Thread: Scissor knurl

And I thought it was a radiator cap. Nice sharp knurling.

Nice work Dave, and cool idea.

I hope this is not considered high jacking but just to give a contrast, this is a picture of an Aloris (BXA) knurling tool

Attachment 210404

The two arms run in dove tails, and the top knob is around 45mm diameter. The screw in the front of the picture is how Aloris hold the knurls in. From experience I can say that if you don't keep the screw/ pin greased it could seize. You can buy various pitches of knurling wheel too, so if you want a fine knurl you just change wheels

Michael

Hi Bob, what do you think about the reverse style? I have only done that test piece so I will see how it goes. The thought behind it was more leverage which means less pressure on the knob.
The knob had a long M10 threaded bolt, I just cut it off and drilled and tapped it down the centre. Quick and easy knob, since this tool was just a hold up for my other job.
I am still waiting on all the grub screws from the UK, so even though the tool holders are done and finished, I cant use them.

Dave

Edit,
Those wheels are many years old, I thought they where a bit blunt, but still seem to work fine

Originally Posted by Michael G

I hope this is not considered high jacking but just to give a contrast, this is a picture of an Aloris (BXA) knurling tool

Attachment 210404

The two arms run in dove tails, and the top knob is around 45mm diameter. The screw in the front of the picture is how Aloris hold the knurls in. From experience I can say that if you don't keep the screw/ pin greased it could seize. You can buy various pitches of knurling wheel too, so if you want a fine knurl you just change wheels

Michael

No Hijack,
I only used these knurls because they where here and needed to get this job done without waiting for some to arrive.(the grub screws are taking long enough) I do plan on buying different wheels if this design works OK, so I might use that idea to mount the new wheels in as it's a good one, thanks for posting it.

Dave

Nice one Dave
I thought the knob was off an old car air filter cover........Your idea has me wondering which style would be best, the only problem i can see with yours would be if you needed to knurl something long, you may need to remove the bolt to get it over the job. With all your toolholders its obviously had a workout already!

To add to the aloris version, it looks like it would have a fairly limited diameter range.

Originally Posted by Dave J

Hi Bob, what do you think about the reverse style? I have only done that test piece so I will see how it goes. The thought behind it was more leverage which means less pressure on the knob.
The knob had a long M10 threaded bolt, I just cut it off and drilled and tapped it down the centre. Quick and easy knob, since this tool was just a hold up for my other job.
I am still waiting on all the grub screws from the UK, so even though the tool holders are done and finished, I cant use them.

Dave

Edit,
Those wheels are many years old, I thought they where a bit blunt, but still seem to work fine

Dave,

The only drawback I can see is that you have to slide your scissors on and off from the end. I can move mine away from the job and use a lathe tool. Still, we aren't in a race. The main thing is being able to provide suitable leverage to create a deep crisp knurl.

Bob.

ps. You asked me about the maximum diameter I can work with mine. 62mm.

I did think about getting it onto work between centers about half way through making it, and I thought it would only take unscrewing the thread out of the bottom pin. My max diameter is 56mm, but I mainly made it for this job which is only 17mm or so diameter.

I will say to anyone who has used a push knurler and been put off because of the pressure it puts on your cross slide screw, these are a great to knurl with, and the only complaint I have is that I should have made one years ago. Soooo easy to do deep knurls.

Dave

PS
Here is a peek at the tool holders when they where about halfway through. I have yet to take some of them finished.

Originally Posted by Ueee

Nice one Dave
I thought the knob was off an old car air filter cover........Your idea has me wondering which style would be best, the only problem i can see with yours would be if you needed to knurl something long, you may need to remove the bolt to get it over the job. With all your toolholders its obviously had a workout already!

To add to the aloris version, it looks like it would have a fairly limited diameter range.

The knob is off a spare wheel in a boot and it had round sheet metal cover over it which this screwed through. I don't remember what car, but I keep all types of knobs and bits like this.
No I haven't knurled them yet, I don't have coolant set up on the lathe yet, so I have to find a small tray and tap into the mill coolant or the bandsaw (which was meant for the lathe, LOL) I am waiting on the grub screws for the tool holders, so there is no hurry because I cant use them without the grub screws.

I have never used the other style so I cant comment on which is best. I will say this will give the least knob pressure though.

Dave

Hey Dave, are you going to use coolant while knurling?

Based on what I have read, I use engine oil because the knurls aren't cutting, they are forming and require lubricant. I wouldn't have thought coolant would be up to the job.

Bob.

You can use oil but to deliver a quality knurl with no interference from swarf you would either need to run a continous flow of cutting oil or coolant to evacuate the area.

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Hey Dave, are you going to use coolant while knurling?

Based on what I have read, I use engine oil because the knurls aren't cutting, they are forming and require lubricant. I wouldn't have thought coolant would be up to the job.

Bob.

Hi Bob
From my limited knurling experience, i have used oil and found that, like Dave, it makes the swarf from the knurling process stick to the job and get pushed into the knurl. I would think that flood coolant would wash the swarf away.

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Hey Dave, are you going to use coolant while knurling?

Based on what I have read, I use engine oil because the knurls aren't cutting, they are forming and require lubricant. I wouldn't have thought coolant would be up to the job.

Bob.

I think Pipeclay and Ewan has pretty well covered it, but when doing knurling I find I get lots little chips coming off the job and either getting pushed back into it or getting stuck the knurls, and also running off the with the oil I am putting on. The only way to get a nice clean knurl is to get rid of these which coolant will do. The coolant has plenty of oil in it as it's in it and picks it up off the mill as well.
The tool holders have been done for weeks now and if I pick one up it still has an oil film on it, but I am keeping them covered as well to stop rust until I work out what finish to put on them.

Dave

Originally Posted by Ueee

Hi Bob
From my limited knurling experience, i have used oil and found that, like Dave, it makes the swarf from the knurling process stick to the job and get pushed into the knurl. I would think that flood coolant would wash the swarf away.

You blokes are right. Oil does make the swarf cling to the job. I use a copious amount of oil and a tooth brush to clear the swarf away. The results I have had, are to me, acceptable enough.