Let's Make a TAP FOLLOWER!

[@47Edge]

Love your voice, very clear and easy to understand with no crazy music. Nice Job!

[@jakeg7239]

I run OD grinders in a job shop for a living. You are correct on centers. The expensive centers don't stay that good for long. After using them for a bit, they develop runout. On our grinders at work we use dead centers whenever possible. We have a collection of live centers that we use where tolerance isn't as critical then we keep one in a wooden box as clean as we can and only use it on critical stuff where concentritty is important.

[@leepoirier3823]

I love that u admitted you are human by misreading the print, we all have done that. Keep up the great work and content.

[@patw3980]

Seen lots of machining videos but comment on few myself. (retired machinist here) Your presentation style is "top shelf" so I must break my tradition and comment here. I'm compelled to add to the chorus of praise for your quality video and delivery style. I'm one very impressed old guy and that's not easy to do. ( the grandkids call me "Grumps" but I blame their parents for that lol)

[@Blondihacks]

Thank you! It’s the highest praise when real machinists like my videos. 😀

[@stephanuscoach477]

Use a diesel injector nozzle . Already hardened just make the outside see sleeve holder ☺

[@jimmunger8658]

This is a great tool. You’ve done a super job here and it’s so cool how you narrate when things go right and sometimes not so right. We all know there are always little surprises that come along to test us.Its nonsense to pretend it’s always perfect. You rock.

[@leehaelters6182]

OK, Quinn, I'm only ten minutes into this video, and you already have me as a subscriber. You are the Da Gal for density of information, dryness of wit, and speaking my language. Looking forward to viewing the rest of your offerings!

[@Blondihacks]

Awesome, thank you for the kind words and for subscribing! ☺️

[@mitsukowalker5831]

You put on a good show. Easy to listen to. Like your informality and "easy words" You have good hands for these demos and a good presentation voice. Thanks for a job well done.

[@chrisbryant5749]

After doing years of manual machining I still enjoy watching clips like this. It is nice to see good workmanship in use and I suppose it also makes me appreciate the CNC conversion a little more too.

[@danashay]

Another top notch box-o-hints video. Loved the spring weave and the wet Emery cloth. And you consider yourself a hobbyist. Don't ever change. 😎

[@Blondihacks]

I’m definitely a hobbyist. What I don’t know about machining would fill a warehouse. 😁

[@johnjenkins2315]

Blondihacks somehow I know that feeling 🤭. Even though I’m in my mid seventies I still like to watch how others do things, you’re never to old to learn 🤗🤓

[@GaryH-pw9cm]

I have always put a tap in a drill press and turned the chuck by hand first and then used the chuck key handle to turn the chuck. I learned something new today. Thanks!

[@bostedtap8399]

Excellent project and tutorial. Tip! If hardening thin or slim items, then ensure the item is held vertically along the long axis when quenching. Hope this helps. Thanks for sharing.

[@Blondihacks]

Indeed, I did that but it still warped, sadly

[@bostedtap8399]

@@Blondihacks Thanks for replying, for intricate components, stress relieving prior to heat treatment is highly recommended, but a simple pin shouldn't need it. Enjoying the vlogs.

[@OyvindSOyvindS]

Wow! I had no idea what a tap follower was, and don't know why I clicked the video. BUT, I find this one of the better instruction videos I have ever seen. Pleasent voice, excellent filming, excellent editing and commentary (including humour), (luckily no music), excellent design and skilled execution. Kudus for also including errors and remedy. I am now a fan.

[@Blondihacks]

Thank you for the kind words- I appreciate it! ☺️

[@chriscraven9572]

Excellent little project Quinn. The one criticism I make is with indicating the part whilst using the steady rest. If the steady rest is deflecting the part, say towards the tool, as the part rotates it gets deflected an equal amount so the indicator reads the same.

