Great Little Fixtures Every Machinist Should Have -- Take a Look !!

[@joepie221]

CLAMPING KIT SHIPPING ANNOUNCEMENT --- Please read if you've placed an order Greetings and Thank you to all of you that purchased our newest offering. In keeping with our philosophy to deliver the finest possible product, the decision was made to halt shipping and heat treat the clamps. This decision greatly increases the durability of the mini finger clamps to assure a longer life. The heat treat vendor we use has estimated 5-7 days to complete this service and return the clamps to us for shipping. Thank you for your patience.

[@courier11sec]

Hey, Joe good to see you. Sending heart exhaustion solidarity from southern AZ. Worst we've had here was 112 measured in the shade of my porch. We're just getting in to monsoon though so it's a cosy 105 with humidity and a thunderstorm most every day now. 😂 Stay hydrated!

[@peterridgway7355]

Brilliant to hear from you. Your right I do need a fixture plate!

[@EDesigns_FL]

As an improvement, I suggest making the pallet thicker (~1") and making the holes dual purpose: the first ½" should be reamed for dowels and the remainder of the hole should be threaded. I use 6mm dowels with M6 fasteners. 5mm dowels with M5 fasteners would also work. Even though I'm in America, I've found it more convenient to use metric for these types of projects. For 10-32 fasteners, either M5 or 3/16" dowels could be used.

[@lauriefletcher2715]

Don't get too hot on my account. Thank you for showing us your clamping plates. All the best ideas are simply made, make projects that bit easier. Ideas like that worked in my mining career!👍

[@billbarnes1043]

Just today I finally broke down and bought a knee mill, I am going to have a chance to get to know it very well very quickly as I disassemble it and rig it out of an 80 year old man’s house. It comes with an rotary index, 6” vice, boring head and boring bars, shell mill, slitting saws, a milk crate full of assorted end mills, clamps, parallels and the list keeps going! I am stoked! There is no DRO but it has been converted to a power X axis. It is clean, tight and well cared for. A true once in a lifetime find!

[@TomokosEnterprize]

Lots of closets around holding beauties like that one. Tooling can add up to more than the value of the machine.

[@123Shel12]

Joe, no matter how brief, I enjoy the daylights out of your videos! Keep’em coming!

[@joepie221]

Glad you like them!

[@davematthews7686]

I am going to take a couple machining courses at Monroe Community College in January. Free audit of CC courses in NY if you are over 60 so it will cost me gas and materials. One of the projects listed for the course is a pallet like yours.

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

Nice fixtures. Got one from LMS with lots of holes, some clamps and lots of opportunities. Mostly trying to avoid clamping things like bushes, trees, lamp posts, power lines, telephone masts, hills, when flying drones..... Cheers.

[@brandontscheschlog]

Finally a steel (not aluminum) fixture plate at a very very reasonable price. Way to go Joe! I’ll be getting one shortly.

[@TrPrecisionMachining]

good job joe pie..thanks for your time

[@chiparooo]

Very nice fixtures Joe! Are the toe clamps heat treated or are they just made out of tool steel? Thanks for sharing!

[@thelbekk]

The kit arrived today. Beautiful! Can't wait to use it! :)

[@joepie221]

Thanks and enjoy.

[@ramonching7772]

Those fixtures are the collective wisdom of the years. Best shared. Thank you. 👍👍👍

[@joepie221]

Necessity is the mother of invention. And you'll have plenty of necessity over 47 years. :)

[@ramonching7772]

@@joepie221 Necessities. Yes. But I am really impressed with a lot of your solutions.

[@leemarsh3569]

I need the Joe Pie machinists handbook! The Norm Abram of metalwork

[@joepie221]

Quite the compliment indeed. Thank you very much.

[@machinist1176]

You are a wealth of great knowledge and experience. I enjoy your all your videos. Thank you!

[@Bob_Jones_]

I could use one of those as well.. I'll add it to my ever growing todo list of machining accessories. If I ever finish my list I have no idea what I will do with my equipment. Just make thousands of the classic entrapped nut puzzles I guess

[@Likeaudio]

I put an order in. I look forward to giving it a go!

