Useful Links - Machining

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Information

Books and Manuals - Free

Materials, Tools, Machines

Ball bearings, gears, chain, etc.

Berg : "WM Berg produces and distributes high quality precision gears, sprockets and pulleys, timing belts, roller chains, worm gear boxes, cam followers, breadboard kits, lead screws, hardware fasteners, linear slides, taper pins, spherical bearings, pin hubs, ground shafts, and many more quality precision mechanical components."
Boca Bearing : (See "sales" for 99cent bearings.) "Miniature bearings for Industry, Hobby, and Recreation."
KHK-USA : ". . . approximately 175 styles of gears in more than 15,000 configurations. . . . KHK USA offers convenient web based shopping, offers free 3D CAD models for download, offers both a free print catalog and the ability to download the catalog in PDF format."
MRO Supply : Bearings, bushings, chain, coupling and collars, gears, belts, pulleys, machine tools, and many other items.
RC Boyz : "We offer ebay's widest selection of Radio Control Car, Trucks, Airplanes, Boats, and Parts, as well as a wide selection of games & miniatures. We offer the lowest prices and low shipping costs. If you don't see it listed, we would be happy to find it for you."
Redhill Precision Specialty Balls : " . . .supplies precise balls made in different materials, including nonstandard diameters. Our assortment includes bearing chrome steel balls , tungsten carbide balls, stainless steel balls, ceramic balls, ruby and sapphire balls, brass and bronze balls, tool steel balls, balls made in special alloys, plastic and glass balls, polishing and grinding media, cylindrical rollers and needles, hybrid bearings and valve balls."
PIC Design : Bearings, Clutches, Brakes, Couplings, Joints, Collars and Clamps,Educational Kits and Precision Tools, Gears, Lead Screws, Linear Motion System Components,Precision Balls,Threaded Rods,Timing Belts, etc.
Skatebearings.com : "Our on-line catalog of bearings shows the Miniature, R, 1600, 6000, 6200, 6300, and 5200 series which are imported from China, as well as our special 608ZZ-ABEC bearings designed especially for the rollerblade and skateboarding industries."
Surplus Shed : "Expect to find aerial cameras, telescopes, lenses, mirrors, prisms, boresights, borescopes, microscopes, electronic test equipment, beamsplitters, achromats, eyepieces, optical flats, mirror blanks, lens blanks, filters, and other optical and electronic stuff... and all available at a fraction of the original cost! We recently added Jaeger Objectives and thousands of gears."
VXB Ball Bearings : "With an efficient business operation and more than million bearing in our warehouse, NationSkander California Corporation has served the industry by supplying all kinds of Ball Bearings."

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Fasteners (screws, bolts, nuts, etc.) -

Albany County Fasteners : "Fasteners in Stainless Steel, Silicon Bronze and Brass. Fast order turnaround and shipping. All items individually packaged and labeled. No minimum order. Free or Low shipping costs by USPS Priority Mail"
American Model Engineering Supply : "We are suppliers of fittings, fasteners, supplies and unique tools for the live steam and model engine hobbies."
Boltdepot.com : "Nuts and Bolts by the piece, box, or bulk"
J.I. Morris Company : "J.I. Morris Company is one of the largest manufacturers of miniature screw, small screw threads in the USA. We make very small screws in both miniature number and UNM (metric) sizes, self-tapping screws, hex nuts, flat washers, turned parts and also tiny precision ground taps and thread gages from stock and to order."
Hexcrews : Micro Fasteners - Hobbyists Source - Locknuts - Washers - Machine ... - http://www.microfasteners.com/
Metric & Multistandard Components Corp. : "Metric & Multistandard is a wholesale distributor of Metric Fasteners and industrial components. . . Since many of our products are difficult to find locally, we do accept orders from individuals via credit card over the internet."
Micro Fasteners : "For many years hobbyists and engineers have relied on Micro Fasteners' inventory of affordably priced socket screws, machine screws, locknuts, washers, sheet metal or self tapping screws, wood screws, other fasteners and related items in U.S. and metric sizes."
Mutual Screw & Supply : "We stock Screws, Nuts, Bolts, Washers, Rivets, Threaded Rod, Anchors, Cable Ties, Drill Bits, Screw Driver Insert Bits, Electrical Tape, Duct Tape, Carton Sealing Tape, Foil Tape, Teflon Pipe Tape, Barricade Tape, and Detectable Tape. Fasteners are stocked in Steel, Stainless, Brass, Bronze and Nylon."
Palmer Bolt & Supply Co. : ". . . distributor of bolts, hex head cap screws, socket head cap screws, socket set screws, threaded rod, small scews, hex nuts, locknuts, washers, anchors, pins, rivets, drill bits, pipe fittings, tap & dies, and chemicals."
R.J. Leahy Co. : ". . .the company supplies a unique combination of copper, brass and nickel silver metals in sheet, wire, tube and rod as well as fasteners: nails, rivets, bolts, screws, washers and much more in stainless, brass, aluminum, silicon bronze, nylon and steel."
RTL Fasteners : "....specializing in small size fasteners for Radio Control Pilots, hobbyists, manufacturers, homeowners and more."
Spahr Metric, Inc. : "Spahr Metric, Inc. is a Swiss-owned company specializing in the import and distribution of both metric and US sized fasteners and metric steel. "
Special Shapes : ". . . specialized brass shapes needed for modeling craftsmen . . ." Also brass screws, washers, and nuts, and aluminum.
Toolholder-Fasteners : Screws and other components for indexable insert holders.
Wholesale Tools : "Serving the public and industry for 50 years."

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Lapping Compound

Gesswein : Diamond Compound Sets; "Gesswein is the premier brand of finishing stones worldwide. Gesswein also makes other abrasives, cleaning supplies, power tools including the famous Power Carver for wildfowl carvers, and many other fine tools for jewelers, mold & diemakers, aerospace, medical parts manufacturing, restoration, and all precision industries."
richontools.com : See polishing pastes; "Diamond coated ... TCT tools Resin bonded pads Polishing pastes Diamond thin wall core bits Glass tools Carbide burrs End ..."
RioGrande : Diamond Abrasive Compound Kit; "Your source for jewelry making supplies, silver sheet and silver wire, jewelry display and packaging, finished jewelry, great service and technical know-how. Precious metal solders, sterling silver sheet, silver wire and tubing, copper and brass for making jewelry."
Timesaver Lapping Compound :

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Machines and tooling - hobbyist and industrial

Note: Previous hobbyist and industrial were separate categories; these have now been combined. Business which are know to cater to hobbyists, or which have been mentioned favorably by hobbyists, are flagged with a *. However, this does not mean that companies which are not flagged are "unfriendly" to hobbyists (it typically just means that they cater to a much broader range of customers).

