Machining Large Undercuts on the Lathe with Less Chatter

[@peterparsons3297]

a comment on running in reverse, this was the best way to do parting on a small import lathe i used to own, when running forward the parting tool used to stick and dive into the part due to lack of rigidity but tool upside down and reverse it parted off lovely. not sure but i think this tip came from you as well Joe

[@paulkennedy5953]

Good work Joe.. if you been using these techniques for 40 years then they are tried and true..tutorial videos are excellent educational..keep em coming..knowledge is power and power is knowledge.

[@vanderhoof5701]

This addresses several areas where I've had turning issues. I do so appreciate your time and effort you spend making your videos and teaching us. Thankyou.

[@FireFarter72]

Hey Joe! You still keep providing us with tips and techniques that are actually useful! You seem to always aim for the most appliable solutions, always correct but nothing fancy for fancyiness sake. Respect!

[@xrayrep]

Excellent tutorial, Joe! I'm not a professional machinist, just a retired hack who does this kind of stuff as a hobby because I enjoy doing it very much. I own a good quality Chinese mill (if you can believe that) and a fairly good Chinese lathe. They actually produce accurate and precise parts when I implement some of the tips and techniques that your videos have taught me. I wonder if you could do a video about cutting fluids and lubricants (if you haven't already done so). There seems to be some confusion and misinformation out there about this basic subject. I think others would agree with me. Thanks again for your awesome tutorials!

[@barryharkins9390]

Back in 78 on old German boy told me this trick he was retiring he taught me well and I listen good it's good to see you teaching back in the day a lot of people wouldn't give up Secrets because they were afraid of their jobs this old German boy was awesome reminds me a lot of you thanks again

[@petergregory5286]

Barry, I had the same problem as an apprentice back in the 60’s even though their jobs weren’t in fact at risk. Perhaps they just didn’t like us or didn’t have any useful info to impart. Unlike Joe. Regards.

[@brianwalk108]

thank god you never run out of cool and interesting tips, tricks and techniques!

[@brucematthews6417]

More great real world hints. LOVE IT ! ! ! THANKS JOE ! ! ! Us guys with the screw on chucks mostly already know about the option of fitting a rear tool post to allow for holding the parting or other tooling upside down and cut in the regular rotation. And if we don't then this is a reminder... .:D

[@Blackmage50]

I don't even have any machines but I just love watching​ your videos! Thanks Joe!

[@banananarchy]

Joe, be aware - you are dropping gems. Many of the tips and tricks you show, belong in the black book of secret trick to machining. Cnc is taking over the shops, but that just adds to the importance of knowing those tricks, or else people will fail, when they don't have a computer to do the work. Needless to say, much respect. Thanks for the videos.

[@culmalachie]

Yes, Chatter and cutting width and feed rate / pressure. Explains a lot of problems when you can't see the edge for the smoke! Excellent refresher course + good examples. Thanks again

[@davecooke9659]

Amazed at the rigidity and tool edge. Two thumbs up.

[@joepie221]

Thanks. Clausing machines are great.

[@ChrisB257]

Yet more gems Joe - you have shown so many great tips - thank you. I have used the parting tool approach in the past - sometimes opting to finish center area with a right or left hand tool to suit end requirements.

[@rogueart7706]

Aaaagh....of course....running in reverse let's the tool "relax". It's not bucking and gouging against the solid rigid lathe, it's actually riding on the part. Like riding a horse, if you hold on tight you will fall off. You must relax and let your body move with the horse. Makes total sense now, thanks again Joe...you are the master!

[@joepie221]

Spot on. Its actually less rigid. Thanks for watching.

[@aldimmett]

Thank you Joe for the sacrifices you make, so that the rest of us can learn.

[@Shopaddict23250]

Hey Joe these tips are golden, especially for beginners like me, keep em coming man.

[@douglasstovall2395]

Ditto from me. My learning curve gets steeper every time I watch your videos. Thanks a lot!! :>)

[@jimmilne19]

Parting and grooving is my biggest headache. This adds to my arsenal of techniques. I have been grinding a groove in my parting blade as you show on the form tool in the first half. This has helped me a lot with high speed steel parting blades. Thank you very much for sharing. Know that I am a better machinist because of your fine videos.

[@TorquinDSL]

Joe, I very much appreciate you taking the time to make these videos and share your knowledge with the rest of us.

[@alexbarnett8541]

Some more useful information. Thanks! I like that saying "if you've got chatter then there's something a matter". That's a good one!

