Slots in Metal! Mill Skills, Part 9

[@Blondihacks]

Hey everyone! Lots of folks asking about the walking parallels. That happens because the part is not squared up, thus can’t be tapped down well enough to tighten the parallels.

[@dweijers2193]

Good explanation, good job

[@nicholashacking381]

I thought that it was an optical illusion! "That parallel can't be moving sideways, surely? " Ah well, at least I wasn't imagining it.

[@c0mputer]

Remove the parallels once the vise is tightened. You don't want them migrating to the center under the end mill.

[@jimsvideos7201]

Ninja trick for chain drilling: Lay out an odd number, drill the odds first then the evens. That way the material on either side of the hole will always be symmetrical.

[@stevewyckoff6904]

What if you just calculate the required diameter for a perfect layout with 25% overlap?

[@oldfarthacks]

@@stevewyckoff6904 Well we could get two swallow dragging a diamond cutting line between them.

[@GrayRaceCat]

@@stevewyckoff6904 If there is a void on one side of the drill bit and not the other, the drill bit will still tend to "climb" to one side. If there is a similar void on both sides of the drill, as in Jim's scenario, the load is equal, and the drill bit will deflect less. A 25% overlap will ensure that the deflection is consistent and you could use that to your advantage but you would still have the barbell effect at the end you started from.

[@mathewmolk2089]

@@stevewyckoff6904 then punch it into the DRO "Line" feature. ----or just divide the diameter into the lingthe and drop the change or if there is less then a quater drop one hole and put that into the DRO. Al the ones made over the last 20 oss years have the Line function. ,,,,, It's the "easy" button. (Yea, I'm lazy,,,,so what>?😏)

[@don1031]

This is a principle woodworkers often use for creating a mortise (aka "slot") with either a router or a hollow mortise chisel. Most import is to remove material at each end first. Then if you happen to have a bit of deflection on the inner cuts, it doesn't really matter. I think a similar principle would apply here.

[@davidcat1455]

G’day Quinn. 4:01 am Sunday morning in Australia. Watching a very smart lady in Canada,gotta love the Internet🦘🇦🇺

[@wrongtown]

What he said, but other side of Oz so 2:24am 👊😌

[@davidcat1455]

@@wrongtown Cheers👍

[@seabeepirate]

I learned something from this video, thanks! Here’s my share. There is a trick to chain drilling that may help you. If you laid out the holes evenly before you started drilling, then rather than drilling every hole overlapping the next, drill every other hole to start then come back. You can avoid a lot of unbalanced interrupted cutting. The leap frog sets up your overlap so the interrupted cutting forces are balanced and your bit is less likely to walk into the hole next to it.

[@Nemozoli]

I was looking for this comment before making it myself :)

[@captainmother1268]

I love the high tech YT closed captions "My name is Quin and this is bloody ax".😷 Thanks for all you're hard work putting these "Bloody Ax" videos together!

[@pauldevey8628]

Great vid. You are a top drawer educator and entertainer

[@ethanbarrieau7917]

A good trip for chain drilling closer together: do all your center drills, then drill every other hole, then go back and do the middle holes. This stops the drill from walking like yours did on the last hole because it's either always surrounded by material or the opening is the same on both sides.

[@Kineth1]

OMG, I've been getting so many ads for online slots/casinos, and now I see Quinn doing it too.

[@oldfarthacks]

Yep, but Quinn's are keno.

[@raymitchell9736]

So a slot is simple... you say when starting this video... "How hard can it be?" and then you proceed to teach us an incredible amount of knowledge showing us literally the in's and out's of it. Thank you for explaining terms of art, like high-ratio slots, those terms are unfamiliar, I've heard them used before, but totally make sense after explained... now I know! COOL!

[@oldfarthacks]

What could possibly go wrong?

[@joselrodriguez5999]

I missed this type of videos. I am not into modelling but learn a lot about your techniques and workholding on those videos too, but this is pure training!

[@firebird8600]

Yay!! It's Blondihacks time!!!

[@johnapel2856]

It's always good to see the basics reviewed. Thanks, and Meow to Sprocket.

[@oliverb7897]

That intro segment was so savvy, well well done

[@jamessimmons1888]

Good video Blondihacks

[@shawnkowalewski7695]

The sound of the new mill is "precision." Love it.

[@stevesfascinations1516]

Thank you Quinn, I am retired and learning as I go. Your videos are amazing, thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge. Interesting fact, your videos prompted me to buy a lathe and a mill - expensive hobby but I am really enjoying it!

[@evanbarnes9984]

Don't have a mill or a lathe, and probably won't for a couple years yet, but I am going to be SO WELL PREPARED because of all your videos. Thanks Quinn! Can't wait to start making my own steam engines.