* AM Tools : Tools for lathes, mills, and measurement.
Arthur R. Warner Co. : "Products we provide but are not limited to: annealed blanks, cut-off blades, finished cutting tools, ground flat stock, heat treated blanks, standard and specialty inserts, thin flats, tool bits and our own line of High Speed Steel inserted cutting tools." [HSS inserts, HSS indexable tooling] Note: HSS inserts are also sold by LittleMachineShop.
Busy Bee Tools : "We have been serving the Canadian Industry since 1976. With locations coast to coast and a large mail order division, we have all your workshop needs covered and more."
CDCO Machinery Corp. : [Free Catalog] Measuring Tools, Cutting Tools, Machine Tool Toolings, All Kinds of Die Maker's Tools, DRO Systems, Miscellaneous Tools, CNC Tooling
CME Tools : (Also on Ebay at http://stores.ebay.com/CME-TOOLS/ ) "For over 25 years, CME Tools has been committed to providing our customers with the highest level of customer service and easy access to the finest American-made and imported tooling equipment."
* CTC Tools : [England and US] "We specialize in quality workshop tools & machines at competitive prices for professionals and demanding enthusiasts. Here you will find precision tool holding systems, cutters, setup & measurement tools as well as lathes, milling & drilling machines plus other equipment used in metal working."
Enco : [Free catalog], frequently offers free shipping specials. "Since 1940, Enco has been a leading source for quality machinery, cutting tools and industrial supplies at the guaranteed lowest prices anywhere."
Grizzly Industrial, Inc. : "We have the widest product selection under one brand in the world and we sell direct to the user, cutting out the dealer network, and resulting in lower prices to you"
Harbor Freight : "At Harbor Freight Tools you'll find one of the largest selections of brand-name discount tools, including hand tools, power tools...anything that fits into your tool box, and bigger equipment too!"
JTS Machinery and Supply Co. : "Products include everything from cutting tools, carbide tooling, power tools, measuring instruments, shop supplies, reference books, shop machinery, and much more."
KBC Tools and Machinery : [Free catalog]
KMS Tools and Equipment :
* LatheMaster : "Mini Lathes Hobby Mini Lathes Bench top Mini Lathes Mini Milling Machines Rotary Tables 5C Collet Chucks Mini Lathe Chucks Mini Lathe Collets Micrometers Dial Indicators Mini Lathe Cutting Tools "
* Little Machine Shop : "We stock every part for the mini lathes, mini mills, and micro mills from LittleMachineShop.com, ToolsNow (Cummins), Grizzly, Harbor Freight, Homier, and Micro-Mark. LittleMachineShop.com has brought together all the tools, accessories, and replacement parts a bench top machinist needs."
McMaster-Carr : "Over 490,000 products"
Mesa Tools : "Mesa Tool designs and manufactures machine tools for the machinist with durability and simplicity in mind. . . . Boring Bars, Boring Head Attachments, Carbide Inserts, Threading Tools and Turning Tools."
Metal Lathe Accessories : ". . . kits are available for those who like to machine their own tooling at a greatly reduced cost, and who at the same time like to work with quality materials." Kits include steady resy, ball turning toolpost, quick change toolpost, diesel engine, and many more.
MSC Industrial Supply Co. : "Since 1941, MSC has set the industry standard for quality, selection and customer service. More than half century later, our dedication to these standards has made us one of the nation's leading distributors of metalworking & MRO industrial supplies, with over 500,000 products."
MonsterJaws : "US manufacturer of high quality jaws for the metalworking industry." Steel and aluminum vise jaws, chuck jaws, jaw nuts and t-nuts.
* Ramblin' Dan's Store : " . . .formerly The Hobbyist Machine Store, located in Frisco, Texas USA, was established in 2006 to supply the needs of any hobbyist or crafts-person needing small high quality machine tools to fulfill their skills and ambitions. Our emphasis is on small, as in model building and craft hobbies which are located in the typical home environment or home workshop."
Reid Supply Co. : [Free Catalog] ". . .knobs, handles, hand wheels, clamps, tooling components, fasteners, hardware and much more..." [Also: gears, bearings, belts, chains, motors.]
SDP/SI - Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instruments : "Mechanical components produced and distributed at SDP/SI are timing belts, pulleys, sprockets, couplings, universal joints, fasteners, gearmotors, sintered bearings, precision ball bearings, precision gears – ground spur gears, helical gears, miter gears, bevel gears, internal gears, rack and pinion and precision gearheads."
Shars Tool : "Abrasive, File, Deburring & Diamond Tooling · Cutting Tools · Hand & Power"
Surplus Center : "[Free catalog] Pneumatics, electrical, automotive, hydraulics, power transmission, water pumps, wheels, casters, winches, miscellaneous.
Surplus Shed : "Expect to find aerial cameras, telescopes, lenses, mirrors, prisms, boresights, borescopes, microscopes, electronic test equipment, beamsplitters, achromats, eyepieces, optical flats, mirror blanks, lens blanks, filters, and other optical and electronic stuff... and all available at a fraction of the original cost! We recently added Jaeger Objectives and thousands of gears."
Travers Tool Co. : "Our Mission is to be the preferred supplier to metalworking and industrial markets worldwide. We accomplish this by offering a comprehensive selection of products . . "
Tools4Cheap : "My name is Jeff Beck and I own Tools4cheap LLC... All products are hand selected or custom designed by me. In addition to common machine tooling Tools4cheap specializes in hard to find tooling for Bridgeport Mills and South Bend , Logan , Atlas Lathes. "
* Victor Machinery : "Since 1918, Victor Machinery has supplied tools to enable you to get the most out of your Lathe, Milling Machine, Drill Press, Grinder, or Band Saw. . . We serve hobbyists, scientists, maintenance and repair workers, the military, as well as automotive workers, machine shops and manufacturers."
Wholesale Tools : "Serving the public and industry for 50 years."
Xcelite : "Screwdrivers, Nutdrivers, Pliers, Cutters & Tool Kits."
Zoro Tools : "[Free catalog] ". . .offering more than 400,000 great products at super low prices. . . Free UPS ground shipping on orders of $50 or more."

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Metals [Now including sources for Australia, New Zealand, US, and UK.]

[For some metals cost comparisons, see this link.]

Australia
- EziMetal : "...we provide a wide range of steel and related products, including: Aluminium: Tube, Bar, Sheet, Tread Plate, Propellor Plate
  - Bar Products: Angle, Round Bar, Flat Bar, Square Bar & Deformed Bar; Duragal profile: Flat, Angle & Channel...[and more]."
- Hobby and Engineering Supplies Online : "Hobby and Engineering Supplies is located in Capalaba West (Brisbane Southside) Australia. . .We stock a wide variety of parts for all types of applications including remote control, helicopters, planes, cars, rock crawlers, assortment kits, roller bearings, thrust bearings, ceramic and ceramic hybrid bearings, stainless steel bearings, shafting, pulleys, belts and adhesives used by hobbyists and engineers alike."
- Hobby Mechanics : "We are a company based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, which has been supplying the needs of Model Engineers for over 25 years.
  - Our major products are Machine Tools and Accessories . . . [including raw metals]."
- offcuts.galore : "Based in Australia, offcuts.galore has been an eBay member since 02 Aug, 2004." Aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, delrin, teflon, etc.
New Zealand
- Atlas Steels : Acquired by Wakefield Metals - see below.
- Trade Tools : Key, shim, and silver steels. "Providing Cutting and Hand Tool solutions . . ."
- M.B.M Model Engineering Supplies : "B.A. Nuts & Bolts • Snap Head Rivets • Miniature Steam Fittings Complete Steam Casting Kits • Gas-fires Miniature Boiler Kits; Stainless Steel & Brass Rods • Phosphor Bronze cut to length"
- Ulrich Aluminium : "Aluminium Castings, Extrusions, Decorative Metals, Extruded Aluminium Bends - Fabricated Aluminium - Fasteners - Machinery, Tekna - Marine Products - Sheet, Plate & Rollformed Aluminium - Welding Products " and more.
- Wakefield Metals : Aluminium, brass, copper, stainless, zinc, engineering bar, precision tube, and fasteners.
United Kingdom
- Arenastock : "We stock aluminium, stainless steel, brass, bronze, copper, and black & bright steel in all of the most popular sizes. All stock is held on site and cut to size, meaning in most cases we can deliver on the next working day."
- College Engineering Supply : "We supply an extensive range of useful castings together with materials e.g. Cast Iron, Brass, Phosphor Bronze, Aluminium and other Non Ferrous Metals, Plastics, Easy Cutting Foam, Waxes, etc."
- Mallard Metal Packs Ltd : "The company was formed in 2001 to service the requirements of classic car/motorcycle restorers, model engineers, and other small quantity users. Our services include: Worldwide shipping - Fast Delivery; No minimum order"
- M-Machine Metals & Engineering : ". . .we offer a huge range of engineering materials from stock. Our experienced crafts-men and our fully equipped workshops can help with any engineered component and we have a massive stock of Imperial and Metric fasteners from which to choose.. .take a look around our new website - there are lots of things to find with pictures of current projects, machining movies and information on heat treatment with material grades and lots more."
- Noggin End Metals : "Shop online - Aluminium, Brass, Bronze, Cast Iron, Copper, Engineering Plastics, Gilding Metal, Graphite, Nickel Silver, Stainless Steel, Steel, Titanium"
- RDG Tools : Cast iron, aluminium, silver steel.
United States

Note: Some of the companies listed under Machines and tooling - hobbyist and industrial also sell raw materials (metals, plastics, etc.). These include Enco, Mcmaster-Carr, and others.

- Aluminum plate, cast: http://www.sandsmachine.com/alumweb.htm ; remnants at low prices
- Aluminum 6061 : [6061dude on Ebay] Mostly 6061 aluminum, some tooling.
- Amazon Supply (Small Parts Inc.) : Look under "Materials"
- Cut2SizeMetals.com : "From our midwest supply & metals depot in southern Indiana, we offer speedy metals shipments to all 50 states. You can specify your metal by the inch, or order full sheets and lengths."
- DiscountSteel.com : "Discount Steel is known for having the largest in-stock product selection locally and online. We specialize in both small and large quantity orders, with no minimums . . ."
- Dura-Bar : Cast iron bar stock; good source of information on types of cast iron. Does not sell direct but has a list of re-sellers.
- Exact Metals : Steel, brass, aluminum, delrin.
- Farmer’s Copper Ltd. : ". . .copper, brass, bronze and other metal alloys."
- Hobby Metal Kits : Aluminum, brass, carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, tool steel.
- Industrial Metal Sales : Free shipping on all orders over $150. No minimum order. Alloys, Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, Carbon Steel, Copper, Stainless Steel, Titanium, Nickel, Invar 36.
- Metalliferous : "Metalliferous is a full-service, fully-stocked supplier of metal, tools, and supplies to jewelers, beaders, crafters, hobbyists, metalworkers, sculptors, and everyone else interested in metalworking and jewelry."
- MetalsDepot : "MetalsDepot, the retail division of Ledford Steel Company was established in 1999 to fill the ever-growing need of a reliable "Small Quantity Metals" supplier throughout the United States. Our concentration is to provide a wide selection of metal, in smaller quantities, with no minimum orders, and fast shipping."
- Metal Supermarkets : "Metal Supermarkets is the World's largest supplier of small quantity metals. . . Over 8,000 Metal Products, Shapes and Grades"
- Online Metals : "The Web's superstore for small quantity metal orders welcomes you to explore exceptional metals sales and service from metal buyer's guides, to metal project ideas. At OnlineMetals.com, no order is too small for our high standards."
- R.J. Leahy Co. : ". . .the company supplies a unique combination of copper, brass and nickel silver metals in sheet, wire, tube and rod as well as fasteners: nails, rivets, bolts, screws, washers and much more in stainless, brass, aluminum, silicon bronze, nylon and steel."
- Sands Machine : "We sell only Cast Aluminum Tool and Jig Plate. . . This is a remnant (a piece left over from a 21" diameter ball bearing that we manufacture). . .mostly Mic-6 . . ."
- Schupan : I include this supplier because they are located near me. If you live near one of their warehouses (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Northern Kentucky), shopping in the "boneyard" (remnants and cut-offs) can provide big savings. Online shopping is also available via a "quote" process. Available: Aluminum, brass, copper, bronze, plastics, stainless steel.
- Speedy Metals : "Over 5,000 Grades, Shapes and Sizes . . . Absolutely, Positively, no minimum orders !!!"
- Xometry : Aluminum (6061) with free ground shipping! Also tooling and other items and services. Free ground shipping.

