is a replica of a turn of the century (circa 1900) filing machine which originally was used for filing sheet metal dies. The die filer is used for...

www.martinmodel.com

similar price. This one has a much simpler rotation to linear motion conversion but only 3/4" stroke.

Harold Hall's machine
http://www.homews.co.uk/page44.html

Questions:
Could inside key ways be made with these tools effectively?

Do any of them move a bit forward on the down stroke and a bit back on the return similar to some jig saws? That might eliminate any tendency to pinch fingers.

The Hemingway kit when added to my shopping cart set to CAD comes to $130.49 and change. Shipping adds another $101.45. Total $231.95

The 3 piece die filer kit from Martin comes to $195 USD which brings it to $270.

MLA-18

MLA-18 Filing Machine Basic Kit (30 lbs.) $159.50
Add for the cast Pulley Blank (5 lbs.) $30.00
Add for the Bronze Bearing Material (2 lbs.) $62.00
Add for Hardware Packet (no additional shipping if sent with kit) $9.50
Shipping is over $50 IIRC

The MLA is better than the MM. The Hemingway is best if you have a lathe and space issues, but a stand alone has appeal. None are perfect all around design.

The Live Steam tailstock mounted version can be made without castings and is likely cheapest. I should model it in fusion

 

[Susquatch]

So what else can I mount on a lathe?

The things that take the most room for my lathe are all the various chucks and home made spiders. I put a tool holder shelf on my backsplash to store all my tool holders. Of course, you will also want storage for cutting tools, wrenches, oil, metrology, stock, and any gears.

 

[gerritv]

+1

except his die filer is not as nice as edgars

Just make some of the parts out of brass, pimps it up instantly.
The advantage of HH design it's possible to run standalone or on a lathe. And not dealing with castings. And adjustable stoke. And a hold down system

 

[Mcgyver]

Neat stuff, but I proffer what the world needs is not a die filer, but large volumes of high quality inexpensive die files! The filers come up and sell for small dollars, but you better save your lunch money for a set of files

 

[gerritv]

I would love to buy a die filer for low dollars, those don't show up on Kijiji :-(

 

[Mcgyver]

Not every week granted, but I've probably seen 1/2 a dozen in the last 10 years for <200. Mind you, that was precovid, back before the world and central banks went nuts. .....but outside of hobbyst so few know what they are or want them I bet there'll be more

 

[140mower]

I got off lucky when I bought mine, it came with about 70 files. The files are worth far more than the die filer, in fact, by volume, that little box of files might be one of the most expensive things in the shop.

 

[Janger]

Any of you die filer owners - have you made internal keyways with them?

 

[140mower]

Any of you die filer owners - have you made internal keyways with them?

No.... I have cleaned up a couple, but I think it would be difficult to get an accurate keyway starting from scratch.

 

[Xyphota]

I actually ordered that Hemingway kit earlier this week! It ended up being about $250 shipped, and I have a hunch there will be more duties once it lands in Canada. I'll let you all know how it goes!