[@WorksbySolo]

Oh, I’m so glad that I procrastinated on making my tap follower. These improvements are awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[@andrewalters9272]

Hi Quinn, Very helpful video. Need to make me two of those tap followers. Will do it this week. Regarding the accuracy of your live center. You can dismantle it (very easy to do) and check where the play comes from. If it is between the center shaft and bearing there is nothing economical that you can do to fix it. However if it is dew to excessive clearance in the bearings you can replace them. it will have a needle bearing deep inside a thrust bearing and a ball bearing in front. Replace them with a zero clearance bearing. most cheap everyday bearings have a C3 clearance. This should solve your problem without having to spend a lot of money on a new center. I would start with just replacing the ball bearing first.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Being new to machining, the best part of watching these is that you find tools you didn't know you needed! Now that I know what a tap follower is, I certainly need one! I don't have a lathe so I guess I have to resort to buying one. ;-)

[@kkarllwt]

A related suggestion. Drill a series of clearance holes for various tap sizes into a 1 1/4 steel block. When starting to tap a hole, feed the tap through the blcck until a few threads are formed. This will start the tap to within a degree of straight. I made one to mount boxes to machinery 40 years ago and still use it. Straight taps when laying on you back under a machine. And , good for bench work.

[@ExtantFrodo2]

...because many times you want to tap things you can't hold in a lathe or mill.

[@johnearley9816]

After watching this video I also made a tap follower. The main difference in mine was the use of a 3/8-16 set screw on the end instead of a threaded cap. Now I have two. One with a point and a smaller one with a center hole. They cover both large and small taps. Thanks for the interesting video.

[@brianmoore3659]

I’m a old guy new to machining and really love your videos. Very well presented and help tremendously

[@thenetwerx]

Cool! Love seeing how tools are made rather than just bought. Gives more understanding of how they work and why they are made the way they are. Nice work!

[@kevinsmg1]

Goswcizain

[@johnburroughs8532]

Dont forget to double check the tap handles for Concentricity If you have tight tolerance threads. Great video.!!

[@basher20]

Came up a thousandth short? Turn up the heat in the shop.

[@volvovalor8051]

Kudos of rechecking runout after setting up the steadyrest. I actually nodded in agreement as my OCD was satisfied haha

[@alanreynolds5985]

Well blow be down. All these years of using taps and dies and I never realised that about the end of taps. I've used taps in a drill press to get them vertical but it's a bit of a faff, I also use a chuck if I'm tapping on the lathe. I shall make one of these. I'm also subscribing because I really enjoyed this video. Precise concise and no booming music. Top Marks, thank you.

[@RedDogForge]

Wonderful explaination of the logical steps of layout for the length before turning. You ma'am are definately my new morning coffee watch!!

[@billyeast6819]

Excellent especially your narratives on the devices you create! Excellent!

[@brianbutler3954]

I do enjoy your video’s , you have done your research and you give an exceptional presentation . As Alton Brown is to cooking shows, you are to these video’s . Not only do I get excellent tips from watching you work, but I have learned that “Chowder” means bad, “Yahtzee” means good ,and “Bob’s your uncle” means finished. I am looking forward to getting more great tips, and learning new synonyms in future videos.

[@JohnReasons]

I love the level of detail and explanation provided in this video. Never thought there was so much to learn about such a simple tool. Well done and thank you for taking the time to make this video.

[@jamesjacobs1909]

I turned my follower using my valve grinding machine - works great.

[@stancloyd]

The drill rod would allow me to explore the options for the Hot Shot 360 and the tool post grinder. Love the bluing detail.

[@laurencebyers1322]

Im a fan of This Old Tony and other machinists like yourself, but have never had a budget that enabled me to actually acquire said machine tools. So this is a bit of overkill for my requirements or capablility. I am happy to be made aware of the "tap follower", I always just used a chunk of broke drill bit as a tap guide. I guess I'll have to try to figure out how to make a similar tool out of stock materials.

[@holton345]

My list of Beginner Projects continues to grow as I watch your videos, Quinn. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Yahtzee!

[@Billybobble1]

I stumbled onto this vid out of algorithms and curiosity and I have to say I am super impressed with the quality and quantity of info (and the humour!). I have little to no experience with machining, up until 23 minutes ago! Great work and no hesitation in subscribing and clicking the bell. I look forward to watching your back catalogue and future vids. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. 10/10

[@Blondihacks]

Awesome! Thanks for the kind words and the sub!