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Metal finishing (blueing, anodizing, powder painting, plating, etc.)

Birchwood Casey : Blueing and metal finishing "Since 1948, serious shooters, avid collectors and professional gunsmiths have relied on Birchwood Casey for shooting and gun care products that have stood the test of time. From legendary Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish and Perma Blue® Liquid Gun Blue to revolutionary Shoot•N•C® Targets, Birchwood Casey has pioneered innovative products with an unwavering dedication for quality."
Brownells.com : Blueing and metal finishing "Factory parts from fifteen of the industry’s leading firearms manufacturers. Rifle, shotgun, and handgun parts, tools & accessories. Bluing & refinishing materials. Books, videos, & references. Sights, scopes, & mounts And much more."
Caswell Inc. : "Caswell Inc. supplies a complete range of plating kits including chrome, gold, nickel, copper, brass and many more. Caswell Inc. also sells aluminum anodizing kits, powder coating systems, metal polishing and buffing supplies and accessories."

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Model engineering and hobbyist supplies (including engine kits, castings, etc.)

American Model Engineering Supply : "Our purpose is to provide a line of goods for those building live steam locomotives, stationary engines, both steam and internal combustion as well as other miniature machinery."
Coles' Power Models : "Plans, Nuts, Bolts, Piston Rings, Small Tools, Spark Plugs, Whistles, Lubricators, Pressure Gauges, and Much Much More!!!"
Metalliferous : "Metalliferous is a full-service, fully-stocked supplier of metal, tools, and supplies to jewelers, beaders, crafters, hobbyists, metalworkers, sculptors, and everyone else interested in metalworking and jewelry."
Myers Engine Works : "We produce several scale model casting kits of antique Steam and Stirling cycle engines of the past. "
Reeves Model Engineering 2000 : [Note: located in England] "The World's Largest Stockists of Model Engineering Supplies"
Small Parts, Inc. : (Now part of Amazon Supply) Huge variety of parts, materials, fasteners, lab stuff. etc.
Scale Hardware : "Since 2008 we have been providing hobbyists and engineers worldwide with the highest quality miniature fasteners and accessories."
Scale Model Engine Suppliers List : A good list of suppliers model engine castings, kits, parts, plans and ready to run engines.
Special Shapes : ". . . specialized brass shapes needed for modeling craftsmen . . ." Also brass screws, washers, and nuts, and aluminum.
S/S Machine & Engineering : IC Model engine ignitions system and related parts.
Think & Tinker (PreciseBits.com) : "Think & Tinker designs, develops, and manufactures application-specific solid carbide micro-tools for working hardwoods, plastics, metals, and reconstituted minerals: Drill Bits, End Mills, PCB Router Bits, 3D Carving Tools ,PCB Mechanical Etching Bits"

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O-rings, Piston Rings, Split rings

[See also "O-rings" under Other Information above for related information on using o-rings.]

DeBolt Machine : "We manufacture limited edition working models and engines. Our goal is to produce unusual and unique models that replicate the originals on a miniature scale and still remain fully functional." Also sells cast iron piston rings and some other engine components.
O-ring Warehouse : "We sell standard size O-rings made from the seven most widely used compounds. A Material Selection Guide is available for download." Also sells teflon split backups (split rings).

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Plastics

Amazon Supply (Small Parts Inc.) : Look under "Materials"
Boedeker Plastics, Inc. : Plastic sheet, rod, tube, and machined parts. Lots of technical information on this site, as well as tips for machining plastics.
Online Metals : Don't let the company name fool you - they also carry plastics.
TAP Plastics : "We cut acrylic sheets to the size and shape you need. We carry many hard to find industrial plastics. Our fabrication shops can turn your ideas into reality."

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Soldering, brazing, etc.

Note: For how-to information go to Information, Other and scroll down to "Silver Soldering."

Esslinger : "Esslinger.com is a leading internet provider of watchmaker's tools, watch parts, watch batteries, watch bands, jewelry tools, and much more."
Harris Products - "The Harris Products Group is a world leader in metal working products used in the brazing, soldering, welding, cutting and gas distribution industries."
Rio Grande : Jewelry making supplier with a large variety of silver soldering supplies as well as related information.
SRA Soldering Products - silver solder and more.

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Wire and Springs

Springs
- Lee Spring : "22,000+ products available, plus custom products made to your specifications. In Stock springs ready to ship. FREE Grinding on all Standard Stock Springs. FREE CAD downloads. And Much More..." Note: Minimum order quantity of 10, and kind of pricey for small quantities.
Wire
- Wire, cloth covered: Sundial Wire : "We currently have cotton-covered wire in seven colors and rayon-covered wire in seven colors, and we are constantly adding new colors in both cotton and rayon. We carry gauges from 22-gauge up to 12-gauge."
- Wire, magnet: Paramount Wire Co. : (got to the link and choose Magnet Wire from the menu) " . . choose from 12 through 32 gauge. Please note that the wire you receive will be either red, green, or natural colored magnet wire in either single or heavy build."

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Websites

Websites - forums, bbs, aggregation, etc.

7x10minimathe - Home Machinist's Roundtable : "Owners of the small metal minilathes marketed by Harbor Freight, Grizzly, etc. can trade tips here along with general discussion of other home workshop machining tools and techniques. There is a fair amount of off topic banter on subjects of interest to the hobbyists that gather here."
7x12minilathe [ON-TOPIC POSTS ONLY!] : "Topics Include: Homier, Grizzly, Harbor Freight, Einhell, Micromark brands of 7x10, 7x12, 7x14, 7x16, 8x12 mini lathes, metal turning, machinists, CNC, lathe and tooling modification, projects, tips, hints, and tricks for the mini lathes. Beginners and experts welcome! If you want to learn about machining metal on a lathe, this is the group you've been looking for."
Florida Association of Model Engineers : " . . . topics related to model engine building of all types."
Home Machine Shop : An eclectic collection.
HomeMadeTools.net : "HomemadeTools.net is an encyclopedia of 23,674 homemade tools. We find homemade tools across numerous forums, and organize them in one place, always with full credit to the original builder and site. HomemadeTools.net is updated multiple times daily with new homemade tools."
Home Metal Shop Club : "The Home Metal Shop Club has brought together metal workers from all over the Southeast Texas area since its founding by John Korman in 1996.
- Our members' interests include Model Engineering, Casting, Blacksmithing, Gunsmithing, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Robotics, CNC, Welding, Metal Art, and others."
Home Shop Machinist and Machinist's Workshop : "This forum reserved for your comments and discussion about anything pertaining to our magazines or machining and metalworking in general. It's a place for feedback, idea exchange, criticism, kudos, sharing your expertise, your hobby or virtually anything else that other home shop machinists would be interested in."
Home Shop Tech : Nice collection of how-to articles for the home shop, shop tips and tricks, and tutorials for lathe and mill.
Home Metal Shop Club : "Since its founding by John Korman in 1996, the Home Metal Shop Club has brought together metal workers from all over the Southeast Texas area."
http://www.machinistblog.com/ : Plans, projects and how-to's for home machinists
Metal Web News : "These pages are written and posted entirely by volunteers. You are invited and encouraged to send information covering projects you have completed or are working on. We need how to articles, describing in detail and accompanied by photographs and/or drawings if at all possible."
Micro-Machine-Shop : "This site has over 85 web pages containing 2658 different annotated photographs, 70 animations, plus 325 reference documents on metal machining tools, tooling, modifications, methods, & projects."
Model Engine Maker : "A Global Community of Model Engine Machinists"
Model Engineer Support Page : "This site aims to provide the model engineer with information on Workshop and Modelling Topics." Include Projects, Tips, Techniques, Drawings, Experimental
Model Engineer's Workshop : "Model Engineers' Workshop is a relative newcomer, first published in 1990. It is much more concerned with machines, both manual and CNC, tools, methods and processes. Historically, it does not include articles on the construction of models. It usually contains drawings for the construction of a machine, a tool or a machine accessory."
www.metalillness.com : Machine Shop Talk, Projects, and Pictures; CNC/Robotics/Computer/CAD/Automation; Machine and Tool Manuals, Books, and Videos; Lathes, Milling Machines, Shapers, and Sheet Metal tools; MIG/TIG/Stick/Oxy-Acetylene Welding and cutting; Machine and tool Reviews

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Websites - link sites

CNCCookbook: Software and Information for CNC Machinists : "CNC Resources, Groups & Organizations, Reference Data, Suppliers, Individuals, Books, Tool Brands, Free CNC Software, Machinist's Dictionary"
Free Web Plans : Downloadable palns in PDF format for lathe and mill tools, lathe building, furnace making, tubing bender, bending brake, and more.
Machinist-Materials : Links to businesses.
MadModder : "This is a place for those who like to build, craft or modify anything (and everything!) can gather and discuss. I want this to be a place that fosters ideas and learning... plus a good place to show off your talents and skills."
Metal Working Resources : "Here is a hodge-podge collection of helpful metal working links, organized by resources, related associations, and companies that in some way contribute to the well being of the industry."
Pat's Big List Of Metalwork Links : Huge list of links.
ScrapMetalJunkie.com : Collecting and identifying scrap metal.

