Metal Lathe Tutorial 18 : Your Second Project!

This is Lathe Skills, a multi-part series to help you learn basic machine shop work. Exclusive videos, drawings, models & plans available on Patreon!
/ quinndunki
Here's my version of the 3D printed indicator holder for you to download:
www.thingiverse...
Watch the whole Lathe Skills series at
• Lathe Skills
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(I earn small commissions on these links)
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[@crewdawg257]

For an extra sneaky version, left hand threads, so even if someone tries to open they will just tighten it up!

[@Blondihacks]

Ooh that’s a great idea. 😁

[@-Mr.Fusion-]

Love that you included the copper over the jaws in this vid. Cheers for the advice on Instagram 👌

[@Blondihacks]

I'll do a video on making those at some point. An easy project that improves quality of life immensely!

[@poppaluv]

I missed it.

[@carlwhite8225]

Quinn, I love your channel. I made a bunch of these tubes years ago from aluminum that fit inside a handlebar on my antique Harley for ashes from my riding buddies that have passed.

[@Blondihacks]

Wow, what a beautiful idea! Thanks for sharing that.

[@briankrupp108]

Just finished making a magic tube and it came out great. It was a fun and educational project to practice the skills I learned watching your tutorials. Thank you for taking the time!

[@robertmatel8136]

Put in some ball bearings and leave it where someone will fiddle with it.

[@Overclocked2300]

So I actually did something close to this. A few changes between mine and yours: 1) I used Alum tube that was somewhat close to my final dimension. I partially bored it out to be concentric. 2) I then made an end cap that fit into the bored out portion. This requires you to understand fits and tolerances as it had to be hammered home. After that, I cleaned it the end and made it square. 3) Now for the next part, we pretty much did the same thing for the screw in cap, but, like the closed end, I made another end cap that was bored for a 1-12 thread. 4) I didnt have a 1-12 tap, so I had to use my lathe and do some internal screw cutting. The only hard part here is how to know when to stop cutting. I didnt have a 12 TPI thread gage. 5) Make cap following your steps. Since my lathe was still set up for threading, I did that instead. I also integrated a thread relief on the cap that was as wide as my parting blade. 6) Polish as needed. So sort of the same, but kind of more advanced. It came out looking really nice. I dont know the technical term, but they seem like "dead drops" to me. Would be a great place to hide keys out in the open.

[@wulfdal1421]

So that's how it's done! I've seen muzzle brakes on the end of a threaded barrel with no distinguishable parting line. It looked like the brake was integral to the barrel. Very nicely done and explained!

[@kimber1958]

Thank you very much for your content you have truly inspired me I am just a beginner and I have a beginners KZbin channel which is searchable by my name thank you very much for the content you provide your making a difference in my machining

[@GiacoWhatever]

Never subscribed to a channel so quickly! 🤟🏻

[@Blondihacks]

Ahaha, that’s high praise from Giaco! Thanks man! Gotta get me a maker knife one of these days.

[@GiacoWhatever]

Blondihacks I’m binge watching all your vids! :)

[@Blondihacks]

@@GiacoWhatever Awesome 😀 Tell your friends!

[@gordonfreeman2715]

I dont blame you quinn, if I knew Giaco was watching all my machinist videos, I'd be cramming that down my parents ear about it

[@jimsvideos7201]

Good morning Quinn! I was going to go be productive, but this is good too!

[@Blondihacks]

😁 So glad I could ruin a productive morning

[@roadkill5333]

@Jim's videos: BEST COMMENT EVER!! Lol

[@Bagooda]

Parting is such sweet sorrow? Enjoy your channel very much.

[@seditiousmonkeyart]

You mention trying to come up with useful and practical projects for beginners. A great project for putting together those fundamental skills is a tap handle. Making a tap handle was one of the first projects I made on a lathe. In fact I made my first while still at school (a long time ago in a far away galaxy). If you put a centre hole in the top it can be used in the lathe. Everyone needs a good tap handle and can use it in the early days of their machining life. Keep up the great work. ( "If the chips aren't blue you're not going hard enough!")

[@OldtimeIronman]

You know the job is good and your lathe was setup properly when you can do tricks like this :)

[@billbaggins]

Oh deary me Quinn.. you will have to make another one but much bigger. Surely you know that you should only clean your ears with your elbow 👂💪

[@rickpalechuk4411]

Yaaaah! Saturday morning coffee with Quinn. Only one internet this time Cheers

[@garytodd5605]

That is always my goal... but, 1 leads into 2, 3 or 4. Then I'm behind on what I should have been doing. But it is Saturday and if I accomplish anything that is a win.