[@danielchapa2112]

Great job on the bearing pins, excellent!👍🏼 I like the emphasis on the coffee break to reset, coffee is our friend.☕️

[@3bnjo3]

"....but in the Blondihacks shop that gets you promoted." Ha!

[@brianhaygood183]

Oh no! If you get promoted we won't get any videos because you'll be stuck behind a desk doing TPS reports all day and explaining to upper management why you had to spend $1,101.10 on a tap follower to get that new contract filled.

[@Sembazuru]

My thought was it would get you a beer. Not sure which I would take... 🤣

[@stancloyd]

"threads are poor at holding concentricity" I recently learned this nugget the hard way on my wood lathe refurbishment. A tight thread is less accurate than a loose thread with a proper shoulder. The loose thread self centers when the faying surfaces of the shoulder locks up.

[@badvlad9861]

Quinn always does the best, I appreciate your letting us tag along.

[@ellieprice3396]

Thanks for the much improved tap follower design. For best accuracy steady-rests should always be adjusted on a true diameter close to the chuck, then moved out to the working position. If done this way the accessory will be true to the center line of the lathe.

[@Jajaho2]

I've really grown quite fond of your channel.I like your style.

[@mutfish]

One of the most comforting voices I've ever heard.

[@effingeffwerd4353]

Check out Lofty Pursuits. He's a candy maker with a very soothing voice.

[@richardmeyer418]

@@effingeffwerd4353 Or BBQ Pit Boys - that voice is very soothing.

[@NoName-zn1sb]

@@richardmeyer418 try LPL (Lock Picking Lawyer); Ed Copeland of Sixty Symbols

[@leehaelters6182]

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response guys.

[@Alandaledaniel13]

Too smooth. She puts me to sleep watching the video.

[@tomherd4179]

Interesting varation on another one I saw and made. What he did was to bore and ream about a 3" inch deep hole in 1/2" stock (body), then mill a 1" slot into the side about 2/3 the way from the closed end. The tap extender ram turned to a point and sized for a close fit into the body. With the center inside the body and the pointed end extended as one wants a hole is drilled and tapped into the center at the mid point of the slot. A spring is then placed into the body, the center inserted and a screw, set screw, etc. is installed in the drilled and tapped hole. Thus, a different version of hte tap follower. I ended up making a spring as well which is another project in itself - also I could find nothing around the shop I liked. The 1" trave. (could be more) allows for enough movement for a good tap start. Nothing is critical except the center to body fit.

[@Gaark]

really like the way you made the cap fit right down to the shoulder, I'll have to remember that :)

[@davekimbler2308]

You went directly to the point on this one ! At least you pointed out the flaws in your pointed pointer , being precise on this point is perfect ! Perhaps I should have just Gotten to the point right a way ! Lol

[@HawaiiGoesFishing]

I was wondering how a drill press is used to get a tap to track perfectly straight, and now I know. Nice to see someone at your level take the time to re-think how something is made and re-do the job to make it better. The Brownell's Ospho-Blue is excellent stuff. I used it to do some bluing on a couple of small projects and the results look like what comes from the factory.

[@owenclark7210]

Very nice. This is next on my list of things to make, after I get my Tailstock Die holder built.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Quinn, If you need drilled holes with a flat bottom, DeWalt pilot point drills will provide that flat bottom. I use them for just that purpose.

[@myharris]

Interesting tip on combining springs. At 9:28 on Joe Pieczynski's "Sequence is Everything for Small Parts" he talks about using different strength springs depending on tap size, so combining springs like you do kind've works for that because you can decombine them and just use one for smaller tap sizes.

[@donmathias1705]

Havn't used a die nut for thirty years. When you screw cut a lot on a conventional lathe it is so much faster, perfectly concentric and the finish is superb. You also get a better fitting threads and when you screw cut confidently, you don't have to buy a new dienut every time you need a different thread. When I male slender parts, say an M8 thread on the end of something, I leave a bit extra on the length and turn down just below the root dia, say 6.5mm and use my centre. Eleminitates spring, gives space for the lead screw nut engagement and more importantly, takes up the minor end float in the spindle. When Im done I simply cut off with a cutting of disc in the disc grinder with the lathe going and of course with the centre out of the way.