[@alexbarnett8541]

@Cooper Duncan weird people care about doing stuff like that. I guess some people just have pretty sad lives. But if you could actually hack accounts you could make some good money, instead of just trying to get people to pay you to do it for them.

[@Changtent]

Love your videos Joe. I recall times at work when other workers would comment to me, "Oh yeah, I know how to run a lathe too. I learned in high school." It took me many years to develop machining skills, and I'm still learning. Yet so many think their otherwise basic introduction to lathes in high school, make them "experts". And sometimes that scares me.

[@MrRaynemaker]

I bought a lathe about 8 years ago after coveting one for decades. I am self taught with the help of KZbin videos such as this. I stay scared. I figure it's safer like that.

[@Changtent]

Yes, I bought my own lathe for gunsmithing many years ago, then read everything I could find, and talked with older expert machinists that I sought out. Often talked by phone as they were many miles away. Today we have the internet, and KZbin which are fantastic tools! Yup, that spinning shaft, chuck, or whatever in front of you is always dangerous and must be respected. Not for people with mediocre or casual interest.

[@joemiller5110]

Thanks Joe, you just solved a problem i've been thinking about on how I will turn a rod journal on a model engine crankshaft. This hollow, relieved tool method is going to work, I think. Please keep em coming.

[@joepie221]

I've been considering making a miniature V8 block , crank and pistons just for fun. You could also use a parting tool if you choke up on it and grind it right.

[@coleenlofgren6385]

Thanks again Joe, I always learn something from your videos !! Mark

[@sickboymech92]

As always, simple and brilliant, Thanks Joe.

[@kyleoglee]

Just sat down in my shop from some lathe work. Perfect timing Joe! Thanks again.

[@TandaMadison]

Watched this video a long time ago but I just used the relieved center tool technique to knock out grooves in some in a handful of 304 stainless parts. Just thought I would drop a line of thanks. It worked like a charm.

[@joepie221]

Thanks for the feedback. Knocking that center out makes a huge difference.

[@InssiAjaton]

A long time ago I was involved in refurbishing the surface of a 16 feet diameter paper dryer cylinder. It had developed a little out of round shape (actually starting to evolve towards a rounded corner square). So, the first operation included mounting a lathe bed next to the cylinder and trying to turn the cylinder back to round shape. For people who might not know, the dryer cylinders are high alloy cast iron. A sharp tool bit worked for a couple of rounds (of the cylinder) and the it was vibrating intolerably. The solution, presented by the flame spraying consultant, was to turn the tool upside down and re-wiring the cylinder drive motor for reverse direction. The tool still had to be sharpened quite often, but it lasted way longer than the original couple of revolutions. People who had not seen this trick before, including the lathe operators, were amazed.

[@CalvinEdmonson]

Solid techniques, and clean as a whistle. A thinking machinist right here. Well done and thanks for the tips.

[@Tryin2FlyII]

Great info!!! I always learn from watching you Joe-Thanks !!!

[@sanjaysami4315]

Another great video. Thanks for taking the effort to put these together. Much appreciated Joe !

[@joepie221]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@arienugteren3797]

Hi Joe, again two very good videos, this one, and the fly cutter. Since the day I found your video with that fantastic demonstration of reverse threading, and after I watch all others of you, I'm able to do many nice, good, lathe operations, and surprise customers with machined parts when they needed.Please continue with this, it contributed a lot to better quality. Many thanks!!

[@skylark4901]

Thanks Joe, your an awesome teacher, obviously a lot of experience. I'm seeing many people asking for tips on grinding tools. Personally, I have trouble grinding tools that don't break chips and put out the long dangerous strings that try to attack you. A video on this would be much appreciated. Thanks again, your the best!

[@modelsteamers671]

Great video Joe, I enjoy your work and as a hobby machinist I learn a lot from them. If possible in the future is it possible to make one showing how to grind a few basic HSS lathe tools ? I grind my own but find it's a bit of guess work so some tend to work better than others. Many thanks - Peter.

[@Robonthemoor]

Model Steamers great comment, Tom L has a good demonstration on tool sharpening but yes” I would like to see Sir Joes angle on it too. Like you I have learned so much from Joe, very very clever man easy to listen too as well, one of the best on KZbin if not the best.✅

[@caidengrant1101]

i know im asking the wrong place but does any of you know of a method to get back into an instagram account..? I was stupid forgot my password. I would love any assistance you can give me.