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Websites - people

Dean's Home Shop Machining Projects : Making tools for lathe and mill, shop built engines, how-tos.
GadgetBuilder's 7X12 MiniLathe and Little Workshop : Huge site of tools, mods, and much more.
Harold Hall : Tools, methods, engines, and much more. ". . . a major portion of it is devoted to metal working activities carried out predominantly in a home metalworking workshop. The reason being that it is mainly for the interest of readers of the Model Engineers' Workshop magazine, of which I was editor . . . and have since written in all but a few issues up to issue 178 (July 2011), now retired. Non readers of the magazine who have a metalworking interest will also find much of this content of interest."
Frank Ford - HOME SHOP TECH Articles : Huge number of articles on lathes, milling, tools, tips. etc.
mikesworkshop : "This website charts my journey from being a newbie through to the present time."
mini-lathe.com : "Your source for information on the 7x10, 7x12, 7x14 and 7x16 mini-lathes"
Mini-Lathe Workshop : This site contains useful tools for Mini/Small-Lathe and Small-Milling Machines.
Model Engineer's Support Page : Very good site, but no longer maintained. The link is to an archive location.
Projects in Metal : "Free Project Plans, Tips, and Tricks for the Amateur Machinist"
Rick Sparber's Web Site : [Includes plans in PDF foramt] Mill Attachments, Projects that Illustrate Technique, Measurement Instruments and Technique, Mill Technique, Horizontal/Vertical Band Saw, Lathe Attachments, Lathe Technique, Bench Work, Software Tools, Shaper, Welding, Alibre Computer Aided Design Software
Richards' Machine Shop : Site no longer maintained; the link is to an archive location.
ShopSwarf : Lots of useful information on gears, gages, mills, procedures, and much more.
Start Model Engineering : "A friendly place full of model engineering help & advice for beginners"
Steve Bedair's 9 x 20 Lathe Site : "As with most imported machines the 9 x 20 is not out of the create ready but with some cleaning, adjusting , and a few
- modifications the 9 x 20 can be a welcome addition to any workshop."
Steve's Toolworks : "Wherever possible I re-use old 'scrap' for projects."
Tool and Die Guy : Chart, tools, and how-tos from a guy with 35 years of experience.
Tools and Mods : Ralph Patterson plans and much more.
Ty's HF 7x10 Mini Lathe Page : Links, hints, repairs, articles, drawings, projects, reference.
wrathall.com : Various 7x12 minilathe improvements, CNC stuff, and more.

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Home machining

Boilers (for model steam engines)

Building Simple Model Steam Engines by Tubal Cain [not free]
Inventor Wizard : Down-loadable (free) plans in PDF format for a number of different steam and stirling engines. The site is not in English, but the plans are.
Little Steamers and Their Boilers : "first appeared as a series of two articles in the American magazine "Garden Railways" (July-August and September-October 1998 numbers)"
Making Simple Model Steam Engines by Stan Bray
Making Safety Valves : "The following photographs show the sequence used making 12 safety valve bodies . . ."
Model Boilers and Boilermaking, K.N Harris : PDF download
Model Stationary and Marine Steam Engines, K.N.Harris : PDF download
Pipe Boiler : Popular Mrchanics, Feb. 1963, p.196 - simple boiler made from hardware store parts.
Steam Oil : The Truth about Steam Oil by Harry Wade
Steam Boiler for Use with a Model Engine : Popular Science, August 1935, p. 68; ". . . this boiler will be found satisfactory for use with any small steam engine."
Wobbler Boiler : A very simple boiler for a small engine.

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Engines: plans, kits, etc.

J.E. Howell Model Engine Plans : "We are the world's largest catalog of quality plans for model stirling engines, atmospheric engines, gas engines, and other model engineering projects."
Boyd's Tin Can Stirlings: "Tin can stirling engines, walking beam stirling engines, hot air engines, stirling plans, hot air engine plans, Stirling engine plans,
- external combustion engine, Stirling plans, hot air engine plans, Stirling Walking Beam Engine. . ."
Downriver Tools : " . . . home to the fine line of steam engine plans and kits manufactured by Historic Models and Reproductions." Also, ". . . we specialize in producing plan sets and kits to convert Bench-Top and Tool Room lathes into production turret lathes. . . to assist machinists needing quantities of duplicate parts but who cannot justify the large financial commitment to CNC or automatic screw machine platforms. . . Whether you are a specialty manufacturer, inventor, or hobbyist, we have a tool design to suit your needs."
Ford's First Engine : Henry Ford built a simple gasoline engine in 1893; plans for a replica of this engine are on sale here.
Graham Industries : Kits: "My name is Robert Graham and I started Graham Industries in 1991. Graham Industries is a home based business that I operate as well as work at my full time job. I work as a CNC machinist and programmer for an electronics manufacturing firm, and have done so for the past 18 years. We are introducing new kits all the time so check back with us from time to time."
Hit and Miss Engine - free plans (David Kerzel)
Jan Ridders - Stirling, Vacuum, and Combustion Engines [plans provided via email request]
John-Tom : "The largest collection of free Steam Engine Plans on the web - Build a Steam Engine at Home or make a small steam generator"
JRBentleycom : Model engines - some great pictures, but no plans
Liney Machine : "We design and build quality air and steam powered engines for the sake of their beauty as a machine. . . Liney Machines offers complete technical drawings for all our engines, as well as kits containing all the metal stock and hardware you will need to machine your own."
Martin Model and Pattern : "Martin Model & Pattern (MM&P) exists to provide Industry and Hobby alike with the best quality patterns and castings." Engine kits, machine tool kits, flywheels.
McCabe : "Free plans for small piston-type heat engines. . . Excellent for engineering and physics students. Also suitable for hobby or research purposes. Several of the models are designed to be built only with hand tools."
Otto Gas Engine Works : Good source for piston rings.
PM Research Inc. : "Working Model Steam Engine & Machine Tool Kits, Model Supplies and Finished Model Hot Air & Stirling Cycle Engines. With 28 Different Working Model Kits In Stock At All Times"
Popular Mechanics steam engine (Part 1) : Good beginner engine (Part 2 is a boiler for the engine)
Popular Mechanics Pollywog : (1933) model outboard racer, twin cylinder oscillating steam engine with boiler
Popular Mechanics : (1938) "A Candle Runs this Engine"
stirlingbuilder.com/: "This site is full of resources for students, hobbyists, and small engine enthusiasts who wish to make their own Stirling Engines from simple materials and without expensive machine tools."
Upshur Engine Works - [archived link] Gasoline engine plans, $10 per set of plans [2012]
Weber Precision : V8 and turbine engines : "This site has been developed to promote the hobby of model engineering, I would just like more people to know what can be built with a lathe and milling machine."

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Lathe mods

Carriage
- Carriage stop
- Carriage (saddle) lock :
  - Clamp with lever : Good discussion of design considerations.
  - Clamp type carriage lock (Vikki Ford) : cached link
  - Clamp type carriage lock : (scroll way down the page)
  - Clamp type : Simple clamp
  - Minilathe Carriage Lock : Clamp type for H-shaped saddle
  - Varmint Al's carriage lock : "I drilled and tapped a ¼-20 hole on the far side of the saddle . . ."
  - Vamint Al - modified : "I got this idea from Varmint Al, then embellished it with a T-handle. Note the brass plug in the tip of the bolt."
- Saddle Fit Improvement : Grinding, with silicon carbide paper
- Saddle fitting/lapping : This site
Cross slide
- Cross slide extended travel
  - Tools and Mods : Cross-slide extension and thrust bearing mod
  - Mikesworkshop
- Handle extension
- Power cross slide : Using a stepper motor
Digital ReadOuts
- Digital ReadOuts for the Minilathe : GadgetBuilder - modified digital calipers
Digital controllers (note: this is not CNC, which is a whole topic in itself)
- AutoTurn Digital Lathe Controller : Commercial version of an Electronic Lead Screw
- Electronic Lead Screw (ELS) : "he ELS is a single board computer with 35 keys, a rotary encoder knob and 2x20 LCD display designed as an Open Source GPL project to control the Lead Screw and optionally the Cross Slide of a metal lathe."
Gears
- Gear reduction mod
- Knobs to Speed up Gear Swapping
Quick change gear box:
- A Quick- Change Gearbox For The 7x Minilathe : [archived link] PDF download
- Mini Lathe Quick Change Gearbox Project : Lots of pictures, but no plans.
- Quick-Change Gearbox for the Chinese 7x10 (or longer) mini lathe : http://swarfrat.com/MiniLatheGearbox.htm
Saddle gibs:
- Replacement gibs - brass : http://www.mini-lathe.com/Mini_lathe/Modifications/modifications.htm#brass_gibs
- Tapered saddle gibs : http://warhammer.mcc.virginia.edu/ty/7x10/vault/Lathes/7x10-7x12-Projects/TaperedSaddleGibs/
- Tapered saddle gibs build : http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,181.0/prev_next,next.html#new
- Tapered saddle gibs build : on this website
- Tapered saddle gib - alternate : http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/aff/24/aft/119236/afv/topic/Default.aspx
Tailstock
- Adjustment (Alignment)
  - Alignment Check : Lapping the base to eliminate "rocking"
  - MiniLathe Tailstock Adjuster
  - Tailstock adjuster : This tailstock adjuster makes it much easier to adjust the tailstock to center or to adjust it to cut tapers.
  - Tailstock alignment : ". . .replace the locking screw with a bolt which can be tightened from above . . . and drilling and tapping two more holes in the left hand end of the upper section. . ."
  - Tailstock Alignment Trick
  - TailStock SetOver Adjusting Modification : Extensive modifications by Rick Kruger.
- Cam lock
  - Improved cam lock
  - Mini Lathe Cam-lock Tailstock
  - Tailstock cam lock : Steve Bedair's 9x20
- Depth gage
  - Depth Gauge for Drilling in a Lathe - Popular Mechanics (May 1909, Google Books)
  - Dial indicator
  - Tailstock drilling stop - Popular Science (March 1932, Google Books)
  - Tail-Stock DRO for Mini Lathe
Way covers : Magnetic way covers

