Tally Ho Capstan Project: Turning Custom Bronze Hardware on the Metal Lathe 

Friday morning. Big cup of coffee. Cat asleep on the desktop. And, most importantly, a new video from Keith. Thanks for a great video. It's truly appreciated.

Yes!! Thank you for helping Leo and being part of the inspirational story of bring Tally Ho back to life.

Thank You for helping Leo.

Custom is the real blessing even the mundane bolt tally ho is a one off blessing deserving of your custom craftsmanship. God bless you sir.

Keith,I congratulate you and Dave in being craftsmen engineers and you are wonderfully genuine..Thanks indeed...Pleasure to watch.

Mr. Rucker I do hope that you get to ride on Tally Ho for your work..

It was fascinating to watch the manufacturer of those bolts - particularly the use of the hexagonal collet to make the bolt heads!! Great work Keith!!

It's been a pleasure watching not only the building of the Tally Ho videos, but the videos of the work being done by yourself (and others) on the capstan ... it's been entertaining, inspirational and educational 👍

Have a thumbs up and a comment, Keith. Well deserved. Feed the algorithm and support.

Thanks for enduring the "gun-to-head" boredom of the production work needed to complete the Tally Ho capstan project. The dedication of craftsmen like you is what makes the Tally Ho project so rewarding to watch.

Keith it's the little things that add up to quality work.

Us woodworkers believe metal work is alchemy, smokin' mirrors and magic so a big thanks for the clear commentary. Good luck Keith.

I finally got to use a lathe in high school. I felt so proud to be trusted.

Good morning Keith from a rainy and dull Hampshire UK

Constantly amazed by the craftmanship..."mundane" or complex. Thanks Keith for the continuing education!

The smallest little parts are always the most satisfying to watch get done.

I'm really enjoying these videos. I'm a hand tool woodworker who started the hobby after retirement, having learned the basics of that in high school. I never was given the opportunity to see or do machining, but I am now finding it fascinating. You are a great teacher. Many thanks for your work on the Tally Ho project.

For a mundane job, that was really interesting. I'm loving the work you are doing on the tally ho capstan. It is amazing to watch you work with metal with the same care and precision that Leo does with wood.

I have never used the collet with hexagon sides to make bolt heads. easy for sure. I like the threading tool too. I miss this kinda work. Your living the life...

Thought you were using a walking stick at first! Glad you’re not hurt haha

I like it when you make the parts you need

Superb work. It's great to watch a craftsman at work.

Some people are able to make a thriller out of opening a can of tuna. Keith is one of these but also a master machinist and then we have a little masterpiece!

It's so pleasant to see you at work, Keith.

Thanks for taking the time to put these videos together Keith. It's great viewing

Thanks, Keith, for starting my Friday off with another fun video. (I like watching other people work!)

Love to see the thought process behind all of this

so glad I discovered your channel, will come back often after you are done with the Tally-Ho project.

Had me worried at the start there, Keith, thought you were using a cane. Good intro.

Beautiful work. I imagine this capstan sailing the seas for at least another hundred years.

Kind regards from Germany Keith 👍You knocked the Thing on the Head ! With your comment...one Part is Fun, the next 20 Torture . But you can be proud on your Craftsmenship . I hope my thoughts are at least understandable.....😉Rudi👍

I hadn’t seen that sliding die. Very trick. Great show even for the mundane parts. Always learn new stuff. Thank you.

Simple but beautiful! Just bolts but the finished product looks great. Can't wait to see them hold that gypsy in place and ultimately pull up Tally Ho's anchor!

Amazing .... great tools and jigs .... and the know how to make it all come together .... Master Craftsman .... ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊 ..............

Really appreciated your narration for each step along the way. I am not a machinist but could tell this would be a 'simple' and repetitive project. Your camera placement, sound levels of voice and machine, and editing were most assuredly not mundane. Great job Keith, thank you.

Really enjoying the Tally Ho project 👍

Dear Mr. Rucker 👍👌👏 2) Quite a lot of effort and precision going into this special capstan. Just like everything for/on gorgeous Tally Ho. Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health in particular.

As usual, fascinating I've wondered how the hex heads got put on bolts in a machine shop. Obvious when you see it. Thanks Keith

Always a relaxing example of competent craftsmanship Keith! Thanks for holstering that firearm! 😂

I’m so impressed by your work. Your ability to make what you consider mundane entertainment is impressive. I came to your channel because of Tally Ho but I’m staying 😁

Always a pleasure to watch a master craftsman at work. Another great video Keith. Thanks for sharing!

25:52 When I used to Set and Run the Automatic Screw Machines, maine punches from HSS, and A2 tool steel... a short job was 250 pieces ... :)

Hugely appreciated, that although these ancillary parts/tasks are the "mundane" or "non-challenging" phase of the project for a guy with your expertise, you still take the time+trouble to explain the foundational basics (rather than leave us to find & learn it elsewhere). In this way, this project is turning into quite the holistic education for us who've not had any real-world exposure to this line of work. Not to mention the broader historical documentary value, against a time when a younger generation will only know of these parts being made on CNC equipment that's prohibitively expensive. So much so, that normal civilians will effectively have neither insight into the production processes, nor access even to realistically purchase the kind of specialty small-batch parts in question.

Keith, I don't know anything about machining or using the equipment that you have. But I do enjoy looking over your shoulder and watching you do this work. Thank you sir!

It's tradition.. you face it off, as is tradition.. every time somebody faces a piece of work in a lathe I say it in my head. Every time they part off a piece I say Yatzee....

Wonderful to watch, thanks

To someone with no metalwork experience it’s like beautifully presented magic. Thank you.