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

It is always a treat to watch my favorite lady machinist. Thanks for the video keep on keeping on.

[@kenknight4560]

Have a friend who just picked up a mini mill and lathe. I have recommended he start watching your channel to learn how to use his machines. Another excellent video.

[@leestons]

I *LOVE* the subtle little jokes you put in all your videos. They are already amazing but the jokes are just the cherry on top.

[@gregoryl.4872]

Quinn, you are a genius.

[@rocksteadfarm]

I love watching Quinn from Blondihacks, and Kurtis from Cutting Edge Engineering. Sort of the micro and the macro, but so many of the same techniques.

[@Blondihacks]

Kurtis is fantastic! 😄

[@stringlarson1247]

Thank you for creating this and posting. Don't have a mill and need to slot some 1/2 steel to help out with a friend's project. I was telling him about chain drilling. As it's a rough prototype, I'll do that and then use a die grinder. I just picked up a 40's era Craftsman drill press that I'm going to mod for light milling. I love your channel and ability to explain everything. I'm just getting back into this stuff after 40yrs of being in software engineering. I learned some basic milling on a big ol bridgeport in the 70s. YT is such a great platform for learning skills and techniques.

[@sleepib]

when chain drilling, it's good to use an odd number of holes, and drill every other hole first, so that when you clear out the rest, the interrupted cut is symmetric.

[@rexmyers991]

Well, now I see the error of my slot cutting ways. Thanks, Quinn!

[@goffperu]

Thank you for this helpful video. I botched a slot yesterday and this convinced me that I have a dull tool, rather than having done something wrong.

[@MRrwmac]

Gonna try this for the first time on some aluminum, so this was very helpful. Thank you!

[@ManSkirtBrew]

Hot Mess Pilot Hole is the name of my next band.

[@danneliu]

Thank you for this awesome Mill guide! Just got my first mill, a Bridgeport series1 mill from 1962. Will use all of your videos to begin milling 😊

[@MRrwmac]

Very well made, explained and demonstrated! Thank you.

[@OGTtom]

Always look forward to Saturday and your videos , great information , thank you Quinn .

[@argonman1]

Wow, and I THOUGHT I new something about milling a slot. Very nice, I now know more! Another excellent video Quinn, thanks!!!

[@nobbysworkshop]

Great video Quinn. The second version is the way I aways cut slots. Gives the neatest results. Hope you have lots more videos like this to share. Cheers Nobby

[@lescrooge]

Endmill climbing explained a lot. no wonder sizes on some jobs kept creeping out. thanks for this valuable top tip.😀

[@RonCovell]

Very comprehensive, and comprehensible!

[@veciolupo]

Thanks Quinn for your great passion to share these lessons. You explain things in a perfectly structured style. Even the people with a middle-level English and relatively beginners in milling would perfectly understand.

[@BillDavies-ej6ye]

And British engineers discriminate between an end mill and a slot drill (US: centre cutting end mill). The slot drill is intended to drill (on a mill), so a twist drill, which lacks rigidity, is less effective for chain drilling, see CatNolara's comment. The slot drill can also cut sideways (hence 'slot') so it can also produce the slot. End mills cannot drill, may have more flutes for a given diameter, and a thicker core, and so are a bit more rigid than a slot drill. But this was a very useful video.

[@joewhitney4097]

Great video, as a beginner this helps me a lot to understand cutting with endmills. Thanks for sharing.

[@bigcmoore]

Although I most likely will never machine anything in my life I do enjoy the channel and it is very relaxing time for me when watching each video. I have no spare change for patreon but I do however have a few seconds to click on the affiliate links before buying stuff so there is that. Thank you for all of the relaxing entertainment you have provided.

[@GuerrillaShop-m3]

I just discovered your channel a few months ago. Incredible content! I have learned soooo much about how to use my lathe in creative and SMART ways by watching your vids. Thanks for pouring into the maker community!

[@mulletjocks]

Just had to re-subscribe after 3 or 4 years of being a subscriber, and this should be a warning to all! Check your subscriptions regularly to avoid disappointment

[@slingerssecretlaboratory]

Thanks! Always great advice and tips, Miss Blondie.

[@imkds55]

As a newcomer to hobby machining, I very much appreciate your skills videos. Thank you for breaking it down to a very understandable and easy to follow method.

[@ExplorinDoranRBrown]

I’m always wondering in the intro , is she going to do the spirit fingers? Yes, of course. She always does, but i always think this might be the one she doesn’t! lol. I always love seeing the intro! Gets me pumped to learn!