[@jesusmateo5325]

@Caiden Grant Instablaster =)

[@caidengrant1101]

@Jesus Mateo I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im in the hacking process now. Takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@caidengrant1101]

@Jesus Mateo it did the trick and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thank you so much you saved my account !

[@doright6461]

Thanks again Joe. If the lathe cuts smaller toward the chuck with you can mount a threading tool upside down and you can cut a right hand THD, providing there is a relief, with the spindle in reverse, cut from left to right and do the old tap on the cross slide trick along the cut for what's needed to take out taper on the final pass too ;- )Chris

[@randallshular5362]

WOW, those continuous curls coming off the material was very impressive.

[@desertforgeknifetool2142]

Another great video. Would like to see some tool grinding techniques you use in real time at the grinder please.

[@yankeemachineworks6115]

Joe this is another of your videos doing a great job showing off techniques and skills of the old school machinist...very well done !! Taking a piece of not so easy to machine stainless and making it look effortless with hand ground hi-speed tools, and feeding the machine by hand. No going to the tool suppliers rack for a stock cutter or programming a machine to work for you. Every journeyman machinist should know these skills and practice until proficient. Believe me I know..50 years ago my father required me to learn how to properly grind tool bits until I had well established blisters, and learned the feel of hand feeding the machine during difficult operations... Perhaps you should change the name of your outfit to "Advanced Innovations based on Decades old Skills and Procedures" LOL just kidding... Another great video...Please keep them coming :)

[@peterspain3827]

Hi Joe I have used your tool grinding idea on a roller project that required a undercut depth of 10mm And it worked great.Bearing in mind I have a variable speed lathe and the dimensions of the blank were 100mm dia by 75mm length with 1/2 inch tooling, the speed of roughing out was greatly increased.Thanks a lot.

[@bradlilly8603]

I really like the videos Joe. I'm a basement hack and I have learned a lot from these videos. Thanks

[@workwillfreeyou]

Thanks Joe. Great tips and exceptionally nice lathe. If you were to setup carriage stops for something like this please show . Thanks Jim.

[@johnmann8662]

Once again you amaze me Joe. We talked earlier about reverse cutting. This was a GREAT demo of how well that works especially with such a wide cut! I'm totally impressed! I also absolutely love the double nose tool! I have struggled with big cuts like that and even with regular parting off on my little 14x36 lathe many many times. I'll be grinding a few of those for sure! I may even try grinding a form like that into a thicker parting blade to get some serious depth! My only regret is doing some nasty jobs without this knowledge. Reminds me of that old saying. "Experience is the toughest teacher of all because she gives the test before the lesson". You really are awesome Joe. Please keep the lessons like this coming. YOUR ADVICE AND HELP IS APPRECIATED MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY!

[@skylark4901]

Thank's John for that old saying, it's my new favorite, and boy if it ain't true! (school of hard knocks!)

[@sferg9582]

Awesome as usual! Thanks Joe.

[@brianjohnson217]

Thanks for the video regarding undercutting, I was never told/ adviced to perform an undercut with that type of cutting tool. Better late than never

[@joepie221]

Try it.

[@sblack48]

Last one gave the best finish!

[@ronpeck3226]

Thanks for your time Joe

[@slypig24]

Thanks again Joe. Better swarf control with an inverted tool.

[@davidgreen1299]

Time to grind a new tool. Thanks for the info Joe. Been having chatter problems with 303 stainless while trying to make a radius

[@joepie221]

303 is the butter of stainless. If the material is chattering, slow down the RPM. Keep pressure on your tool and don't sit around waiting for applause after the radius forms. Hit it and get out. Good luck.

[@davidgreen1299]

Thx Joe. It did the job

[@dakosdesigned9364]

Thank You Sir ! As always Great info for the Masses!

[@larrymatsumoto7730]

Thanks again Joe, for another great video

[@bcbloc02]

I use a Kennametal groove and turn insert to relieve the area between the lobes on my camshafts. It works great, no chatter, nice chips and good finish. I highly recommend them for operations like this.

[@jimmilne19]

Would you please specifify which groove and turn insert?

[@bcbloc02]

I use the A4 series in particular the ones with the round nose because I like to have radi in all my grooves to reduce stress concentration if possible. also the round nose allows for varying the amount of tool engagment so if there is chatter you can just take a smaller cut. I can cut 1" diameter bar 8620 in the middle of 36" centers and still be smooth so they do pretty good.

[@bcbloc02]

Here is a link if you tube doesn't block it as spam for having a link..... www1.mscdirect.com/images/solutions/kennametal/kpA4GrooveTurn5steps.pdf

[@mitchstott4004]

Thanks for the tip on that I will order some of those

[@grottonisred6541]

Pretty impressive Joe... Great vid as always...