[@idriwzrd]

Now we know where you keep your drugs. We'll have to check every cylindrical object and bolt over 1/2" dia in your shop to find it, though.

[@deckmonkey1459]

Kilos are in the 6 inch on the stock rack.

[@MikeBramm]

Indexable ear tooling with extra cotton swab ends, brilliant! I hope you've patented that.

[@stevenschmelling5597]

Loved the video, but you could really use a dice rolling sounder for just before you say "Yatzee". ;-) Also remind me not to play against you if you get that many Yatzee's during an actual game, I'm the guy who almost always needs to cross it off and take a blank. :-(

[@michelled176]

Such a fun and educational second project! Your lathe series has helped me beyond belief. Thank you for explaining everything so thoroughly for us beginners!

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

I’ve just binge watched 1-18. Brilliant. I’m an old fart recently retired and looking to start playing with a lathe. Your series has helped a lot. And by the way “Robert IS my farther’s brother-in-law” !

[@ChrisShenar]

Hi Quinn! Thank you for this video series! I *just* got a mini lathe as a Christmas present and am soooo looking forward to following along! :)

[@zanpekosak2383]

Now this is awesome content! I love the fact that you dont speed up footage. I always thought lathes were a lot faster especially after using a CNC with premium carbide tooling at my summer job (it was just inserting pieces and pressing start so no actuall using of the machine). Really awesome videos. Love watching them!

[@Blondihacks]

Thank you! I want to give people a feel for the actual pace of manual machining.

[@Stefan_Van_pellicom]

Wow, brilliant idea for hiding my stash. They’ll never find it there !

[@howardosborne8647]

The drugs squads of most jurisdictions are now forced to watch this video during their initial training.

[@Seed2Sapling]

I have no idea what I can store in a tube like this.... But thats never stopped me making anything before...I must remember which pieces in my shed are blank rods and which are secret tubes.

[@Blondihacks]

It's a great excuse to invest in indexable ear tooling!

[@NicholasMarshall]

Cat treats that's what I would store. Or plans for the deathstar.

[@roadkill5333]

@seedtosapling: that is where I hide my secret to what women really want!! No one ever thinks to look for it there!!

[@scottb6282]

After putting what I've learnt into practise to get a nice clean parting-off of non trivial size and type of stock, I now know why Quinn says 'Yahtzee'! It's a feeling of yes I've done it!

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks for sharing. You make it look so easy but it’s not.

[@Blondihacks]

You can do it! I believe in you.

[@danedewaard8215]

You can use the "error" hole to mount an eyelet and chain for an exquisite pendent!!!

[@eddietowers5595]

This reminds me of the Machinist Bolt/nut puzzle. But it’s also reminiscent of the machinist version of the magic (pull apart) finger trick, too. Cool project.

[@jimsvideos7201]

This would be a fun place to use left hand threads too; single-pointing the tube would be a headache but who would ever think to turn it the other way? Your indexable ear tooling would be as safe as humanly possible!

[@lordchickenhawk]

Good idea Jim, not too tricky to make really but a tricky thing to find without x-ray or ultrasound. Looks like a wrist pin for a crank would be a good place to hide the part.

[@Blondihacks]

That's a great idea! A left-hand thread could really confuse people 😃

[@roadkill5333]

If you really want to confuse people, add a drop of loc-tite 603

[@poowhynot1268]

its likely rubbing a greasy finger over the seam would reveal it but i wont know till i make one ;D

[@roadkill5333]

"CHAMFERING TOOLS ARE EXTREMELY SATISFYING!" So are chocolate cupcakes. But, I can't get my KZbin channel, featuring eating chocolate cupcakes, going!! Lol not that I'm not trying, or anything!!