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Lathe tools and Accessories (building)

Ball turning tools
- Spherical turning : Discussion of the different ways to turn a sphere.
- Gravers : Scroll down to gravers below. Gravers are like wood lathe turning tools, but for a metal lathe - they can be used to turn spheres and other curved shapes.
- Rotor type:
  - An Uncommon Ball Turner : Plans and a tutorial
  - Ball Turning Toolpost (rotor type) : PDF plans "It can turn balls up to 1 7/8" OD and it can also do concave cuts."
  - Ball Turning Tool for Small Lathe : by S. Magis-Frankart
  - Boring head Ball/Radius turner : "There seems to be heaps of threads on ball turners on the forum but not much said about using a boring head to do this. So here is one set up to fit on a BXA tool post."
  - OMW Radius Turning Tool : Tips on how to use a commercially available tool.
  - QCTP mounted tool : "made it to mount in a AXA, BXA, or CXA QCTP so it can be used on different machines simply by adjusting the center height on the tool post." [Pictures and video, but no plans.]
  - rotor type : http://www.gadgetbuilder.com/BallFixture.html
  - rotor type - simplified: http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/threads/39202-Shop-Made-Tools?p=512865#post512865
  - rotor type : "Conceptually, the design presented here follows the basic philosophy of the Steve Bedair design and also uses a TCMT insert. However, the construction is rather different and the placement of the insert is changed to allow the cutting tip to approach right up to the supporting shaft permitting a true unshouldered ball to be turned.
  - Shop Built Radius Cutter : Simple but effective design; includes photos and plans.
  - Tool Holder Simplifies Convex Turning : Popular Mechanics, Jan. 1946
  - Yet Another Ball Turner for the Lathe : (rotor type - horizontal variation) A ball turner with precision adjustment for tool depth."
- Tube type
  - Hollow Cutting Tool : Popular Mechanics, May 1945
  - Mini ball lathe tool : " . . . tool that allows to turn relatively easily some small balls on the lathe.The initial purpose of these balls is to make woodwind instrument ball shape posts for supporting keys.
  - Turning and Polishing Plastic Balls : Popular Mechanics, Jan. 1941, page 141. ". . . plastic balls are easy to form with a simple tool made of tubing . . . "
    - Related video by "slausonm": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncpNJDvMilA
- Yoke type
  - Ball Turning Tool : Jay Tuckwood provides plans and build instructions for a basic but effective ball turner.
  - Ball Turning Tool Kit : "Material and drawing kit including drawing set, all stock, bearings, and fasteners required for completion of QCTP ball turning tool.[$59.00]"
  - Boring Head Ball Turner : ". . .use an inexpensive import boring head to make a ball turner."
  - PDF : [archived link] (yoke type) The "over-engineered" spherical turning tool, Designed/Built by: Reed M. Streifthau
  - Vertical-Plane Ball Turner :
- Videos
  - Making (and using) a ball turning toolpost, first step to a cannon ball
Bench grinder
- Bench Grinder Basics : Popular Mechanics, Mar. 1990, p. 75
- Cutting tool grinding jig
  - Lathe Tool Sharpening Jig
- Drill grinding jig : "Here's a simple drill point angle jig I made. Gives reasonable results for people like me who haven't done enough drill sharpening to consistantly grind nice points."
- Grinder modifications : Grinding dust collection, tool rest, diamond tool guide ring
- Single Point Diamond Dresser Tips : "To receive the maximum diamond use and the maximum work out of a grinding wheel . . ."
- Tool rest for bench grinder
  - Bench Grinder Tool Rest : by Ishimira
  - How to grind work with micrometer precision : Popular Mechanics, Nov. 1967, p. 194
  - Tool Rest for your Bench Grinder : Popular Mechanics, Aug. 1953, page 191
Boring bar from drill rod
Chip Control Shield (Chip Guard)
- Chip Control Shield : by Ishimura (for mill or lathe)
- Chipguard (for lathe)
- Plexiglass shield (for lathe)
Chip Tray
- pull out swarf tray : "supplemental tray from 1mm aluminium sheet"
- Replacement Base (Chip Tray) : "My new/used mini-lathe was missing a chip tray, so I built one that also serves as a sturdy base."
Coolant/lubrication system
- Compressed air powered : [Video] Tom Lipton shows his compressed air powered lubricant dispenser.
- Cooling / Lubricating system for my lathe : Gravity fed unit; build log with pictures and explanation.
- Drip can : Very simple method using a drip oil can.
- Inexpensive Coolant System : Another submersible pump powered system.
- Portable Coolant / Lube System for the Lathe or Mill : Portable system which recycles coolant - made with submersible pump.
- Simple lathe gravity feed oil drip : [Video] "Apart from being useful for parting operations - because it travels with the saddle it is handy for long longitudinal cuts as well, especially when heavy."
Cutting tool grinding
- Flycutter cutting tool geometry
  - CNCCookbook : Lengthy discussion with lots of pictures
- Grinding Lathe Tools : Tutorial with lots of pictures.
- Grinding Tool Bits : Little Machine Shop; PDF with recommendation on tool bit geometry
- Grinding Your Own Lathe Tools : Sherline Products page; basic grinding techniques
- How to Use a Lathe : Includes a section on tool grinding and tool bit geometry
- Single point lathe tool angles : Includes a picture of standard shapes
- Tool sharpening and shaping for plastic
- Trepanning Tool : "Trepanning is a useful operation that may be thought of as putting a groove in the face of a workpiece on the lathe. The groove may be narrow, a wide recess, or even all the way through to cut a disc out."
- Vertical Shear Bit for Finishing : "The "vertical shear bit" is an adaptation of a finishing bit used on shapers as described by Moltrecht ppg 13-15 (note this book was formerly available for viewing on google books but is now only available as a paid version - so far as I know)."
D drills (making and using; also known as half-round drill bits. See also reamers.)
- D Bits by Cyril Collins : [archived link] From Metal Web News
- Discussion with pictures : From madmodder.net
- Drilling and Reaming : From the Model Engineer Support Page
- How to Machine Your Own D Bits : Popular Science, Oct. 1967 (Google e-book)
- Making A D Bit Single Flute Milling Cutter : [Video] Although this is for a milling cutter, it also applies to making D-bit drills.
- Tool Making : From Mike Nelson's website
Drive Center : A drive center mounts in the headstock and enables turning between centers without a lathe dog.
Filing guide : "Simple Filing Guide"
Gravers
- Making Gravers By William R. Smith : "This technique is also used in instrument making and modelmaking for turning special shapes like ball ends without having to grind a special shaped cutter for the job."
- A Graver Rest for the MiniLathe : "WR Smith's information, found on the Sherline site provided the basis for my version."
- Graver rest for X2 Mini Lathe : " . . . built this rest to fit into my QCTP. It's quite solid and allows me to use it for material from 1/16 to 1.5"."
- T-Rest : "The T-Rest is used to support a metal cutting tool called a "graver" which is hand held rather than held in a tool post . . ."
- Turnado : This Australian company sells a complete free hand turning system for metal lathes; see their video for demonstration of how it works, as well as important safety tips for free hand turning on the lathe.
  - DIY version : Shop made of the Turnado with template tracer.
  - DIY version : Another shop made version; includes good discussion on some practical issues.
  - DIY version : Shop made version incorporating QCTP.
- Turning Metal by hand : [Video] Good video showing use of gravers on steel, and discussion of different types of gravers.
- Using a graver : [Video] Clickspring shows the use of a graver on brass.
Hand crank for headstock
- Hand crank : Attached with expanding arbor.
- Hand crank : External clamping; Ralph Patterson's plans.
- Hand crank : Folding handle, expanding arbor (photos only]
Height gauge from digital caliper
- Forum discussion - build considerations
- Frank McLean's Digital Height Gage : [archived link]
- Gage Base : Look for "Gages" on this page - Ralph Patterson has downloadable plans for a simple base for a digital caliper.
- Height gauge build log - includes fine adjust and vertical support post (best build, in my opinion)
- Salvaged from dial-reading
- Scratch built
Indexable insert holder
- Indexable Insert Tool Holders : Short build log.
- Indexable Turning Tools - How to build your own : Good build log and instructions by Steve Bedair.
- TPGB Insert Dovetail Cutter : Dovetail cutter made using indexable inserts.
Indexer
- Circular saw blade indexer : (video) Using a circular saw blade to index on a lathe for scribing dials.
- Dividing plates : "Here is a method of dividing a strip of paper into a number of equal parts. This can then be used to
  - drill your dividing disc."
- Headstock indexing unit : "The obvious solution was a worm wheel that engaged with the bull gear attached to the spindle shaft. This has 45 teeth so one turn of a worm would rotate the spindle through 8 degrees."
- Index Plate for the Taig Lathe : "I've seen quite a few references to improvised indexing techniques using circular saw blades but have never found a detailed how-to description. The following describes how I did it on the drill press but it should work equally well using a mill."
- Making an Index Plate : "I have made a great multiple row set of index plates that directly mount between the spindle pulley and the head stock of my little TAIG lathe and provides me with a multitude of divisions for just about anything I may need to mill."
- Simple indexer : "A simple way to index on a minilathe is to make use of the change gear supplied with the lathe."
Indicator holder : QCTP indicator holder.
Keyway cutting (see also "Broaches" under Miscellaneous tools)
- Cutting Internal Keyway in a Lathe : "A boring bar is fitted with a tool bit the proper width . . ."
- Keyway cutting tool : "This is a dedicated tool for making square holes and keyways."
Knurling tools
- Clamp type : Build log with plans.
- Clamp type : LittleMachineShop build plans
  - See related Stock Diameters for Even Knurls
- Clamp type knurler : Pictures and PDF plans (click on the "P")
- Clamp type knurling tool for the Taig Lathe
- Cut knurler : "Knurling plastic (HDPE, Nylon) works better than with the pressure knurler but the tops of the pyramids are slightly rounded compared to metal."
- Knurling tool holder : Modified QCTP holder designed to hold the knurling tool centrally in order to prevent "twisting."
- Lever type : R.G. Sparber's modified knurling tool
- Scissors Knurler by Rob Zimmerman : PDF plan
Lantern chuck : "Got fed up cutting screws down and then trying to get a decent finish on the end. Now just rough cut them and then pop them in the chuck and then shape the end . . ."
Pump Center by George Carlson : "Pump centers are used with a dial or test indicator to true up the center of punch mark with the center axis of the lathe."
Quick Change Tool Posts (QCTP)
- A Quick Look at the QCTP : A review of four different types of QCTP toolposts, with pictures.
- Quick Change Toolpost : [archived link] John Stevenson's build instructions and drawings.
- Quick-Change Toolpost for Small Lathes : George Carlson's build instructions and drawings.
- Quick Change Tool Post : "Amigo's" build log.
- Tool Holders for a QCTP : " It is possible to make toolholders with a mill, given a dovetail cutter."
- Tool holder alternate method : Make tool holders without a dovetail cutter.
Reamers (see also D drills.)
- D-bit reamer help : (Home Modem Engine Machinist) Discussion on making D-bit type reamers.
- Forum discussion : (The Hobby-Machinist) Making d-drills and reamers.
- How to Make Special Reamers in an Emergency : [Google Books] Popular Science, Dec. 1925, pp. 128. How to make several types of shop-made reamers.
Rotary Broaching - the easy way
Rotary tool - toolpost holder for
- Toolpost Attachment for a High Speed Rotary Tool : [PDF] Toolpost holder for a Dremel type rotary tool.
Soft Jaws
- A Dedicated Chuck for Shortening Screws
- Jaw Soft Covers : "For my jaw covers I like to use thin copper sheet. I had some .030 thick sheet around so I cut out some blanks."
Spider (for lathe chuck)
- Easy build spider for small lathe : Basic spider from aluminum.
- Lathe back stop and spider : [archived link] Backstop with through-headstock adjustable depth.
- Spider from thin metal pieces : Very thin spider made from flat metal pieces soldered together.
- Spider with spacers : Marv Klotz spider with multiple spacers for height adjustment.
Spring Center : "So what’s a spring center good for? Basically it helps the user tap a hole."
Steady rest, follow rest
- Mini Ball Bearing Follow Rest : Frank Ford's follow rest mounts on toolpost
- Moving steady : Mikesworkshop follow rest
Stubby chuck key for four jaw chuck
- Chuck key for my 4 jaw mini-lathe chuck : very simple build
- Speed Key For Your Four Jaw Chuck (David Morrow)
- Stubby Key for Chuck : this website
Threading
- Retracting Tool Holder for Threading
- Swing up toolholder for threading : Simplifies threading
- Swing up thread cutting tool : An 1883 patent (PDF file)
Tapers and taper attachments
- How to cut a Morse Taper … the Easy Way! : ". . . it occurred to me that I could use my compound to cut a Morse taper since it has plenty of travel. I needed about 4″ of travel to cut a number 3 Morse taper . . "
- Myford Taper Turning Attachment : Dovetail taper attachment - a complex build beautifully done.
- Offset tailstock center ("Set-over center") : Plans here or buy.
- Offset tailstock center using boring head : Also good discussion on using a ball-end center.
- Shop made lathe taper attachment : From Popular Mechanics 1962 (PDF here )
- MiniLathe Taper Attachment : (bolt on) "The original lathe taper attachment design used a casting but the article suggested using angle iron and steel plate as a substitute."
- Taper turning attachment (removable) : "However any taper longer than about 80 mm is beyond the capacity of even the modified top slide. For longer tapers then some sort of taper turning attachment is desirable."
- Taper Turning Attachments : Popular Mechanics, Sep. 1951, page 212
- Tailstock offset (setover) method
Tool Holders
- Spring-type tool holder for parting tool
  - Forum posting : www.homemadetools.net/forum/lathe-parting-tool-spring-type-tool-holder-qctp-60469?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=07-10-17#post91415
  - Plans [PDF] : http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/attachments/lathe-parting-tool-spring-type-tool-holder-qctp-lathepartingtool_2av1.pdf-17569d1492640291
- Tangential tool holders (see also somewhat related Vertical Shear Bit under Cutting Tool Grinding above)
  - A Tangential Tool Holder for the QCTP : Includes a good discussion on tangential tools in general.
  - Tangential toolholder : "My design requires only simple angles to be set up in order to produce it."
- Tool Holders for a QCTP : " It is possible to make toolholders with a mill, given a dovetail cutter."
- Tool holders for a QCTP : How to build tool holders for the A2Z and OXA QCTPs; includes measured drawings.
Tracer/duplicator
- Inside-Out Turning Done Without Template : Popular Mechanics, March 1946
- Simple manual tracing attachment for any lathe : Shop made tracer using a sheet metal pattern.
- Simple Lathe Pattern Follower : [PDF] "The follower consists of two parts. There is a bar with a ball bearing attached that clamps under the cutter. Bolted to the lathe ways is a table which holds the pattern. This follower is intended for decorative turning and not precision work."
- Tracer Lathes, Set up and Uses

