Stainless Hold Down Clamps Part 1 

I bought a milling machine yesterday and that's mostly because of how much I was inspired by your work. Thanks for teaching us the art.

Manual maching makes you use your brain, rather than punching in a code or using a memory stick . Long live manual machinists like Adam 😊

Can't wait to see how you manage that plasma cut stainless, it's is the best material I've found for turning carbide endmills into art.

You remind me so much of my father that passed away. He would make tolerances on things perfect even when it made no difference to the actual function of the part. He took pride in any job that he did.

As a CNC machinist, the cynic in me says "err cnc is best and fastest" but the machinist in me loved seeing you using old school methods. Keep up the good work dude!

I love it, you basically turned the mill into a rotary metal scraper. I also appreciate the desire to make the surfaces look good even if it doesn't matter for the use of the part or even if anyone else who'd care will ever see it. Doing it the best you can do it matters to you. That's the difference between a craftsperson and a hack.

A man fully in his element and enjoying every minute if it! Thank you Adam. Cheers.

Manual machining teaches you how to be resourceful and creative with the machines and tools. And you clearly excels at it.

Fantastic to see the depth stop and setup for repeating radius cuts. Learning to make short runs at home on manual machines is a signifigant blessing. Thank you for this kind of content!

Worked in a stock that handled machined parts for a little while and really started to appreciate how you make sure there are no sharp edges on your workpieces.

Adam. The pride you take in even the simplest part says a lot about you . it is very satisfying to see. It’s a good life lesson. Love you brother keep giving us the content for as long as you can do it with a smile and gratitude for the art.

Excellent video, luv the way you think outside the box to get things done. Your problem solving is artful.

I was a design and fab tech and worked with stainless. Stainless is hella hard and burns up tooling quick. As someone that knows how difficult this project really was, you made it look almost effortless and you have my respect brother.

That K&T is a beast, rock solid at removing metal. Enjoyed the video, thank you.

Remember that cincinnati milling machine you showed in Neosho Mo. Last summer Adam? It's in our shop now. The rigidity of a big mill can't be beat, just used the cincinnati to do some heavy milling Friday, rebuilding an American pacemaker tailstock I picked up during the same trip. Videos coming soon!

I know this is an old video and all, but I just wanted to let you know that I really do appreciate the work you do and the how you show it all on the videos. As I only have one hand that kinda works as it should, I wish I had access to a shop like yours where I could at least every once in a while be at peace and try to use my brain to figure how to make the ideas I have, a reality. Really nice videos, and so relaxing! Thank you! All the best to you and Abby, from the cold northern Finland called lappland.

" More than one way to skin a cat" is how you should think as a machinist. It all comes with years of experience. I used to make similar parts to those that were used in the manufacture of tyre retreading equipment. we had a simple fixture that we screwed them onto then turned all of the radii on a lathe. Just a plate with a boss and a series of threaded holes on a PCD. Easy peasy,lemon squeezy. Nice work Adam.

This is how we did things when I was in the classroom as a machine worker , It was around 1971 - 1974 It reminds a lot of old memories, absolutely beautiful work.

I like the way you explain each operation as you go, very informative. Looking forward to part 2!

3 different guys might have made those hold downs 3 different ways. Always interesting to see ya think your way thru jobs like this.

I suspect the customer will have a very large bill to cover the SS material and labor but is lucky to find a machinist like Adam willing to do a job like that. Go Adam!

Adam, So glad that large radius cutter worked OK. It is vert gratifying to see it used by a skilled pro such as yourself. All the best, Eric Hoffmeyer

Really enjoying the slow motion milling machine. Thanks Adam.

Those big circular cutters always sound angry but give a nice finish, Learned some things and was not even trying, Thanks Adam.

Ingenious! For a moment I was thinking that you should really go CNC, but for small batches like this and one off odd jobs it would be completely uneconomical and most likely would take longer considering the time required for programming.

Maybe someone mentioned this, but when gang milling multiple parts like you mention at 5:20, you should add a ductile wire or piece of cardboard between the vise and parts so that it clamps on all of them evenly. That is what I do.

Its funny how the camera frame rate makes the cutter spin in the opposite direction of the arbor haha. Love the video!

When I need to clean up several parts like that I usually use a bit of aluminium filler rod on one side of the material. That helps clamping it. Never had any issue ... Good work Adam. I used to work a lot on stainless. I hope you won’t get frustrated by the edges of the plasma cut staino

What I did on my saw and it worked perfectly for over 10 years (canister rusted finally but filter was perfect.) I used a Hydroloic filter head and filter in line with my fluid on my saw. It filters out the metal flakes that beat on metal but also trashes the blade. I simply cut the hose and inserted the filter head.

Brilliant thinking in 3D. Wonderful work!!! Thanks for the tips!

Who is that skinny guy in the video? The head on it look like Adam, but the bottom looks like someone else. I am fighting my down to 300#. I started at 535#. You are an inspiration.

