Thread: Looking for a 3/16" x 1" woodruff slot cutter

Are you wanting to cut a "T" slot ?
If so then I would mill a slot of the right width and fly cut each half.

Originally Posted by bob ward

I need a 3/16" x 1" woodruff slot cutter for a one off job, after which it will never be used again. I'm shocked at the prices of the local P&N woodruff cutters ($100 +) and CTC etc aren't into woodruff cutters.

I can get away with a 3/4" or 7/8" diameter cutter, or I can make 2 cuts with a 4mm wide metric cutter.

Any thoughts on sources?

Hi Bob,

I have a sharp 3/16" x 3/4" Sherwood woodruff cutter. Send me your address.

Bob.

I tend to avoid woodruff keys like the plaque.... Industry likes them because I assume they are quicker and cheaper to make.. Compared to a featherway key..

In making replacement parts I just replace woodruff keys with featherway keys

Probably a more attractive offer - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/25-32-x-3...item19db7a6ec3

A very vague "I might have one" has turned into a " how about that - I do have one"
Send me a PM if you want to borrow it.

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

A very vague "I might have one" has turned into a " how about that - I do have one"
Send me a PM if you want to borrow it.

Michael

It's looking mighty like RC's post has dampened Bob's enthusiasm for woodruffing.

BT

Thanks for the loan offers guys, but I'd really rather buy and use my own woodruff cutter.

Reason being that when I stuff up the loaner I need to buy a replacement anyway.

That said, I think RC has the right answer, there are alternatives. While a woodruff key is kosher for what I'm working on, I can get by with milling a slot in the shaft and using a conventional key.



For the one or two of you that like me know little about woodruff cutters, while I was roaming US ebay I noticed that a lot of the cutters on there are only described by a 3 or 4 digit number rather than thickness x diameter. Turns out that the last 2 digits are the cutter diameter in 1/8"s and the first one or two digits are the cutter thickness in 1/32"s. eg a 1011 cutter is 5/16" x 1 3/8" a 608 cutter is 3/16" x 1" etc. A little more arcane knowledge.

Finally got back to this little job and dispensed with the woodruff cutter. Milled a slot (that's a 3/4" x 3/16" steering shaft) and filed a key to suit.

Question is, does this style of key have a specific name? Pipe key, drop key, stepped key etc?

Hi Bob,
There isn't a name for such key but if I had to call it something I would say it is an 'inverted peg feather'
Although a few other descriptions have sprung to mind but not printable.

Phil

I suppose it is another version of a stepped key. What I know as a stepped key is a T section key which is quite common in the old Chevrolet world, among others, where it is often necessary to fit a back hub with a 2" long by 1/4" wide keyway to an axle which has been remachined with a 5/16 or 3/8 wide keyway because the original keyway has been flogged out beyond reasonable re-use. I imagine it was cheaper to do that than to replace the whole axle.

Frank.