[@TomokosEnterprize]

These sets are perfect for many, many uses. Good lookin too my friend.

[@joepie221]

Thank you sir.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

@@joepie221 Now with the heat treated clamp body's a set should last a lifetime if properly used and maintained. They really are a quality product my friend.

[@theburrell4626]

Definitely ordering one of these!!!!

[@johnferguson2728]

Thank you Joe. I can’t believe you are working in this heat.

[@erikisberg3886]

I have a very similar pallet that I made in the 1990:s and use all the time in the mill. Mine is 100mm by 300mm and has M5 holes. After over 30 years of frequent use it may require minor service in the surface grinder... I keep a dedicated drawer with bolts and the various fixtures and clamps I accumulated over time. I have tried to stick to M5, have a grinding cube and some other stuff using the same components. Making a kit like this is time well spent, it is very useful.

[@machinist_matt]

Be right back, Im off to find my gauge plate and a drill bit. 😎

[@hectorplascencia2271]

Thank You Joe, I have put in practice some of your ideas and techniques.

[@mperry9025]

Thanks Joe

[@wash3141]

I have found that two reamed holes that will hold slip fit dowel pins are VERY useful. Put the holes two or three inches apart and use them as a sine block.

[@kylemichael2175]

Made one of the 6” fixtures a few model series ago and it has been utilized multiple times since. Definitely a great tool to have. Thanks Joe

[@joepie221]

I use mine all the time.

[@MalJ-eb7nv]

Very useful. I like the idea.

[@billchiasson2019]

Look forward to this pallet plate just put the order in! Thanks Joe you have been a gold mine of knowledge!

[@joepie221]

Thank you. Hope you enjoy it!

[@rallymax2]

Ordered immediately! I'm so glad you've added these to your store. I _could_ make them myself, but with a manual mill there is the potential to be a thou out here and there such that you can't trust the locations, and so I've hoped a CNC milled plate would become available.

[@BasementEngineer]

A piece of 5/8" x 5" x 6" Blanchard ground both sides HRS was turned by myself into such a fixture about 25 years ago. Instead of drilling and tapping all those holes I milled 3 T-slots using a 1/2" Woodruff keyway milling cutter. T-nuts were easily machined from 1/4" x 1/2" CRS bar stock. The bar clamps were made from similar steel. Some clamps were custom machined for awkward work pieces. Interestingly I also used #10-32UNF threads, which are one of my favourite screw sizes. I keep a bunch of these on hand of different length, same for some threaded rod. When I machined the crankshaft for my twin cylinder steam engine, the throws were finish machined while set up on this fixture plate.

[@jonmccormick6805]

Thanks, Joe. Short, sweet and certainly not overlooked. Eagerly looking forward to lower temps and more content.

[@ellieprice363]

Simple but very useful little fixtures, especially for small oddly designed parts. AC your shop if possible. Use big-ass fans, swamp coolers or something. Don’t put up with that excessive heat any longer.

[@Rick-qq9hg]

These threaded tooling pallets are awesome and well made.

[@joepie221]

Thank you.

[@mhc6777]

They are also handy for holding short larger diameter stock or other odd shaped pieces on the horizontal bandsaws as well - just clamp the work over hanging the end of the fixture plate with strap clamps and clamp the plate in the saw's vice. No need for elaborate modifications for the vice on the saw. :)

[@kensly7125]

on one of your other videos about the fixture plates you showed some brass registration stops. Where the brass discs threaded so they remained accurate when screwed in place or did they just have a very tight tolerance hole for the 10-32 screws?

[@paulcotesr5623]

i think he called them buttons

[@markspann5813]

All of my small clamping fixtures and threaded holes in my Kurt are 1/4-20. If you decide to make some of those I'll gladly buy the first set (or 2).

[@johnferguson2728]

Thank you Joe!