[@p.m3735]

Thanks a slot for this episode. Just getting into milling and have found the hole series on milling great and informative 😎👍

[@reddcube]

Chain drilling is so useful. Not just for slots.

[@TrudgeRC]

Another fine set of lessons filed in the "once I retire - I'm going to need this" folder.

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

Thanks so much for this Blondie, I’ll be using the chain drilling method from now on and the beauty of doing that on the mill is that the work doesn’t move. I can just swap the drill chuck for the milling cutter and I’m away. For the amount of ware I’ll save and increased accuracy it’s a no brainer, funny how I didn’t think of it.😂😂 Thanks and cheers, Stuart 🇦🇺

[@andrewmullen4003]

To quote This old Tony, when you are doing chamfers, you can't cut corners

[@oldfarthacks]

Really, you had to go there. But yes, a well rounded, non animalistic person will always do a nice chamfers.

[@MattOckendon]

Brilliant, as always. The concept of cutting oversize for a drill or endmill was not immediately intuitive to me and this is very elegant way to demonstrate what is happening. Thank you.

[@GrayRaceCat]

It's actually quite dificult to drill a "perfect" hole in one shot. Strait out of the box, drill bits tend to either drill slightly oversize (due to the drill point not being exactly on center) or the hole is not round (the flute geometry is not exactly symmetrical.) This is why machinists will drill undersized and ream to the final dimension.

[@brianhostak3961]

Not much of a comment but, WOW !! Great job !!

[@davidhomer78]

How I cut a slot? I start with the chain drilling method. Then I use a rat tail file until I get worn out. Then I use a die grinder with a rotary file until it gets stuck and I almost twist my arm off. I rest up a little and go back to the file. I file again until I get a rough looking slot and give up and hope it will do. If it doesn't work I find a piece of scrap metal with a slot about the right size. I cut it out and weld it where I want it. Then it's time to get some sleep and try again tomorrow. I love the endless aspect of my metal working methods.

[@kevinsellsit5584]

I am sooo glad I watched the video before just coming to the comment section to rant about how "slots" can hurt your pocket book more than invisable slivers hurt your fingers. I also think reading the entire title would help with my comprehension. ;)

[@jasonh3109]

Another gem! Such great info and well taught! The only thing I would add is what I do without thought… make sure if your “going to open up the slot a few thou…” make sure you don’t brain fart and add length to the slot as well. All of a sudden that 3 point contact goes away. It took me forever (I’m a slow learner) to learn that. 😮 GREAT VIDS! Keep ‘em coming!

[@Noman3]

Answering questions I didn't even knew I had. Thank you for making this video!

[@johnmcclain3887]

I bought a "Lill' mister" when I bought my bench mill and used it into my actual purchase of a "bridgeport", I now use a double misting setup and it does a fine job cooling and acceptable lubrication.

[@nicolashuffman4312]

I'm a big fan of using a vacuum to remove chips. I made an adapter for my mill that holds a shop vac crevice accessory near whatever cutter I'm using. It probably catches 75% of the chips. If you are working with something that makes a powder like cast iron it does a good job of keeping that off the mill and out of your lungs. It also helps if you are doing one of those obnoxious tasks that generates a great quantity of little splinters that like to get stuck in your fingers.

[@gregh6794]

So many awesome tips here will help me . Enjoying all your vids , new user but so much to learn. Thank You Love the chamfer tool tip :)

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks Quinn

[@shiro-r4m]

For chip clearing if a good finish takes priority over avoiding a mess, compressed air works extremely well to clear the slot out while it's cutting

[@oldfarthacks]

But Quinn is right on one point, flood cooling is the way to go and even better when it's going through the center of the mill cutter.

[@wayneleary4204]

Tell you what lass , I am an instructional officer with the Fleet arm MOD and I endorse your techniques ,,,well done on your intsructinal techniques,,love you lass🥰

[@paulthomas3782]

As usual you taught me something new thanks for sharing cheers.

[@jappyled1394]

That slot of usefull things! Thanks and cheers from the old continent...

[@kevinmanuele1034]

The "barbell" problem also happens with routing slots in wood, even when you think your tool and work piece are firmly anchored. The multi-pass method works there too. I know, it's a woodworking comment 😞

[@aSpyIntheHaus]

How convenient... I was honestly considering doing this on the weekend to fix a thing. I have a mill.. but I was weighing up drilling two holes then doing the middle sides using a cut off wheel.

[@robinknudson3663]

This content was well presented and explained.

[@Reach41]

My cutters let me know when my knowledge lags behind my hand wheelology. They are quite vocal about it, deafening sometimes, but their complaints never come with suggestions. Gotta come here for that, especially if you’re self-taught. Thanks, Blondie!

