Sherlnie 1296 The cutoff tool holder riser block
You should use the riser with the following thoughts in mind:
1. The only cutoff blade we recommend is one with a width of .040" or less, and thin blades such as these tend to wander on deep cuts.
2. It is difficult to get enough coolant to the cutting edge with a narrow, deep slot.
3. The Sherline 3.5" lathe simply doesn’t have enough power for cutoff tools wider than .040".
Their next consideration was getting enough rigidity, because the farther the cutting tool is raised above the machine bed, the greater the chance of "chatter." They knew the base area would have to be increased along with height, and it should have two hold-down screws rather than one. They also considered that cutoff tools work better inverted, because they have a tendency to lift rather than to dig in.
The end result of all these considerations is a simple riser block with two hold-down screws that mounts on the back side of the crosslide. The standard cutoff holder mounts on top with the blade upside down and reversed (the tip of the blade pointed down).
If you want to attempt to go beyond the maximum of 1 inch diameter stock I mentioned earlier, here are some suggestions.
These are especially important on hard-to-machine materials.
1. Use plenty of cutting fluid.
2. Grind the cutting tip of the blade square rather than angled so it tracks straight and doesn’t cause the blade to bend or wander.
3. Align the blade accurately with the crosslide to assure a square cut.
4. Listen to your machine. It will tell you when you are working it too hard before it "strikes back."
5. Last, but not least, don’t blame me if you break a blade!
CA Prop 65 WARNING: Drilling, sawing, sanding or machining wood products can expose you to wood dust, a substance know to the State of California to cause cancer. Avoid inhaling wood dust or use dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13