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Mill mods (Mini-mill modifications)

Backlash
- Minimizing Backlash on Mini Mills : LittleMachineShop Service Bulletin 1008
Gibs - improvements and adjustment
- Modification : ". . . machine proper flats into the gibs . . .[gib lock] end was extended and faced flat."
Lighting
- LED lamps : Adapting Janso LED lamps for the mill.
- Machining a JANSJÖ LED Work Lamp Adapter Plate : [Video] A magnetic adapter plate.
- Mill light : Light built from LED ring light.
- Mill light : Light built from LED arrays.
Power feed (X-axis)
- Make or Buy a Power Feed for your Mini-Mill : Article on power feeds, with links.
- Electric drill based
  - Power feed : (Video only - no plans) Made from electric dril
  - Power feed : Made from electric drill. No plans, but lots of photos.
  - Power feed : Very simple feed from electric drill.
  - Power feed : Made from electric drill; long write-up in two parts.
- Power feed : Made from salvaged printer parts
- Power feed : (Video only - no plans, requires Yahoo group membership) "24V gearmotor rated at 6 in-lb of torque at 144 rpm at 2A current draw powered by 24V 2.5A dc power supply using a variable duty cycle DC speed controller all purchased on eBay for under $50." (Photos here)
Reverse switch
- Hacking the SX2 Mini Mill : "Adding a reverse switch and reverse engineering the tachometer port protocol."
- Reversible spindle for X2 mini mill : "I went to the electronics store, bought a DPDT ON-ON type switch, rated for 250 VAC / 3 A."