Love seeing you doing these manual fabrication tasks. My all-time favourite was your series on the K&T Parking Attachment

Adam you are a extremely skilled craftsman and i enjoy to see you in work

I love how ABom talks to you like your in the shop working with him, "hey this is the process I'm going to use......" Awesome stuff.

Awesome stuff as always. The video makes it look like the 7 inch saw is running the wrong way. Trippy!

A tour de force. So many interesting operations to do these pieces. Thanks again Adam.

ive been watching a lot of ASMR videos lately.... machining falls under this too. Its nice to sit back and watch things being made..

It is So Adam to continue to go to the Nth extreme to get an Aerospace quality finish on some exhaust system 'Hold down' clamps. Got to admire that. Well Done Adam.

If you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life. Innovative machining methods. Great work.

Best video of the last few weeks and why I subscribed. Nice work.

Hi Adam, I have been watching your video's for a little while now, and even as a woodworker I have learned a lot! I am now even more precise at measuring and marking thank you, take care!

Very creative use of tools. Another equipment from Poland in action. I am waiting for part 2.

As you said Adam that clamp piece was possibly machined on a lathe into a ring with step bore on one side and chamfered on the other and cut into segments.Then rounded and drilled I believe.

I'm digging the matching vise stop and parallel keepers💪

Can't beat the K&T for the heavy weight on the work.

Love your use of the moving 'frame of reference'. By fixing the camera to the moving table(5:39), it makes it look like the cutter is the one that is moving from right to left. The slow motion was something to see too. Great job!

The guys at our shop tend to not want to use our old horizontal mill. I'm definitely inspired to give it a go though!

I love videos like this. All I have is manual machines so this allows us to see the many ways to tackle complex shapes. Just awesome!

That seven inch cutter is absolutely terrifying.

In milling short blocks, I would recommend to put another one on the other side to equalize the vise pressure. It will make your vise last longer.

When machining multiple pieces in the vice, use a piece of copper round stock. This will hold all of your work and compensate for slight size inconsistency.

This is how I always make stuff with a lot of improvising thank you for sharing I learned a lot, also you can never have too many different kinds of tools on hand waiting for the right condition to come along.

I can do anything and everything on a CNC machine but I still watch and enjoy all your videos and can always learn something as well.

Very nice work. Nice to watch a pro working.

Adam, having managed welding and machine shops at a couple of major airline jet engine shops, I can attest that you are a true craftsman! I'm not a machinist myself but I do have a basic understanding of machining and welding processes. One thought that I would offer when "reverse engineering" parts or components such as covered in this video, is the danger is not understanding or having access to all of the "hidden" processes which might have been accomplished by the OEM of these parts. I have experienced or been involved with a number of failures of these types of reverse engineered parts. You might have been 100% compliant (or even over engineered) the original fabrication processes, or on the other hand, may have missed a critical step. Examples would be stress relieving, passivation, shotpeening, pressure testing or non destructive inspection. These types of processes can be "invisible" on the finished component but might be extremely critical. I recall one particular component on a jet engine which had been reverse engineered by an overseas airline. It was simple flat spacer used in the bearing assembly build up. A very critical hardening process was not followed and which resulted in internal thermal stresses during engine operation. These fabricated parts lead to a number of extreme engine failures resulting in a number of aircraft emergency events. After investigation by the FAA, an Airworthiness Directive (AD) was issued which required inspection of all suspect parts within a very short time frame. Obviously not all parts are as critical, but I would just like to point out that such consideration should be made anytime that reverse engineering is accomplished. Sometimes there is justification for the high cost of a factory replacement part. I would just recommend caution to anyone attempting these types of reverse engineering, to understand an critical stresses which this part might be exposed to. High pressures, thermal expansion, vibration, single path structural loading, are a few examples. Please keep up your excellent videos and instruction, but perhaps offer this type of caution.

Adam, you've invented a new shop machine tool! In this episode, you turned the K&T into a Rotary Shaper as somebody has already put it, with how you cut those bevels in the end!! XD Also really, really enjoyed seeing you use that 7" diameter cutter to put that arc into the edges of those clamps too! Perfect examples of just what the K&T can do when its in 'vertical mill' mode, things that a Bridgeport-style mill would be crying 'Uncle! NO MORE! PLEASE STOP!' to! XDD

That's one heck of an exhaust system

And there I was, thinking that stainless was somehow special and very hard to machine. Then seeing how you‘re shaping it like someone cutting pvc to size. I guess it helps when you know what you’re doing and have the right tools. :)

Absolutely love your machine shop videos. Keep up the good work!!! Congratulations on dropping a ton! You look great.