[@TheTacktishion]

Hi... I looked on your Web Site.... The aluminum fixture blocks are not on there.... Just the 2 flat steel fixture plates.... Sure I can make the Alum. one, but why invent the wheel....LOL

[@TomokosEnterprize]

111, That is just plain rude my Sothern friend. Makes our 78 look like the Arctic for you folks. Actually in the short summers up there 95 was the hottest I have ever seen there over 8 years in Norman Wells. Sure is good to see you braving the heat. Do you ever shut down or do an early shift like we do when it gets unruly like it is there? You know how much I love jigs and fixtures. In my mind they are money in the bank that will pay their way sometimes right away and these are beauties. Are you done with the miniatures or what else do you have coming our way my friend. Sure nice to see you once again and putting all kinds of ideas into your viewers minds? Take care and go home for a cool one my friend. I hope to see you shortly.

[@outsidescrewball]

Great product at a great price…enjoyed….keep a cool tool my friend

[@joepie221]

Thanks Chuck. Its been really tough lately.

[@deemstyle]

Been asking for this for a LONG time. Ordered!

[@James-fs4rn]

👍 anything you make is top knotch!

[@phalanyx3478]

I work in a job shop handling relatively large parts, often setting up 2 foot wide plates on the mill table and T slot extenders have come in clutch. They are just a 2" square bar 24" long with 4 slots milled down the length of them, with recessed shoulders milled into them to accomodate a socket head cap screw and the rectangular washers for them. I can use strap clamps 20" apart from one another on my Y axis on top of these bars. Next I need to make 2 or 3 plates that can hold parts at a precise and variable angle for the heavy milling of parts since this mill does not have a pitching head. I often mill things 36 or so inches long that then have to be cut up into a batch of parts.

[@thelbekk]

Order placed - been waiting for this! :)

[@johnquinn3899]

Just placed my order. Thanks John

[@thomasstaubo3115]

Nice! Not too many model engineers use fixtures like that. They have something to learn from industry. Side question: is it too expensive to run air conditioners in your shop, or is there another reason why you don't have it?

[@mikeshort4291]

I received the larger one. It is awesome.

[@joepie221]

Thanks Mike. The decision to heat treat the clamps was the right thing to do, but it sure threw a wrench in the works. Boxes are shipping everyday now. I really appreciate everybody patience.

[@lagunafishing]

Hey Joe, it's pouring down with rain here again in the UK, want some? 😀

[@joepie221]

PLEASE...

[@mikelewis7722]

Hey Joe. I really enjoy your videos. Especially the fact that you "dumb it down" for even a hobby machinist like me. Question? I here you talk about the heat in your shop and assume there is no AC. My question is, how do you control the surface rust on your machine tools? It is a constant battle here in Kentucky. Thanks and keep the videos coming.

[@joepie221]

A light spray of WD-40 has always been my go to.

[@johnspargo5876]

Thanks Joe - All ways good! Appreciate the video -kind regards from John Spargo in Cape Town

[@ypaulbrown]

always great stuff Joe......Paul in Florida

[@andreventer3837]

Have a great day with your family

[@joepie221]

Thank you! You too!

[@gussygoro2469]

That’s really super

[@rfenergy]

nice clock!

[@joepie221]

Thanks! It makes me smile every time I look at it.

[@martinmengh]

unlike some other channel that seems to fixate on toolings (cough cough especially the Germans), this channel actually makes cool gadgets with all the interesting toolings as a means to an end ... very good and enjoyable to watch ... (except for the occasional bugs and spiders)

[@raymondhorvatin1050]

Thanks for sharing

[@MrTIGERH1752]

I have seen it over 100F in my shop many times, not often to 111F, such temperatures are brutal, and it is difficult to take videos while sweating profusely!!! Tim

[@mikekinney8467]

Love it. "Shut up and take my money!" Just ordered one. Thanks for all of the videos. Why do you have cardboard under the clamps? Is that just to keep the plate pristine for the video, or do you always use it?

[@joepie221]

Thanks Mike. The cardboard was just for the video. When applicable, I'll insert the heel screw from underneath to utilize the larger surface area of the screw head, or use an aluminum shim. There was a long delay in shipping these, but shipping resumed recently and yours will go out next week. Enjoy.

[@noahkatz9616]

@Joe Pie Very cool fixtures! You call the clamps "toe clamps", but they just like miniature regular clamps. I thought toe clamps need to be able to apply force to the side faces of the work. Am I missing something?