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Milling tools and accessories (building)

Chip guards
- Magnetic chip guard : "Swarf shield made by milling a groove on an aluminum bar, attaching neodymium magnets . . . "
Clamping
- Clamping plate and mini-clamps : "The idea is that this is a scaled down version of the big strap clamp kit that everybody gets with their milling machine. Everything I seem to be working on is shrinking in size so I had a need to hold small delicate parts without crushing them and have access to do the work."
Coolant/lubrication system
- See under Lathe Tools and Accessories
Counterbores
- Counterbore : How to make a counterbore.
- Counterbore : Another build based on the above link.
- Counterbores : From Modern shop practice: a general reference work, Volume 3 (1916) by Howard Monroe Raymond, American Technical Society (free Google ebook)
- A Shop Made CounterBore : "Modest size counterbores are reasonably simple to make in the home shop, it takes only a little bit of drill rod and some time. I make the pilots removable for ease of resharpening."
D-Bit Cutter
- Making A D Bit Single Flute Milling Cutter : [Video] Making and using customized milling cutters.
Dovetail cutter
- Indexable dovetail cutter
- Indexable dovetail cutter : Make a dovetail cutter.
Fixture Plate
- Clamping And Workholding Kit : Clamping straps and other useful ideas for use with a fixture plate.
- Mini-pallet work holding : [by Tom Lipton] "The idea is that this is a scaled down version of the big strap clamp kit that everybody gets with their milling machine." Also known as a tooling plate or tooling jig.
- Mini-pallet tilt plate : [by Tom Lipton] A version of the mini-pallet which can be used as a work holding tilt table.
- Mini-pallete improvements : [Video] Ideas for using alignment pins for alignment and tilting.
- Tilt table : Another fixture plate variation for use as a tilt table; no plans but plenty of pictures.
Fly cutters
- Fly cutter : "...made from a piece of 1.1/4" hexagon steel bar for the head and a piece of 3/4" round steel bar silver soldered together."
- Special Fly Cutter : "I wanted to make a fly cutter that would be particularly useful for surfacing wood and plastic - one that would have both a roughing bit and a finishing bit working together."
- Tangential tool flycutter : "I started to wonder whether a flycutter with a tangential tool was possible and whether it would increase the rate of removal of material."
Flycutter cutting tool geometry
- CNCCookbook : Lengthy discussion with lots of pictures
Gear cutters
- Cutting Involute Gears With Form Tools : [archived link][PDF] by John Stevenson, making an involute gear cutter by the button method.
- Designing gear cutters : Explanation of calculations behind the button method for making involute cutters.
- Gear Cutting : Series of articles on cutting gears using the hob method. Includes a very good page of links.
- Gear cutting with a rack form multi-tooth cutter : " . . .a cylindrical cutter with a rack tooth form - this would at first sight look rather like a hob, but instead of generating the teeth by screwcutting at the correct pitch for the rack, you take a series of plunge cuts with a rack-form lathe tool, the cuts spaced apart by the module size of the desired rack."
- Making Gear Cutters with Buttons : [PDF] Very good writeup on making gear cutters, with lengthy discussion and tables.
- Making Milling Cutters for cutting gear wheels : [PDF] by D. J. Unwin - lengthy article with instructions and tables.
- Making Multi-Point Gear Cutters : " . . .I figure it's time I took a step up to multi-point gear cutters. They should make my gear cutting chores much quicker, once I have the set-up for making the cutters."
- Using Circular Approximation for Involute Gears : " . . .if we know the proper dimensions, we can make our own gear cutters using circular approximation of the involute form, and the gears that result will be "good enough" for virtually any home shop project."
  - Includes Excel spreadsheet for calculating required dimensions
- Wheel and Pinion Cutting : Making gears for watches.
Jack (machinist's jack)
- Screw jack : "These jack screws are designed for use with the milling machine. The diameter is 25 mm and height 30 mm. The material is free-cutting steel. The square thread is not essential, but adds a nice touch."
- Machinist Jacks : Made with hex rod and bolts.
Slitting saw holder
- Flush Cut Slitting Saw : ". . . a slitting saw that would cut completely flush to a surface . . ."
- Screw slotting saw arbor : "It is very straightforward to make slitting saw arbors on the lathe . . "
- Slitting saw arbor : "The slitting saw arbor described here inverts the usual arrangement and the register for the saw blade is formed in the cap and this allows the clamping screw to be recessed."
- Slitting and slotting saws : Popular Mechanics, Feb. 1966. p. 186; Article on slitting saws with drawings of several different arbor designs.
- Slitting saw arbor : photos only
Spin indexer
- Improvements
  - modification : [video] Adding additional direct indexing capability (plans are here).
  - modification : conversion to a dividing head
  - modification : improving fit and reducing endplay
- Mounting on a small mill
  - Milling and slotting the base : Pictures only
  - Mounting holes and register bar : Good writeup with pictures.
  - Mounting holes and register bar : Good writeup with pictures.
  - Mounting a spin indexer on a small mill : Lengthy forum post with lots of good discussion and pictures.
- Tailstock
  - Adjustable Tailstock for a 5C Spin Indexer : "Making my own adjustable tailstock turned out to be a rather simple straight forward project with only the center piece being in anyway critical as to dimensioning and tolerance."
Tailstock for Spin Indexer : ". . .an unconventional tailstock that supports extended bar stock . . ."
Vise
- Low profile vise : Picture only, but pretty much self-explanatory.
- Small low profile machine vise : "The finished vise is a good size for holding little things - for comparison it's about the same size as the ones for a Taig, and about half the size of the smaller Kurt."
- Two piece vise : "Whilst a single fixed jaw with a single clamping jaw will find many uses in the workshop making two pairs will greatly enhance the capability of the system . . "
- Two piece vise : "An independent 2 jaw vise for the benchmill. Cheap and easy to make and very useful. Low profile 35mm high, 4.5" wide jaws opening to 12" . . ."
Vise clamps
- making vise clamps on the milling machine : clamps from angle iron
- Milling vise clamps : Pin type clamp.
Vise work stop
- Homemade mill vise stop fabricated from threaded rod.
- An Improved Mill Stop, version 2 : "What do you do when you must put a stop against a surface you then want to mill? One method is to place a block between them and then remove the block before milling. Here is a much better way."
- Mill vise stop : Discussion of various types with photos.
- Milling vise stop from snugs
- Mill Work Stop Plans : [PDF] Plans for a mill work stop.
- Vise Stop for the Kurt Vise
Work stops (X-axis table stops)
- Mill table stops and locks : (Sieg X1 mill) Table stops in the absence of a t-slot.
- Mill Table Stops : (X3 mill) "It’s a simple pair of table stops for my X-3 mill." Also includes a method for cylindrical t-nuts.
- Taig Mill – Table Stops : Photos and build log.
- Work stops (mill table) : Milling table stops for the Model 3900 HiTorque Mini Mill.
- X Axis Travel Stops for the Taig Milling Machine : Photos and build log.

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Miscellaneous Tools, Toys, and Items (building)

Bandsaw, portable
- Blade recommendations : Recommendations from LittleMachineShop.com
- Combined style - horizontal and vertical
  - Portable bandsaw stand : Cutoff, and vertical.
  - Portable bandsaw stand : Cutoff, miter, and vertical.
- Cutoff style
  - Portable bandsaw stand : Cut off & Vertical (Video only).
- Verticle style
  - Portable bandsaw stand : Upright stand for Harbor Freight portable bandsaw (photographs only).
  - Portable bandsaw stand : Upright stand for portable bandsaw (includes drawing with measurements).
  - Portable bandsaw stand : "Simple Plans for how to make a portable band saw stand"
Broaches (see also "Keyway cutting" under Lathe tools)
- Broaching cutters, making : "The broaches I use are aimed at my needs which is basically occasional use and thus, by necessity, low cost and designed specifically to fit my broaching jig."
- Broach, square : Making a small (3.4mm) square broach. See plans here, and a build video here.
- Homemade keyway broaches : "They are made from old four flute taps with all but one tap ground down."
Cams
- Holt camshaft build tutorial : Method for making cams by milling a series of approximations.
Piston Rings
- An Essay On Piston Rings : by T. D. Walshaw; discussion of piston ring mathematics and types.
- Construction : Feeney Construction Log - detailed article with lots of good references.
- Construction : Cold forming using the "rolling" method
- How To Make Piston Rings : Good overview with links and references.
- How To Make Your Own Quality Piston Rings : Article by Mick Collins - lengthy discussion with mathematical formulas and practical advice.
- Make piston rings easily : "This article deals with making new or replacement piston rings for model engines, and obsolete, worn or antique engines . . ."
- Making Piston Rings for Gas Engines : Article by Mick Collins; " . . .an introduction to a suggested method for making small piston rings, based on articles by Prof. Chaddock and Tom Walshaw (Tubal Cain). . ."
- Making rings : Article by Dale Detrich
- Piston rings - no heat method : Cast iron piston rings are made using a machining-only method.
- Piston Rings - sylvestris : Write up on making piston rings with some suggested formulas for size and ring gap.
Toys (stuff to make just for fun)
- Bolt Puzzles
  - Captive nut : This is also sometimes called the "impossible bolt" (and probably other names as well.
  - Captive nut : A build log by Frank Ford showing how to make this classic.
  - Captive nut ("Impossible screw") : Video explaining how it works.
  - Hollow Spy Bolt : A bolt with a secret hidden compartment. These instructions can be much improved, but the article will give you the general idea.
  - Homemade Puzzles : Three bolt puzzles (including one similar to the "sneaky Puzzle" below.
  - Mechanical Puzzles : Various bolt puzzles, some fairly elaborate.
  - Sneaky Puzzle for a Machinist : "If it is made right, and you hold the hex head, the nut will only screw on! If you hold the thread end it, will only unscrew!"
- Burr Puzzles
  - Aluminum Burr Puzzle : "Burr puzzles can be learned about on their Wikipedia page. I printed a copy of the #305 image off that page to use a drawing, no dimensions necessary due the modular nature of these puzzles."
- Captive ring : Picture only for this one, along with some interesting discussion.
- Dice - [Video] "This video is how to turn cube shaped 6 sided game dice on a mini lathe."
- Dodecahedron : Make a dodecahedron on a lathe.
- Dominos, Mill-Spec : Dominos made from aluminum (anodized black).
- Fifteen Puzzle : An interesting take on this old puzzle; a good starting point for your own approach to this build.
- Finger Engine : NAMES finger engine plans . Other names for this: thumb engine, thumb fun engine, treadle engine, treadle finger engine
  - Revised NAMES Plans : A build log with revisions and improvements to the NAMES finger engine plans.
  - Billy's Heavy Duty Treadle Motor : Available in the download section of HMEM (may require free registration).
  - Forum discussion (with additional useful information - note the distinction between horizontal and vertical finger engines))
- Fire Piston
  - Fire piston : "A fire piston, sometimes called a fire syringe or a slam rod fire starter, is a device of ancient origin which is used to kindle fire. [Wikipedia]"
  - Fire piston plans : Plans from "Clickspring" in both inch and metric.
- Gyroscope
  - Plans in inch {PDF] or metric [PDF] (also see video build)
- Hollow coin : Discussion on how to make a hollow coin.
- Impossible dovetail
  - Impossible Dovetail : [Video] "In this video I machine my version of the "Impossible" Dovetail. This is a popular woodworking project, that I learned about from watching Jack Houweling on his YouTube channel." Plans for this project are for sale here ($3 as of 12/31/2015).
  - Impossible Dovetail plans : [PDF] This free download is for a wood version of the puzzle, but could be easily adapted to metal.
- Interlocking rings : This video shows how to mill interlocking rings.
- Kentucky Do-Nothing : A three-slider version of the Do-Nothing Maching" - now you can do nothing even faster!
- Newton's Cradle : ". . .a simple and well-known device with what the law of "conservation of momentum" can be demonstrated which is based on Newton's third law: action = reaction . . "
- Spinning tops : "12000 RPM Spinning Tops . . ." Video only - very simple tops with a purpose made "spinner".
- Two headed coin : Discussion on how to do this; also includes method for making a "trick nickel."
- Two-Slider : Sometimes called "the do nothing machine."