[@seantap1415]

Good tip. Nice ridged setup is key for this type of operation.

[@randomdude1786]

ya that's a pretty cool, tool geometry makes all the difference. I can see that would increase productivity greatly thanks

[@maxcnc777]

You did it again! I thought I invented that! Been doing the same thing since I was in my early twenties. I had to trepan a large o-ring groove on a 24" stainless vacuum flange. I'd say great minds think alike, but you are waaay smarter than I ;)

[@mccgakloi]

I was just machining 316 1/2" today and still yet to do the final cuts tommorrow for a groove. Plunging my carbide cutting tool straight in as you did was not nice. Im either blunt or off centre...?

[@jamesciampi6392]

You are the man Joe,wouldn't miss one of your videos.

[@ChrisHarris4U]

I do mostly CNC work but I love the skills you share. I wish I was 10% of the machinist you are.

[@outsidescrewball]

Awesome video/discussion/instruction.....any chance a demo on grinding/honing the HSS tool as shown

[@joepie221]

Hi Chuck. You bet. I'll put it in the cue.

[@yt66228]

Great video. I always had a better cut & luck with tool upside down. The bonus is if the tool digs in the lathe shoots the tool up on the Aloris tool post. You reset toll and keep going.

[@houseofbrokendobbsthings5537]

Awesome - now all can have super powers. Well done Joe! _Dan_

[@pauls5745]

wow I have to try center relieving my cutters, and neat trick with the parting tool. I dread any large diam parting bcs the noise becomes horrible

[@worthdoss8043]

Much of the old (dont do it on a lathe stuff) is dated back to the old lantern post and spin on chuck days. Much of the old information simple doesn't hold water today with modern lathes. I discovered not locking the tool post down by accident and running backwards. Another discovery is the lathe does a great job of removing old fishing line from bait casting reels like the Penn Senators. Worth

[@michaelforsyth2244]

Had chatter - came to watch the video again - Thanks Joe!

[@harryhopkins7798]

Thank you. Always informative.

[@cgrobe21]

You not lying about breathing in the smoke. I hate it. I keep a fan blowing it away from me as I'm turning. Its just as bad as trying to be in close seeing what you're doing getting sand blasted by hot small chips. Thanks for the videos Joe

[@joepie221]

Some of that smoke exposure can really cause you problems down the road. Its best to avoid it however you can.

[@brianstyrczula9466]

Good for you Joe

[@michaelschnock3998]

great video as all of them . thank you very much for sharing

[@johncarroll8662]

I just take the ribs out with the parting tool. If it is neutral and centered over the rib, there is usually no problem and the bottom looks pretty good as well.

[@DavidMilum]

GREAT TIPS THANK YOU JOE.

[@ke6bnl]

I have a smallish lathe 11 in and not run all my parting tools in reverse and leave them in the holder ready for reverse parting. good video

[@peterspain3827]

Hi Joe I was a production machine operator(and i am getting back into lathe work) and the rules for stainless steel were slow speed, slow and smooth hand feed,and loads of cutting oil. But i cant recall what tool material was best HSS or index tip. The reverse technique is new to me.but very interesting the way you overcome problems.Keep em coming Joe.

[@paultrgnp]

I am an absolute amateur machinist but an avid KZbin viewer. From my viewing, I recall an experienced machinist on KZbin commenting to the effect that "with SS , use slow speed but "fast" feed". I don't remember advice on Lubricant, but clearly from this video "WD-40" is the go. My observation, with limited knowledge and experience, is that Joe was taking a pretty large bite on all of the cuts he made. Joe, for the benefit of both Peter, myself and probably others, would you mind clarifying this point for us. Kind regards and thanks for another excellent piece of educational video.

[@MrJugsstein]

Thanks Joe Great practical demo of practical tips Will

[@ROBRENZ]

Good stuff Joe! ATB, Robin

[@joepie221]

Thanks for stopping by Robin.

[@ronodowd5724]

Hi Joe Great stuff thank you any subjections on cutting Thomson shafting on the lathe we try to face it off but can only take about .005 a cut using a carbide inserts thanks for any help

[@mikekeele1533]

i got a lot fro m that one, Joe. Could you do a tutorial on grinding those cutters?

[@phitsf5475]

Hi Joe, nice to see you again. KZbin made you disappear for a while.

[@FredMiller]

As always a couple of great tips!

