Knurling tools

[71Dauntless]

I'm looking to pick up my first knurling tool to use on our lathe at work. This will not get used on a regular basis, mainly just for my personal projects. Chinese made is fine with me as long as it works.

Do I want a scissor or bump type tool? Also any tips or trips for a beginner would be appreciated!

[jamscal]

Scissor type is considered better, esp for a light lathe.

I have both bump and scissor from enco, and for what little I do, the scissor is better.

Practical Machinist or Home Shop Machinist will have plenty of info.

Quick Google:

http://www.proshoppublishing.com/articles_knurling.html

[D60]

Yeah I've used both but generally prefer scissor. I got the "USA" one from Enco, roughly $80 for the smaller option IIRC. I just didn't trust the import version, in fact never used one. And it's not like $80 is a ridiculous amount of coin. This same version survived quite well when I was in trade school, and it had been used by hundreds of students before me.

edit: doubted my figures so looked at Enco. I was wrong, looks like the imports are $80, so I forked out for the $200 model, but I'm sure I used a 20% code or something.

[76scoutman]

Originally Posted by jamscal

Scissor type is considered better, esp for a light lathe.

I have both bump and scissor from enco, and for what little I do, the scissor is better.

Practical Machinist or Home Shop Machinist will have plenty of info.

Quick Google:

http://www.proshoppublishing.com/articles_knurling.html

Good article. I'll have to give this a try. I was given some knurling tools a while back but never new how (or had a need to) use them.

[FugginZukin]

Originally Posted by jamscal

http://www.proshoppublishing.com/articles_knurling.html

FWIW, that book they are selling "Machine Shop Trade Secrets" is a pretty damn good book, especially for a novice like myself. It has all kinds of cool trade tricks.

[blake0577]

i prefer the single female wheel type but to each his own. knurling is an art that takes some practice for sure

[SHERPA]

using a steady rest, or live/dead center is a plus when knurling... I've only
used a bump type, but can imagine the scissor type going over center and
causing problems......

--Sherpa

always experiment on scrap to see just how it all works out before using it
on your final work piece and ruining it........

[Azzy2000]

Originally Posted by FugginZukin

FWIW, that book they are selling "Machine Shop Trade Secrets" is a pretty damn good book, especially for a novice like myself. It has all kinds of cool trade tricks.

x2

This is a great book.. I bought it a few months ago and have read through it twice already.

[D60]

Originally Posted by SHERPA

using a steady rest, or live/dead center is a plus when knurling... I've only
used a bump type, but can imagine the scissor type going over center and
causing problems......

--Sherpa

Just like anything else that's a matter of experience and proper setup. In school my instructor insisted the tool had to be perfectly square and on center, and the only option was 50rpm and .008 feed.

I've found it to be WAY more forgiving than that in every respect. If anything the touchiest thing IMO is how much to crank down on the nut to close the wheels against the work.

For things under, say, 3/4" OD I tend to prefer around 135rpm and .008. Others say you should run .020 to .050 feed. Drastic difference. I've tried the heavy feed rates up to .035 and it works, too.................but you gotta have those set screws on your toolholder CRANKED down.

We had to knurl seemingly everything in school....punches, hammer handles, knobs, levers.............the only good thing about it is that you can tell the layperson you hand-filed all those pretty little diamonds.

Everyone has their own technique and they all work.

[D60]

Just got an email from Rutland. Sale on the import scissor tools, 0-2.125 is $18.99 and 2.125-4" is $31.85. Promo code OB113, item numbers 2334 1101 and 2334 1102.

Right now Enco lists these at $70.98 and $83.98, showing the larger one backordered.

I don't have the larger version and I'm tempted to order it, but I dunno if I'll ever use it.