Love your work, a lot is already know to me, but always interesting to someone else have a go at it…

I’ve said it before but you are a fantastic engineer. Thank you Keith 🇬🇧

awesome as Always Thankyou

you do the hard stuff and do it well, thxs for sharing...

Another wonderfully educational video, thanks Keith 🙏

Keith, you are amazing. You can make anything! I've watched all the Tally Ho Capstan videos and it's just a pleasure seeing a master at work. Thanks for taking on the project and sharing all the details. You're turning a 110-year-old capstan into a 21st-century windlass for an amazing project. I'll be following through to the finish, for sure!

I really hope you make some spares for Leo.... at least another 3 bolts to be sure if something happens he has spares since they are so custom..

Good for you kieth ,tally ho ,will have to carry standard tools 9/16th haha

Thanks Keith.

I've just got to say this has become one of my favorite channels on RU-vid. As a woodworker I started watching machining videos because the level of accuracy just blew my mind. I've never done any machining ever but I feel like after watching almost all of your videos I've learned a ton! You do a fantastic job explaining things so that even a woodworker like me and follow along 😆

The first one is fun, after that it's just a production line. True of many things in life.

Thanks for sharing Keith

Thank you for another great video. Cheers

Beautiful work

Love the video. Watching you do these things brings back a lot of memories. I can almost smell the cutting oil in your shop from here!

Loved the video. A couple of suggestions if I may. Download the MS specification (or NAS, or other). The bolts are dimensioned with tolerances. No need to measure a bolt that will not be nominal in every dimension. Do all lathe work, including the flat radii first, then mill the flats. Just do two flats when finding the mill depth. Save a few steps.

Never knew about the pins…it’s like a bonus video. I really like your channel, your videos are pretty much perfect.

Thanks Keith, great job.

Another great episode, thanks Keith. I am amazed at all the tools and equipment, big and small, he has that make all possible. Great stuff.

The hours put into this Capstan project - including the pattern making, the foundry work, the work on the power end done in the UK ... - I don't think anyone will dare calculating the cost, had this had to be paid for by the hour. This is exceptional.

If you ever wondered how to do that/ make it? That was awesome!

Keith is an amazingly talented machinist. Great videos. Enjoyable to watch.

Centering operations that involve the tailstock always seem to have the bit wander on the surface initially. I have no doubts it self corrects and the end result is perfectly fine but seeing the bit wander like that always surprises me.

a pleasure to watch, thank you

Thank You for sharing your wonderful machining skills with us. Great Job!

Thank you for your great videos!

Lovely work Keith. Thanks for showing your processes. Go well

Hail the algorithm! #TallyHo 😊

Thank you for sharing.👍

Enjoying your skill thnx

so i found this thanks to tally ho. thought it was going to be boring. i was so wrong. it's amazing how building from a rock what you can end up with. i love watching big equipment stuff as a rule. battleship new jersey type stuff. never really thought about where all the bits come from. well right here type places. so i will be watching on. and will be pushing the sub button. thanks for turning me on with the tooling coolness. have a nice day.

Hi Keith, what a superb threading device you have there, I have used a standard die holder many times on my old lathe but did not know about your one till just now. The bolts look great and I am sure you left a slight radius under the hexagon to help eliminate a stress raiser point . Incidentally, your magnificent machine vice looks to be slightly rusty and here in the UK we have a product called "Kurust" which is like a milky white liquid but when brushed on rusty surfaces dries in minutes to a beautiful satin black and will preserve the item, I have used it many times on all kinds of tools. Just a thought, cheers from England, ps, Love your excellent videos .

Was waiting with bated breath for this video wondering how you were going to form the hex heads on those bolts without spending an hour each. Brilliant solution. Thank you for showing us how its done. Much appreciated!

I watch a lot of unreal content on youtube but this is 100% grounded, réal and the core of what matters in life. The création of things.

Interesting video .. well done🎉

Thanks for Sharing. Git'r Did.

Thanks so much for sharing your skills with us..wat a great year God gave us..watching Leo s gang n now another professional skill to make this project complete...wats next

great video

I appreciate your confidence, if it was me, I’d have two or three of those pieces of special stock.

Thank you Keith!

The custom hardware reminds me of getting a gift from someone that was hand made versus store bought…

Great!

6:24 Looks like a Starrette 221, excellent choice.

Thank you, as always!

I sympathize that it must be tedious for a master to have to do small "production" quantities, like 6 bolts or pins. But especially in this case, with Tally Ho, it seems appropriate. Every rib, plank, trunnel, knee, block (and every other part) was bespoke. Few (any?) tradesmen on this project had your level of experience, but they labored as lovingly as you did. The result is looking quite spectacular! I can't wait to see this finished and installed!

Great work satisfying to watch, Thanks Keith

I found Tally Ho after it was recommended by S/V Seeker. I am here now because this site was recommended by Tally Ho and another channel I follow, a wheelwright out of Joliet, MT. I believe Seeker may have also recommended this but I’d have look back to confirm it. Small world this Internet?

Thanks for the video Keith.

While working in the local naval dockyard I threaded 1inch and 3/4 inch die aluminum bronze for keel bolts. It's a superb material for this application initially a tried a big die but the material seemed to creep and the die jammed so had to resort to cutting it on a lathe.

I always learn a little something from watching your various techniques. I don't think a gun at your head was necessary and I bet you did have some fun seeing the "short" production run of 2 x 6 pieces get a minute faster for each one. "You" are the Numerical Control driving the machine and each step gets better/faster...something a CNC cannot claim!

I'm with GWM. Love this Tally Ho project. Have we got a T shirt yet planned?

Thank you. I need one of those die holders.

The specialty tools in your shop really make the work look easy and i know you have all of the fractions to decimal in your head.. which mine hurt.