[@roadkill5333]

Wow!! I never thought of that!! If I chamfer chocolate cupcakes, and became a widely well known youtuber, and earn lots of money, do I have to share my chocolate cupcakes chamfering tools with you?? Lol

[@roadkill5333]

I'll need to do a BOLCR! Be on the lookout cupcake review!! Lol

[@amanofmanyparts9120]

Today I accomplished my first real project. I shortened a 1/2" to 1/4" BSP adapter to allow me to use an old WP9 tig torch with a WP17 tig welder. Of course both the fitting on the buzz box and the adapter are a concave fitting. Delving into my box sets of _things_ produced an 'O' ring of the correct diameter, but also revealed a set of metric and Imperial taps & dies that I'd forgotten purchasing. M3 - M12, NC 1/4" to G 14" complete with drills to match. I'd love a BA set as well, but ... money ... :-( Nah we're cookin' wi' gas!

[@roadkill5333]

"QUICKER TO PART IT OFF?" But nowhere near as much fun, nor will it produce as many chips to clean up, or as much scrap to haul off to the metal scrapper, after you clean up the mess! You know there is a drawer somewhere in the shop, with whole chunks of scrap that you just think will be usable SOMEDAY, and will never make it to the scrapper! FACE IT OFF!! Problem solved!!

[@larryshaw796]

What no comments from your cat this week?

[@Blondihacks]

She's been remarkably reserved lately!

[@roadkill5333]

@Larry Shaw: you don't know cats!! The cat was sitting in the corner, staring patiently at Quinn, with that "SO YOU THINK I DONT DESERVE A CAT TREAT" look on her little kitty face!! If a picture is worth a thousand words, the stare from the kitty is the library where those, and many more, thousand words are stored!

[@markengineeringSA]

Another great video ,👍, seems like the ideal place to store your most tiny end mills ,

[@matspatpc]

I was just discussing with a friend about making a larger version of this from some 76mm (3") aluminium - I needed about 10mm (3/8") of the stuff, but ended up with 500mm (20") because the price of a smaller piece was almost the same anyway. Extra complexity is that the thread needs to be cut using a single-point tool (unless you have tap and die for something like 65mm(2.5") thread), so probably not suitable as "second project".

[@Blondihacks]

Yah, the thread size is definitely the limiting factor for keeping it a beginner project.

[@practicemakesbetter7132]

Hi Quinn, I enjoy your videos and your keen sense of humour. I recommend making an offset wrench/ nut for your tool post, it is so much easier to adjust the swivel of a tool post without having to reach for a wrench each time. You are an excellent teacher!

[@Blondihacks]

Yah, it’s on my to-do list. The wrench sits in a pocket of my apron and it’s very quick to grab, so honestly I don’t mind it as is.

[@eddietowers5595]

Hey, Quinn, Tim Lipton just posted his video for the Equalization valve for project Egress, and at 9:28 he's using the process of rounding a work piece on the mill while turning the work piece by hand, as we talked about in your hinge project, the rounding end part.

[@lordchickenhawk]

Wot? First time I've been first?? I'd have been tempted to make the cap first and then made the body. Assemble for final pass...

[@rickpalechuk4411]

Fine, I'll give you a thumbs up

[@lordchickenhawk]

@@rickpalechuk4411 One day... One. Day.

[@roadkill5333]

FIRST!!! :P

[@kenbeattie1958]

Round the ends and you'll have a "plan". (Obscure reference to "Papillon")

[@fb4344]

Not obscure to me!

[@bostedtap8399]

Excellent small project, and use of lathe techniques. Love the "Cosy Up" , ref stick out. Maybe see another similar magic lathe trick!!!

[@Blondihacks]

Nine months later, more magic tubes!

[@Tomc8030]

Those will make a great tungsten holder..... LOL I’ll try this after I get the ring down lol I’m a welder by trade so I’m a little slow!

[@hasletjoe5984]

Imagine if you had cut LH threads in the cap and cylinder. No machinist would ever consider that. Hence, I am no machinist! Great videos, doing a binge watch last couple of days.

[@randy-yk1yk]

I was waiting for you to turn the die around and finish cutting the threads. I"m guessing this still doesn't get you close enough for this trick to work?

[@Blondihacks]

Great observation! There are two factors- first, as you say, that still won’t eliminate enough of the fillet for a perfect seating of the cap. Second, the die I used doesn’t have that flipping feature. It has tapered teeth on both ends.

[@daxliniere]

The bearing tool at @11:32 is such a great idea! I'm making one tomorrow. 😊 Thanks Quinn!

[@darthhomie]

I thought the whole thing at the beginning was a metaphor for the material and process, not that it was an actual container. Saying that the metal was hiding an object that could only be revealed be machining it into the object... I think it was Michelangelo, now that I am saying this, that said something about the sculpture being in the marble already, and he just revealed it. Maybe it was someone else.