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Tips and Tricks

bend tubing and pipe by hand: http://www.metalgeek.com/archives/2005/05/01/000047.php
carbide - see Indexable Inserts under Other Information
knurling
- Conrad's Easy Knurling Method : To make your knurling come out properly with no double tracking you need to select the blank diameter of your stock to match the pitch of the knurl.
- Miniature rope knurling tool : How to make the tool, plus additional links on this technique.
- Rope knurl : How to make a rope knurling tool
- Stock Diameters for Even Knurls : Knurls have a definite pitch, and they work best when the stock diameter is an approximate multiple of that pitch. Here is a calculator and an easy formula to find the next smaller diameter from the diameter of your work piece.
machinable wax (make your own) Part 1, Part 2 : Can be used for practising, prototyping, lost wax casting, etc. Cheap, and swarf can be recycled.
scrap metal identification : [spark test] "With the standardization of metals, it can be quite easy to distinguish many types of alloys just by looking at the stream of sparks they throw off . . "
screws, shortening
- Cap Screw Holder
- Dedicated Chuck for Shortening Screws
- Shortening Small Screws : shortening small set screws
- Stepped Screw Plate : "...a little device for shortening cap screws..."
springs (see also springs under Calculators)
- Design and Wind Your Helical Springs : Article by Kozo Hiraoko on designing and making springs, including a method for estimating required mandrel size.
- Spring calculator : Online calculator from Acxcess Spring : "Spring Creator features a compression spring calculator, an extension spring calculator, and a torsion spring calculator all with amazing new features. The main features of the spring calculators are easy to measure inputs, spring load calculations, warnings and helpful tips, easy ways to determine if your design is "safe", custom blueprint generation, multiple spring design diagrams as well as much more." Be sure to check out their Tech Info pages for lots of good information on springs.
- Springs, how to make: New link here: http://educypedia.karadimov.info/library/springs.pdf ; archived link of old version here: http://web.archive.org/web/20130918155928/http://home.earthlink.net/~bazillion/intro.html
- Making Springs on the Small Lathe
- Springs - Wind Them Yourself : Popular Mechanics (Nov. 1947, p209), jig for hand winding springs of various diameters and pitches
- Stress Relief : [PDF] Good discussion of heat treating wire for stress relief, with a table (Oven Stress Relief Temperatures & Times for Wire) for numerous types of wire.
taps
- alum to remove broken tap or broken drill bit: http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/showthread.php?t=18683
- Tip to Remove broken Tap, Drill, Reamer : "The remains of the tap can be easily dissolved away completely leaving the hole undamaged, using ALUM..."
thin pieces and thin washers - facing
- Crystalbond : "Crystalbond™ and Wafer-Mount™ washaway mounting adhesives are ideal materials for temporarily mounting objects that require dicing, polishing, and other machining processes. These adhesives exhibit high bond strength and adhere readily to metals, glass and ceramics. When processing is complete, Crystalbond™ and Wafer-Mount™ adhesives are removed by reheating and cleaning with a wide range of different solvents."
- facing thin parts : discussion thread (glue, soft jaws, carpet tape)
- face plate thin materials (video) : MIT Tech TV
- indicating parts in the lathe quickly (video) : A method for quickly aligning thin parts (and cylindrical parts).
- lathe back stop : [archived link] back stop to support a thin ring while turning
- Making Some Small Delrin Washers : A method for making small thin washers.
- pot chuck for thin work : "a simple way of chucking thin work reasonably accurately"
- Shim washers, Making : Two interesting techniques for making thin washers from shim stock.
- Shim washer - precision : Video (Joe Pieczynski) showing a method for boring out very thin shims.
- Turning a Precision Washer (PDF) : "Turning a thin disk such that its two faces are parallel can be deceptively difficult. I will show you one way to do it."
- Wax chuck
  - All about wax chucks : "A wax chuck is a workholding fixture commonly used by clock and watchmakers for turning operations."
  - Using a wax chuck : "Shellac Chucks – The perfect way to hold unusual bits and bobs in the Watchmakers Lathe"
  - Wax Mandrels and Chucks : Also known as a "shellac chuck;" the same technique can be used with mandrels.
tool grinding
- Advanced Tool Sharpening for the Lathe with Special emphasis on Threading Tools
- trepanning (disk cutting): http://www.cnccookbook.com/CCToolGrinding.htm
turning a small diameter: http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/f26/turning-small-diameter-16948/

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Why these links?

With Google and other search engines available, what is the point of this page of links? While searching the Internet is certainly worthwhile, sometimes a search returns too much information; for example, if you get a list of hundreds of metals suppliers, how do you know which ones cater to hobbyists, and which ones require you to buy by the ton? The links on these pages are based on discussions and recommendations from various machinist groups and forums on the Internet. Of course this does not mean that in all cases the information or vendors in these links are reliable, but it does mean that the links have passed a basic test of usefulness. As always, take all the information you find here with a grain of salt, and always use your best judgment in evaluating and using this information.

In short, I have done my best to act as a good editor - to sift through the many links to a topic in order to select those which are most useful and most informative. This page will always be a work in progress, so if you see something missing on this visit, you may find it on your next visit. And by all means, please use the comments to suggest links.

Notes:

I am not affiliated with any of the vendors listed here. I do not vouch for or guarantee any of the information listed here.
Where a link is followed by information is quotes, that information is taken from the relevant web page and represent the web owners opinion of themselves.
Some links on this page may apply to multiple categories. In such cases, the link is put under one "primary" category. It is recommend that you use the page search function of your browser to search this page for relevant terms.

Why one big page?

You may be asking yourself, why is all this stuff on one big web page, instead of multiple web pages - one for each category. The reason I did it this way is so that you can use the search function of your web browser to search for specific terms in all of the categories at once.

About dead links

In some cases I have found useful links which point to web pages that no longer exist. In such cases, it is sometimes still possible to find the (still useful) information on various archive sites. When a link on this page is known to be dead, the original link is flagged as a dead link, and an archive link is also shown. For more information of finding archived links, look here:

1. Google cache

Google stores cache copies of many web pages, You can access these pages by prefacing the link with http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:

For example, to view the cache copy of http://example.com/ use http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://example.com/

2. Internet Archive: Wayback Machine

The Wayback Machine store multiple snapshots of web pages from 1996 to a few month ago.

A quick and easy way to use these capabilities is to install the CacheIt! extension for the Firefox web browser (there may be similar extensions for other browsers, but I have not researched this).

3. There are other options available, but I have found the 1. and 2. above most useful.

[Keywords: links, repairs, mods, books, reference, fastener, nut, bolt, screw, metric, chemical, bearing, lapping, adhesive, glue, tools, tooling, cnc, wire, bending, minilathe, mill, gears]

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