[@jamesriordan3494]

Very helpful, and a new use for Anchor Lube

[@harmbooij8241]

"Slot cutting in a nutshell" Can't help but see some squirrels operating the mill. :P

[@mertonsilliker3686]

Thanks for your time, very informative

[@jamesmaddigan8132]

Learned. Great tutorial.

[@russellstarr9111]

Great information for a newbie like me. Thanx!

[@theflyingscotsman9902]

Hi Quinn , Hope All is well ? Here is a super handy tool that everyone will want . Can you show how to make a 3/4" x 5 TPi Die . This is a wood broom handle end thread ! Everyone has broken a broom handle at the threaded end . I'm very Thankful for sharing your knowledge on your videos . I own a live steam 3.5" gauge Atlantic locomotive . Love your videos !! 🤗🙏

[@Vange-smeden]

I really like your videos, i feel safe enough to buy a lathe this year all thanks to your videos. Hope to have one in my workshop before the end of this year. ❤ Love the lathe videos! Thanks!

[@mrimmortal1579]

No gloves No long hair No loose sleeves No rings No bracelets No dangling necklaces Always wear protection for your eyes, ears, and groin (as in: wear safety glasses, earplugs, and pants at all times when operating your lathe and/or mill). Good luck, and have fun!

[@Smallathe]

Very cool video on basic milling! :)

[@bdude92]

I already knew all of this but your videos would have been incredibly useful back when i was an apprentice! A* educator

[@davidprovan2250]

When chain drilling use stub drills. Saves risking centre drills which have a tendency to break off in tougher materials. Don't ask how I know...

[@D-Garck]

Thank you for the awesome video and channel! Keep up the cool work!

[@SiskinOnUTube]

You could've put a slot in a walnut for a parting gag. Slot cutting in a nutshell.

[@rpavlik1]

Hey, you said that was slot cutting in a nutshell, but I only saw cuts in metal.... 🤣

[@HM-Projects]

Learned new things as usual, thanks for making these videos.

[@jessemurphy8871]

Just sayin hi to help the algorithm keep up the great work!

[@paulmeynell8866]

Thanks for another great video

[@thomaschristensen755]

Thank you, great technics

[@rustyshackleford928]

I learned a great deal. Thanks

[@BackyardTechnician]

Nice explanation

[@llapmsp]

Very well presented, thank you.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

This is particularly interesting to knifemakers who are always doing slots in guards. If you ever want to do a collab between channels, let me know. I’ve sent many people over to your channel for machinist tips. 😉

[@umahunter]

One tip for easier chain drilling where you can have a ton of overlap is to use an annular cutter since it's more like cutting with an endmill and just cuts on the outer edge and has a hollow center you don't have to worry about holes to close together and the bit deflecting towards the other hole and chattering around plus it usually leaves a nicer finish they are a bit more than regular bits but even the cheaper off shore versions cut faster and last much longer than regular bits they've become a lot more affordable and many holders are available that can often be ran in a drill press or a 3/4 collet on the mill 👍👍👍

[@jdos2]

Watching the parallels during the milling operations - is it normal for them to walk around so much? Excellent and detailed video as always- thank you!

[@arose62]

She didn't say "Taaaapy-tap-tap" - which is how machinists seat the workpiece down firmly against the parallels 😂

[@GrayRaceCat]

@@arose62 😂

[@Blondihacks]

The piece is not squared up, so you can’t tap it down sufficiently to tighten the parallels

[@maitajack]

Very usefull lesson. Many thanks😊

[@paulputnam2305]

Great Job. Thank You! …Slot cutting, in a nutshell, would be extremely useful in pistachios…

[@fubartotale3389]

When you say "blondie Hacks" captions type out "Bloody ax" I got a kick out of that.

[@MicrobyteAlan]

Thank you very much. Interesting and informative. 👍👍

[@mkeyser]

I have one of those flood coolant position-able hoses attached to my Atlas with a metering valve, but I run air through it instead of flood so I can blow chips away. I gotta get one of those spring things for my parallels as well.

[@the4thj]

I use that Anchor lube a lot great for my hot garagey!

[@DavidWilson-qo7ej]

really need to talk to the KZbin sub title creators Quinn, according to them its not Blondie Hacks, its Bloody Ax

[@DavidHerscher]

*watching your parallel slowly walk itself out for a lunch break from the vibration…* 🤣

[@gregh6794]

Awesome info thank you

[@WilliamBlakers]

"Slots in metal" is one plastic wrapped magazine I would buy.🤣, right after I buy a mill.