[@Blondihacks]

Written like someone who has never had to use change gears. 😬

[@donmathias1705]

@@Blondihacks I do have that luxury but I did my training as we crossed over from mainly imperial pitches to mainly metric. The old flat bed lathes being imperial required gear changes and we just had a wee book. Did not have the luxury of changable tips, almost no carbide and these were used mainly on manganese work hardening sheaves and we brazed these on ourselves. We would be constantly getting ready for the next job, figuring it out, grinding up tools or drills while a cut was advancing in the lathe. Actual lathe engine time was longer but today people sit and watch instead of being productive. Today people mess about with carbide tooling and take lots of cuts(not the cnc guys) when in our day the lathe would run at a much slower speed, at the lower end of surface speed and we took deep, high feed cuts with qood quality high speed steel. You would be amazed how much material you can remove with a powerful lathe with a speed of 2 rpm. So yes I am spoilt but starting off I made thousands of shackel pins by hand. Hundreds of double start well pipes both internal and external with a flat square form and tapered to boot all without taper turning options. I was offering a bit of advice but that seems to have been missed.

[@andrewedgecombe]

Looking at the tip of intertwining springs - I would never have guessed that spending hours futzing with tangled slinkies might actually yield something positive!

[@MrOgre1110]

Great job! I love the idea of such precision, then I remember I am such a slacker and would never spend the time getting it perfect lol.

[@Willies_shop]

Thanks for the incentive to finally make one of these.

[@Beltonius]

For future mechanisms, if you make the length of the larger diameter of the pin (that mates with the bore of the body) as long as feasible, you'll control the lateral play in that without needing to match the concentricity of the bore the pin exits from - that can be clearance.

[@Blondihacks]

Two points of support will always be more rigid though

[@mikefasan325]

Your making a lot of sense. Not many ppl work to .0001” good on ya.

[@geckoproductions4128]

WHAT! No single point threading! I'm shocked, SHOCKED! Nice video Quinn, thanks

[@Blondihacks]

I rarely do it on this machine because of the hassle of change gears.

[@GeneralG1810]

I've been in the trade for over 20 years and can't believe I've never even thought of making one of these.

[@TCB031]

Wow Quinn, I was going to congratulate you on hitting 30,000 subscribers, and lo and behold, you're already at 30.1 K! Looks like folks are realizing what an exceptionally great site this is.

[@Blondihacks]

Aww, thanks! 😁

[@TM15R]

When turning very small diameter stock, use a small chuck from a discarded hand held electric drill. They generally have 3/8 through hole and are REALLY ACCURATE when placed in the normal lathe chuck. Try it, you'll like it.

[@martinedelius]

Nice work! This seems like a pretty good project to start with when I get a lathe. I won't get the precision or finish you do but the tool itself is easy to understand and it involves a number of different operations on the lathe.

[@johnquijote7194]

Your humility is as refreshing as your humor. #fanforlife

[@roadshowautosports]

At 22:25 you made me remember one guy doing a review of cold bluing products and he didn’t pre test it to the real video, then he was talking to the camera and explaining what he was doing when a very natural “HOLY CRAP!!!” came out when the product worked wonders, as yours did, and it was super funny! His expression was priceless and unforgettable! Great video!

[@johnapel2856]

Ooh, shiny new metal tool! Nicely done as usual. Thanks and Meow.

[@user-zq6pj5jo8j]

You could also make a threaded hole in the back instead of a cap, use a set screw as a plug to hold in the pin and spring.

[@BlueCollarBachelor]

To further simplify your design, retain the guts with an allen grub screw instead of a cap. Great job!

[@Darosicam]

I can't find a supplier of Oxpho Blue in the UK, which is sad because it appears to give excellent results. Thanks for the videos ... good clarity of voice, video, lighting and editing ... content well thought out and just what's needed for relative beginners. BTW, the person who never made a mistake, never made anything ! :)

[@richardmeyer418]

Yep, it's a case of OSHA in the US not allowing it to fly. I did some research trying to get it into Australia, and the answer is just "NO!"