[@hile6380]

Hi Qvinn. Recards from Finland. I have 1915 made Finland made Karhula sorvi, (lathe). She is very good condition. Automatic feeds. 450rpm max speed. 1,5 metric tons weight. 60" max lenght. Nice look your vids. Asko and 45 kg Lazy guardian dog.

[@Blondihacks]

That sounds like an awesome machine and an awesome dog. 😁

[@hile6380]

@@Blondihacks This lathe is tecnical museum only known lathe so long bed. In Finland we have made same types 30" about 300 lathe from russian making kranates.. My lathe is maybee spesially maked.. Sorrry my bad english.. My dog lies on the sofa.. Pimu is her name. Pimu means Finnish language Pretty girl. So She is. Look Beyond the Press channel.. Anni and Lauri are our friends..

[@hile6380]

@@Blondihacks I am very happy that i find this lathe. It cost me only 300€ and my fiend pick up it for me. 120km. Sorry I cannot pick videos youtube.

[@ukaszokapa6782]

The whole series on lathe skills is rather gold than blonde! Exemplary content. Thank you Quinn!

[@seanmoloney7621]

Soooo cool! Just made this on my new hobby lathe. thanks SO MUCH! :)

[@curtwarkentin6167]

Make a larger version of it for a coin holder lol. Hide some coins in a pile of scrap metal he he he.

[@TheKiro5505]

1:36 but parting is such sweet sorrow

[@RagsdaleCreek]

👍🏻🤔 that was awesome Watching in Alabama

[@chevymarineretired]

What steel grade was used?

[@Blondihacks]

I think this scrap was 12L14, but anything will work

[@josephKEOarthur]

Would make an excellent Apple Pencil holder. (If long enough)

[@thegunguymartin]

Great stuff Quinn... Thanks !!!

[@anthonyortiz7924]

At around 9:00 mark while boring a hole Quinn says speed is a little too high and lowers it. Would someone explain this to me, as I would think that faster is better, as it’s more momentum/inertia and easier on the cutting tool… seems counterintuitive to me, but that’s because I need to be cured of my ignorance lol! Thanks in advance!

[@owenclark7210]

Just started watching you, and I have to say very nicely done. I can attest to how well those breaks can be hidden. I made myself a solid brass pen for my first 'complex' project, and looking at it you can't tell that it unthreads into 3 pieces

[@Blondihacks]

Awesome! A pen project will be coming to this series soon, as it’s a great early project. Welcome to my channel!

[@Ti_Ti_ta]

@@Blondihacks Did a pen project ever get done? I see the scribing tool one but no pen.

[@corbandallas8644]

You're amazing at what you do! Massive thanks!

[@roncunnigham4590]

Thanks Quinn. I've watched this 3 times and I can't wait until my lathe is set up so I can try this.

[@DudleyToolwright]

Enjoyable project, as always.

[@LawTaranis]

I did one in aluminum, but with how soft the metal is, the seam becomes visible after just a few uses, so i don't recommend doing that. If you can anodize it, maybe, but i don't have that ability. I'll definitely do one in steel once i have an occasion to get some.

[@LucidFX.]

i see that you didn't use any cutting fluid for the initial face-off - was there a reason for that? (just asking as i contemplate my first lathe purchase :) )

[@johnapel2856]

That's neat. It's magic! Thanks. Meow!

[@Blondihacks]

Meow!

[@RyanEbrahimi]

Question on order of operations, at 12:53 in the video the cap seemed really tight from the tool pressure from the turning operations, would it help to do the turning before the facing so the threads are closed a lot tighter when you do the facing, giving more leeway for if you cross over the center? Or is the pressure to unthread after crossing center too high for this to help?

[@rtachile32]

Genial puedo esconder unos dolares en esta capsula

[@staxter6]

Sure beats listening to whale song prior to a good nights rest...stunning Miss Dunki.

[@staxter6]

Sweet machining, inspired me to knock out some whale song tunes on my parlour Gretch guitar..if only I had a secret tube to keep my plectrums..can never find them when I need..;-)

[@puits-de-science]

Thank you for this very interesting video. You are great !

[@JohnBare747]

Very good video as always Quinn.