That was very interesting how you work out your angles and holding the blocks to get the finished product. Cheers from Australia

Hi Adam, a nice finished product, and some interesting machining techniques. Perhaps you can use the boring head to do the radius inner face on the other ones after you cut the bulk out straight. Regards Dennis

i like how you don't look at it as a job. you look at it how can i play with my machines and get this done? just a big kid and his toys lol.

I hope you can get apprentices because here in the UK most of the shops I have visited rarely have young guys in them. Mostly "older" fellows working , one has a couple of real old timers in it 75 to 80's who come in once or twice a week and are fascinating to watch their skills.

Glad to see the K&T getting some workout! Great job! Thank you Adam.

K and T mill runs and sounds nice! By the way when I was a kid we lived down the road from Kearney and Trecker, in West Allis Wis. Around 1966 to 1975.

You should do a collab with the slo-mo guys to get some nice slow motion footage when cutting metal

I thought stainless was impossible to machine.. (based on some other videos I've watched), but here you are pumping them out like a boss..

Love that K&T mill! Your pieces came out so much nicer than the originals. It's nice to have all those different cutters, it really speeds things up. I'd have to be a little more creative with the limited variety of cutters that I have. Either do it on the lathe with the 4 jaw or a rotary table on the mill..

That 7” cutter is the most Abom thing I’ve ever seen. There’s more cutting edge on that thing than Stefan has in his whole shop

….6:50.....razor sharp edges, Thank You...for anyone doing any sort of work with Stainless Steel....every thing you cut leaves that sharp edge...very sharp...!

My thoughts would be toward putting the clamps on a 7.5" radius plate and turning them on the lathe, but we both know the old ones were just relieved with a belt sander. No shame in doing it with precision - Gotta respect striving for perfection.

The chatter on that radius actually looks kinda cool. Almost like it was supposed to be there.

Adam, you can use something soft like plastic as a buffer between the movable jaw and the stock to clamp multiple pieces.

Another video of great craftsmanship I can’t wait to send you my face plate to have done for my welding table I’m making keep them coming and keep up the good work Adam

With regards to the work pieces been different sizes if you place a piece paper along the moving jaw and clamp tightly the paper will compress and take up what small difference there is and clamp both work pieces tightly in order to machine them I’ve been doing that for along time and seems to work ok. Keep up the good work Adam a shout from Hilton out here in South Africa

Man, those are some nice looking parts!! Can't wait to see what you will come up with for that other hold down!!!

As a hobby guy ( I'm not even gonna call myself a machinist ) with a South Bend 9" lathe and a round post mill/drill, listening to Adam give his feeds, speeds, and depth of cut all "I" hear is "With this carbide insert tool in my 24" fly cutter we are gonna be running the mill at 9600 rpm taking a 3" depth of cut at 980 feet per second". Man I wish I could afford some real machines.

Great work Cuz! Thanks again for the help this weekend

Nice hold down clamps, stainless is tricky to work with but you made it look easy. Can't wait for part 2 and 3 and 4. maybe ;-)

You Sir, are a true perfectionist 👍🏻

saturday morning, a coffee and an abom79 video ... nice !

5:28 to stop multiple parts moving when clamped togethor like that I either use a piece of paper on the back jaw. Or use a g clamp to hold them all togethor.

adam, its a pure treat to watch somebody (adam booth), that cares to make "it" better. poppy

The radius cuts are cool. Thanks, man.

Also should put another hold down clamp in the other side of the vice to stop it from kicking sideways and having less surface area holding the part. I do like watching your videos cos I don't get to use any machinery anymore. I don't want to sound negative, just like to give some tips.

Awesome work Adam, absolute pleasure to take knowledge from you on such easy and fun way! Cheers, John

Helluva lot of millwork on those little clamp pieces. Very nicely done. 7" cutter looks like it's running backwards (I know it's an illusion) at 1x and 1.25x playback speed.

I love this video series. Great work Abom!

4 "Replacements" made better than the originals.

I love your slow motion video footage it is really cool

YES! The K&T!!!! As soon as you said K&T, I paused so I wouldn’t forget to hit like.

That was great to watch. They were lovely.

Those hold down clamps are very similar to what is used on a lot of firetube type boilers that have flat plate front/rear fireside doors to clamp them shut. They'd be used to draw in and hold the door to the shell, with a high temp rope or blanket pinched between them as a gasket for the combustion gasses. They were always called "dogs".

Excellent, as usual. Strong work Mr. Booth.

You figure out a good way to cut curved shapes on the shaper I could see it doing this work.😎

This seems like a great project for the channel, I enjoy watching this type of stuff.

This is one of my favorite episodes in a long time!! NOTE: I like ‘em all :)

I really Enjoyed this vidieo! thanks. You can be proud of the parts you made. Not even Stephen could be more precise! I Love watching you make chips, it is why I am a subscriber.

Very interesting. I don’t deal with metal, but your video was fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

I suggest you reduce the shutter speed (aka shutter angle) on the video cam so moving things (like the cutter and flying chips) look more crisp