[@pfadiva]

Birchwood-Casey Superblue is used by some restorers I watch that are based in Europe (TysyTube and my mechanics). Maybe that would be available to you?

[@jimkemerly6636]

"Learn from the mistakes of others. You'll never live long enough to make them all yourself." J.Z.

[@xenonram]

@@richardmeyer418 Finding a supplier in a non US country isn't limited by air travel. When a supplier imports things to sell, it's usually done by boat. It's probably more of a situation that Brownells is in the US, and the UK has their own cold bluing solution that they sell.

[@xenonram]

Buy any cold blue that's available in the UK. They all pretty much work well. (All the popular ones anyways.)

[@Cooliemasteroz]

Nice demonstration of a worthwhile project as usual and it’s good to see your skills improving. I don’t know if you have discovered it yet but if you put oil on mechanical parts it will actually takeaway unwanted slop, especially in plain bearings.

[@gyrogearloose1345]

Oddly Satisfying indeed! Thank you very much for this Ms Blondi. I like the way you point out the range of run-out specs on the live centres. And the potential effect on the accuracy of the work. And the staggering $$s one has to pay for the really right stuff. For my home shop I just stay away from bottom-of-the-barrel prices and the poor stuff you generally find there.

[@stancloyd]

Bruce Witham urged me to get one after watching me struggle with the operation. I too had sticker shock at a good commercial equivalent.

[@pancake_crab4457]

Brb, pausing my current project to make one of these now. I'll just move it to my backlog of ten or so things I half made and will finish later.

[@twm4259]

When you succeed at making such a beautiful tool I seem to recall there is some kind traditional celebratory dance. Now what was that again? Think, think, think... well anyway, job well done. Love your work!

[@industry65]

Tappy-tap-tap Dancing?

[@craigtate5930]

My parting goes so poorly, so often. I frequently reverse the lathe and grab my bandsaw. Luckily, I have seensome improvement with my newest parting tool holder build.. nice stuff Quinn

[@BigMikesGarage]

Love the content! Being an old school mainframe programmer, your binary joke made me laugh. Naturally, as timing would have it, I was right in the middle of a sip of coffee. My screen needed a good cleaning anyway!

[@HouseMadeUS]

I never knew these existed. And it makes a ton of sense! Thank you for sharing this, I learned a lot. Well done. (now I want one)

[@BrunoWiebelt]

you are a very good teacher, very clear to understand

[@stancloyd]

One would expect a new live center to have some pre-load between the bearings. Being a pessimist I'd want to load the live center point and check run-out a second time (and mine are old anyway).

[@mxcollin95]

Looks like a fun little project! I think I might give this one a shot.

[@brucewilliams6292]

It will be nice to see the steady rest mods. Thanks for the video.

[@brianrydzeski6108]

Nicely done, Quinn. I like your applied ingenuity for this project.

[@luckenbachmachineworks7000]

Nicely done! Good idea on combining two springs.

[@bhoiiii]

I like a little more spring pressure on a tap follower. In my opinion, the initial force of the spring is what makes the threads straight. After 4-5 turns, the tap will continue to be straight, and you can remove the follower. Maybe I was was misreading the spring tension in the video.

[@Armedlegally]

Its literally 5am in the morning, strangely enough I have nothing to do on this cold Saturday morning. Well up until now! I will attempt to make my Tap Follower as good as yours but I'll accept my faults now and settle for 1/10 th as good as yours!

[@NoName-zn1sb]

It's 5AM in the evening here...

[@TomMakeHere]

Ha I literally just made a dual end tap follower yesterday You are scaring me Quinn

[@Blondihacks]

Hey, with a name like TommyGun Machining, I feel everything you do is likely awesome. Happy to be near that. 😁

[@TomMakeHere]

​@@Blondihacks Ha, I'm just a hobbyist learning (and failing) as hard as I can

[@larryschweitzer4904]

I bought an extended nose live center so I could get closer to small parts, Cheap Chinese. Way to much runout to be of any value. I now use a half dead center. When using a tap always remember to tilt the glass so you don't get too much foam. Thanks for the video. My Chinese tap follower does the hula, I'll see if I can get one to come out as well as yours did.