[@tomvitagliano250]

Joe baby ....... Great video.... lots of great practical information for guys like us. Your video's are the best.Keep the practical stuff coming. That video showed me how to circumvent problems that I have had in the past. KUDO'S.

[@johnathanjones6152]

Nice video Joe! I would like to see a video on boring a non-adjustable 3-jaw without the ring normaly used for doing this. My lathe at work has .005 that i cant fix without skim cutting the jaws.

[@reginaldmorton2162]

Damn good training 👌

[@glennfelpel9785]

Joe, this was well done. While doing the inverted cutter, other than unscrewing the chuck, is there any other concerns or dangers one should be aware of. On our turret lathe I have been doing this for a long time. It has a collet closer but is there some other danger lurking about? Thank you very much for all you are doing.

[@MrJackandEmily]

Hey Joe, I use a lot of carbide tips at work and when I cut stainless on the lathe I drench it in coolant.. You seem to use very little lube, how is it not getting wickedly hot and work hardening? Thanks!

[@joepie221]

Depth of cut. Stainless likes to be cut, not scraped. Shallow cuts will produce a work hardened surface much quicker than an aggressive cut like this.

[@christopherdonius1215]

I am confused what difference is being made by the flipping the forming tool as opposed to being right side up? By the way your videos are clear, straight forward and amazing I started keeping a notebook of your tips thanks Chris D

[@zumbazumba1]

Different cutting forces,instead of pushing tool down,it pushes it up. It has to do with how chips hit rake angle. Also when you reverse tool it try to pull up the tool post which pushes down the carriage on the bedway instead of lifting it up as when you do it normal way(i think that is why you dont get chatter on weaker not rigid machines ).

[@ianpendlebury3704]

Interesting and informative, as always.

[@mitchstott4004]

Joe thanks you do a wonderful job explaining your methods. I do have a request,how do you keep your machines so clean. Thanks again

[@timmer9lives]

That was slick. Thanks for posting.

[@louis-philippelavoie6929]

Was using a rather large radius grooving tool,was having a little chatter.Old man told us to turn the chuck by hand for a small last cut,leaving a perfect smooth shinny finish. 1020 school steel tho

[@EngineerPEretired]

15:50 YES, work hardening a piece...

[@nevetslleksah]

Impressive. Thanks for the video.

[@roadshowautosports]

Two questions: How do you control the width of the cut while zigzagging? Is it possible to make the relieved tool with “sharper” outside ends? Like round towards the center and closer to square outside? Thank you!

[@nahuelrodriguez946]

Dear Joe Could you make a video of how to Grind hss tools ? Thanks to Argentina

[@DudleyToolwright]

I think that if the teeth of your cutter are chattering, then you need to add a shop heater or a little cutter coat. Be a sensitive machinist and think about how your tools feel.

[@joepie221]

Thats a good one.

[@pitpuppies]

Another great lesson thanks great vids learn alot from you thanks

[@peterparsons3297]

looking at the first tool the shape reminds me of my insert parting tool, apart for it is only 3mm which i have used in a similar fashion

[@532bluepeter1]

Dear Joe, thank you again for another useful video. This will prove useful when turning eccentric straps. For those with screw on chucks, would not the answer to inverted tooling be to use a back toolpost which would achieve the same effect but with conventional rotation?

[@joepie221]

That would probably work.

[@geoffwundersitz6301]

Hi Joe, many thanks for your videos, I watch many of them and like your presentation. I often wonder about the heavy turning operations that are done without cutting oil/coolant and the effect that use or not use has on cutting tools and surface finish. Would you share your thoughts please.

[@joepie221]

Some tools perform just fine without coolant. I would think coolant is never harmful unless it floods onto a super hot tool. Then you risk fracturing the tool or insert. Finish cuts usually benefit from lubrication, but I'm just used to not using it on the lathe all the time.

[@wgm-en2gx]

Hey Joe, why does inverting the tool and running backwards reduce chatter? I noticed the tool "un"-lifted when you backed off at the end of the cut. Does it have something to do with the reversed upward pull taking up the "slack" (poor term but I don't know what to call it) in the machine?

[@paulmorrey733]

Cheers Joe Great info

[@pgs8597]

Great video Joe, cheers Peter

[@MilanDupal]

Great technique, thanks for sharing.

[@jeffreypfeifer862]

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing ;)

[@bsharp55]

WD-40 doesn't work on Joe.

[@bsharp55]

Dumb Windows. Grabbed the wrong comment to respond to.