The Tool I Should Have Built Years Ago! 

Where do you get your metal?

you have to make a video dedicated to making triangles PLEASE

use more tap grease and you should break less taps you barely put any on there

Breaking taps is easy when you put so little lubrication. Also for removing burs you should be using a larger drill than the full diameter of the screw you're using on the burr side, this applies to all screwsheads, but specially chamfered screwsheads.

Hi TW, I just wanted to thank you for taking time to go over the steps of your vocation without skipping details. I’m sure you do your best to not leave the viewers flapping-in-the-breeze and it really shows. While there are some channels that make useful tools that can be inspiring to watch, they don’t offer any details which makes your channel a great reference and learning experience for many people trying gain these skills. I appreciate and wish your channel the best. Piece!

Could you just cut some flat bar and use it to "absorb" the distance, thus allowing for the larger space?

Adding the sleeve-overs would also allow for a better surface finish, avoiding the dragging on the surfaces.

That was my 1st thought as well.

Maybe You could fit a ball bearing on one or even both pins, the surface finish should be way better, however I'm not sure how many bearings would be needed to keep the tool versatile. But for repeated tasks, I'd give it a thought

You beat me to it!

You got there before me :)

Comments from knowledgeable folks like you are why I always read the comments. Thanx!

Me too! Like you said, it’s good for everyone’s insight! Everyone is better because of it!

Thats what I like with engineering. Theres always something to be improved. And its not necessarily improvements. Sometimes each design has their pros and cons, so the dilemma is not on whether to make it better, but to choose what exact features you prefer more

Yes, it's really helpful. I feel like too many youtubers want to create the illusion of perfection and we miss out on all the learning mistakes that everyone makes!

@@aries6776 For sure! My videos are deep dives into the art of making mistakes and figuring things out lol

@@de0509 brilliant observation of the problem I encounter with Backyard Engineering.

Most attempted forward drive is usually about 1/2 -3/4 turn, then backoff turn 1/4 turn to clear chips, use tap lube on that thickness to make easier and cleaner taps. I'm no expert ,but have found this to be very beneficial, and lesser chance of breaking taps.

@@danielfield3580 - With a good industrial quality tap that is still sharp and a proper hole size, having to back the tap up and cut a little at a time should not be needed. Reasons you may need to use your procedure is because the tap is low quality, or you have a once good but now worn out/dull tap, the hole size is too small or not straight (curved hole), or the tap was not started straight. It doesn't hurt to use a good tapping oil, the best kind depends on the metal being used. I'm sure there is plenty of online info about that. Oil with sulfur is really good for ferrous metals, Ace Hardware used to sell stuff that works well, it actually makes a significant difference. Newly cut threads should look nice and smooth, not rough and torn looking. Most taps sold in stores are junk for cutting new threads, they do okay for using as a thread chaser and restoring dinged up threads. Places such as MSC Industrial and McMaster Carr are a couple of places to buy good industrial quality tools. Taps should have sharp cutting edges, a good magnifying glass can help verify the condition. Cheap taps are not generally very sharp even when new, and just don't cut well at all. If you are using a tap as a thread chaser, being dull is not necessarily a problem, as the dull tap will reform the out of place metal instead of removing it. When you have a good tap, a good hole, and the tap is lined up with the hole, most people would be surprised at how little torque is needed to tap a hole. Some people might say it doesn't matter or that I don't know what I'm talking about, but I have a manufacturing business and we have literally tapped millions of holes, sometimes using a tap for 1,000's of holes before retiring it.

@@G53X0Y0Z0 Great post. If you're going to go cheap on anything in the shop, buying cutting tools is definitely NOT the time to do it. Taps, drills, whatever... get the good stuff. It's worth it. "Buy once, cry once" as people say.

I tapped many under power on the ol' Bridgeport!

Thanks a ton!

Agree. He uses a power saw witch is a good thing to cut fast and effortless but you could get the same result with a handsaw and elbow grease.

The tools to get a press fit really aren't that expensive.

Great idea! I think I may do that.

Or you can make a bushing to slide down over one of the posts to decrease the distance.

@@kingplumber I was going to say this. You beat me to it. Great idea. 👍

can use spacers (some cutoff tube) over the pins to make them wider

No problem!

Thanks!

Thanks Daniel!

Very cool! I'm going to have to check out some spiral taps. Thanks Mel!

Absolutely correct Mel. When I can, I buy the spiral machine taps. You can use a common drill press, set to low speed. I leave the v-belt drive slightly loose to allow for stall in case there is a jam, which rarely happens with spiral taps. Be sure to use a liberal amount of Tap Magic before starting the cut. If the drill press is properly trammed to 90 deg. to the table, you get a perfect tapped hole.

@@tigerseye73 yup. I installed a three phase motor in one of my presses with a VFD drive. It’s easy to vary the speeds, and reverse it. For people who have never machine tapped, I have to warn you to strongly clamp the work to the table, and make sure the table is tightened down securely. You’d be surprised at how much force even a 6:32 tap exerts vertically! Even if you have a heavy, 60 pound vise on the table, not held down, the tap will lift that vise right up, at an angle and break the tap. It could easily spin a smaller vise around.

It’s not a problem if you know how to use them. I’m assuming you’re a bit heavy handed and don’t have the skill to use hand taps ?

@@pufango4059 I think you’re insulting and don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve hand tapped more holes over 55 years then you will have even seen.

Thanks!

Great idea! I think I'll probably do something like that. It would probably make the bend a little easier by acting as a roller also.

Thanks!

Unlearn this and learn to make a press fit.

That would have been a perfect way to do it. I might remake the bottom piece like that instead. Thanks!

Are you referring to the corner of the pulling bar (good shot at 5:17)? Could even radius the end of the pulling bar to get it tighter.

@@torque2spec120 Correct. I do like your suggestion (to round the end of the pulling bar). That would allow the pins to be even closer. Good thinking!

I definitely should get a few really good ones in the common sizes. Thanks!

My thoughts exactly!

No problem! Thanks for the comment!