[@kevinreardon2558]

I bought a tap follower with a pointy end. After this, I went back and looked if there was the other end. After disassembly, there was! Of course there were no included instructions even at the site I bought it from.

[@oiu7890]

Nice no funky music. Great instructions with great tips!

[@4SafetyTraining]

stopped all work to get some great info. Thanks

[@pappy1812]

Quinn are you a machinist by profession or is this your hobby? I can't get enough of your channel.

[@HiltownJoe]

"And that my friends, is a spring loaded tap follower" That sentence gave me "Die Sendung mit der Maus" feelings.

[@larryblount3358]

Soda can. Learned something. I look forward to using.

[@dougsather2939]

Quinn: gosh I feel as I just made one in my chair 💺 watching you. Very nice 😇🙏

[@michaelswanson7881]

Hi, nice piece of kit. You could stretch the springs to the length you need just by pulling on them.

[@criggie]

Have you ever considered putting a maker's mark on your scratch-built items ? Totally deserved IMO.

[@GunFunZS]

Nice way to do that is you can get some paper off of Amazon that is for printing circuit board etch resistant on. You have to use a laser printer. anyway you can basically print any pattern and then heat transfer from the paper onto your part. Be sure to reverse the image before printing.

[@matspatpc]

I need to make a "negative centre" for those small taps. I did make mine with the screw at the back - not really some clever thinking on my behalf, just pure coincidence of how I figured I could make it. But first I need to fix the power to my lathe. I broke the three-phase inverter that feeds my lathe with three-phase in my single-phase garage - a small chip must have fallen down into the electrical parts when I hammered in some clips for the wiring for my mill, and when I turned the power on for the lathe, "flash / bang and then power gone...". Found the culprit, but the amount of smoke and burnt bits on the PCB told me to order a new one. Will try to build some sort of roof/cover for it, so that chips that make it up to the inverter will fall off to the side rather than sit on top of the inverter...

[@jdos2]

PLEASE Create a Metallicor T-Shirt! Good video- thank you!

[@kyfho47]

Put me down for a XXL. That's a shirt I'd be proud to wear.

[@bobuk5722]

I may have got this wrong but I think metric reamers are designed to cut slightly over size - partly to allow for wear of course. Precision ground metric silver steel (drill rod) is I think deliberately ground very slightly under size so it will turn in a reamed hole. The tolerances are plus something minus zero for reamers and the other way round for drill rod. I do not know if this is true for US measurements or not but if it is then selecting appropriate reamers and drill rod would possibly eliminate one turning operation. Just a thought, rather depends on what is in stock! BobUK.

[@morelenmir]

You are genuinely inspirational!!! I feel like I have learned more practical, real world tips and tricks in your twenty minute video here than I have over five years of watching other YT machinists and toolmakers. The colour of that blue finish is _lovely_ as well! Coming from Brownells was it originally intended for a Gunsmith's workshop perhaps?

[@Blondihacks]

Indeed, it is a gunsmithing product

[@Just1GuyMetalworks]

Great design, quinn 😊! Yup, them fancy live centers are annoyingly expensive 🤨. Thanks for the vid 👍😁👍

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Hi Quinn, thoroughly enjoyed the commentary today. Alternate history, you must watch Man in the White Castle.

[@smellsofbikes]

I bet you meant "the man in the high castle" but if you meant "the man in the white suit" that's also a really good movie for engineers, albeit very different.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

smellsofbikes that’s what I meant 😁

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Loved the "God of machining" line.

[@ThomasBurns]

Well done! I've learned so much from your channel!

[@tooltimechris7217]

Really nice project! And great way of explaining!

[@michaelclark9409]

I love happy accidents (Thank you Bob Ross #RIP)... Since your negative is for smaller taps, hence shorter lengths, you'll require much less travel then your positive end.