[@CampMoreBarkLess]

Thought that it was a wrist pin in the thumbnail, lol

[@wilkbor]

I love watching your videos...

[@can5projects563]

awesome videos by far the best. TY.....

[@ginahardee4891]

Hey Blondie what is the name of the tool that you used to cut the threads?

[@friendlypiranha774]

That is really very cool. Thanks for the video.

[@bevanward8787]

Very cool !! Thanks for sharing.

[@davesalzer3220]

Indexable ear tooling. Lol

[@billdaniels5957]

Nice job. Could you tell me the brand of lathe you are using ??

[@Blondihacks]

It’s a Precision Matthews 1022V. If you want one, email Matt in sales and tell him I sent ya! (Not affiliated, they’re just nice folks)

[@christopherlund1198]

Hello there... Watching for a while, random order. What is the differences between the different cutting oils and lubricants? i.e. what makes thread cutting oil special for cutting threads etc...? Thanks! Oh, maybe a video explaining them all.

[@abilalpk]

Neat work. Thanks for sharing.

[@kimazbell460]

Indexable ear tooling....I'm still laughing over that one.

[@Blondihacks]

😁

[@jacobbellwood6184]

The other day I made purely out of pine a hammer of about 2 inch o.d. by 3. 5 inch length with about 5.8 inch by 5 inch length of Redgum timber for the light tappy tap taps on metal items like brass so as not to cause damage. As part the idea of this hammer, if I use it between another metal hammer, it gives the timber buffer and the timber hammer shutters out of the way, the Redgum handle being the size it is, it can break before an injury would really happen. I'll make a similar one out a bit harder timber so that this one would be able to take bit higher punishment.

[@thesavage126]

I made the same thing but it was a machinist jack.

[@joell439]

Checking out the classics 👍👍😎👍👍

[@SkullyWoodMetal]

Great project I can see making bunches of them to share with friends that don't machine.

[@bdgackle]

I can't tell if you added some special effects zing to the light bouncing off the lathe jaws or if that was just natural, but I was mesmerized by it and had to rewind. :-)

[@michaelmarteny250]

yes you do have bottoming mills just dedicate drills with a 180 degree point it does require grinding, use a broken drill then grind cutting the 180 degree it worls I have done it flor years ignorent chief engineers refused to buy mills ships engineer

[@wolfitirol8347]

Don't care about her voice which I find okay I think she makes good videos and explains the content very good I'm not a real beginner but in every video I learn something from her and that's what counts she makes very good content in.my eyes.

[@oh8wingman]

You might want to make one of these long enough to take full length TIG electrodes. You can have them pre-sharpened and have them ready to use along with any shorter stubs you may have. Most of the guys I know use a short pipe nipple with two end caps but this would be far more unique.

[@dillpicklewes50]

This project is awesome. Now i just need to find an affordable lathe... Shucks.

[@123hurst3]

Good video. When you were drilling the body with the smaller drill, what did you use to mark the depth on the drill?

[@Blondihacks]

That’s a silver Sharpie. They work great for marking dark metal things. Cleans off with acetone if you don’t want the mark to stay.

[@123hurst3]

@@Blondihacks Thank you, I'm going to try one.

[@mrpdude84]

Just made one of these from brass. Thank you for all your time and videos. Inspired me to get a cheap beat up chinese mini lathe to bring upto spec and make stuff :)

[@crisp4085]

Well lets say i was stupid which i am and say i bought some titanium and made one of thies as a beginner project how many times do you think i will yeet the work at the wall because it changes colour or some shit like that

[@kellyfrench]

My compliments on the camera work at 3:17 or so, I swore the tail stock was moving away to the right while the part and lathe were stationary.

[@nesr8786]

love the tutorials , yeh i noticed the hole in the bottom, but hey we're only human. Take Care. Mac

[@jayscott489]

beginner mini lather user here, first lathe channel Im subscribing too, thank you!

[@stich1960]

Did you have to do run out to maintain concentricty when rechucking the cylinder part?

[@woodandbuild1780]

Could you, please, tell me which exact toolpost you are using?

[@bubbadoolittle2812]

Parting is such sweet sorrow....

[@mikekerezsi9672]

Im a beginner lathe user myself

[@LatinDanceVideos]

I like this. Thanks for posting

[@malk5353]

Thanks for the video.

[@andy-man3405]

Indexable ear tooling 🤣