[@joepie221]

I'll now call them finger clamps. :)

[@glencrandall7051]

Very interesting Joe. As a woodworker I use similar items for holding work pieces. Question: What is the difference between a fixture and a jig? Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@sumduma55]

I'll take a stab at that question. They are subsets of each other. A fixture allows you to affix something or hold it. A Jig does the same but in a specific way for a specific reason and is usually repeatable. For instance, if you need to do the same operation on 12 parts and they need to be identical, you build/use a jig that affixes them to the same spot the same way for each part. If you have 1 part that has 12 operations, you use a fixture plate to hold it various ways to safely perform those operations. But they both help hold the part where conventional means aren't the best solution.

[@jefflastofka9289]

A fixture just holds things. A jig also guides a tool. I think that's the distinction. I believe I remember reading it in an engineering book on jig and fixture design. Probably Wikipedia or some other site has an article on it.

[@tonyperry3612]

Joe, why don't you invest in A/C?

[@TalRohan]

definitely worthwhile and I am surprised you could do anything in the shop never mind shoot video's thanks for sharing

[@joepie221]

Its hot enough to bake the smart right out of ya.

[@joevostoch8768]

Haven't been able to work in my garage shop for months - just too hot!

[@joepie221]

100% agree.

[@pirminkogleck4056]

hey JOE; I KNOW IT MAY SOUND ODD; BUT THINK ABOUT YOUR METRIC COMMUNITY ASWELL! 10 / 32 is very uncommon in metric Land, maybe you could do a plate with m6 and m8 ?

[@fredfarnackle5455]

You could always make one yourself, they aren't rocket science. I made one on/for my small mill with a bunch of 6mm tapped holes and a bunch of reamed 6mm holes for dowels.

[@joepie221]

M5 would be easier for me.

[@pirminkogleck4056]

yeah sounds also good, just because many metric people dont own 10/32 tapped nuts and studs and such stuf to go with the plate . i am realy thinking of buying one ( even if imperial ) . Shipping and import tax are the only things wich worry me( i would end up somewhere near the 180-200 USD range then . BTW , I got my Engine to run yesterday with the Handheld hooked to the Crankshaft, i machined the crosshead exact like you mentioned and as always , it turned out smooth . @@joepie221

[@hoppercar]

Why don't you have a.c. in your shop ???

[@anneinfurna8528]

Most shops in the southwest are Evaporative cooled. They work well generally Most of the time, But during the Monsoonal times, they are not worth turning on. It gets way too humid in the shop, and its not what you want. AC is prohibitively expensive during peak hours, and most shops shut down during the dog days of summer. Besides, you and your Wolf spider need to take out the new Glastron, and drown some worms, huh? Love your channel, have learned a lot. Carry on!

[@BeeGeeTheImp]

Burn Ban Stage 4 in TX -- stay cool, Joe

[@martineastburn3679]

I noticed a cool off - 103 today.

[@joepie221]

it was 85f on the way to the shop today. It felt cold.

[@fountainvalley100]

Besides selling them you might as well sell the the plans for them. I can only assume you did cad drawings for them as a part of the work flow to generate the code to machine them. I would hazard a guess even a construction manual would sell. Your less skilled viewers would probably snap them up. I know I would.

[@LordOfNihil]

puts my rack of modified screwdrivers to shame.

[@leaflee2066]

No jokes about butt welding please, regards Seymour Butts.

[@aquilaaudax6033]

✋🏼🇦🇺👍🏼

[@tonypike5785]

Why do you hold up your little finger and thumb with each video i have seen a lot of folks doing that whats going on with that ?

[@joepie221]

Thumb and little finger is the Hawaiian sign for love. Index finger and pinkie like I do is a Texas salute to the UT longhorn football team.

[@CalPil0t]

And the thumbs up gesture following the pinkie/index is Gig 'em Aggies...

[@tonypike5785]

@@joepie221 oh i see, thanks i have often wondered about that, thanks for the video.

[@tonypike5785]

@@CalPil0t i guess i have been back in the sticks too long.

[@bustednuckles2]

I wish I knew about half of what you have forgotten over the years....

[@paulmorrey4298]

Thanks Joe