Small-diameter plug cutters? - FRETS.NET2024-03-29T11:37:03Zhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/small-diameter-plug-cutters?commentId=2177249%3AComment%3A153083&feed=yes&xn_auth=noVery true. I never thought of…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-02-06:2177249:Comment:1537092016-02-06T02:05:26.993ZAndrewhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/Andrew715
Very true. I never thought of knobs though!
Very true. I never thought of knobs though! Yowzuh... that's nice. Must…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-02-06:2177249:Comment:1534672016-02-06T00:02:17.823ZMike Kolbhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MikeKolb
<p>Yowzuh... that's nice. Must try that one of these days!</p>
<p>Yowzuh... that's nice. Must try that one of these days!</p> Here's a picture of the leath…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-02-05:2177249:Comment:1535382016-02-05T23:42:58.586ZJohnhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/John631
<p>Here's a picture of the leather punch plug cutter in action. …</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167765563?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167765563?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766040?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766040?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766708?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766708?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a></p>
<p>Here's a picture of the leather punch plug cutter in action. </p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167765563?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167765563?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766040?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766040?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766708?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766708?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766940?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766940?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167779738?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167779738?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"/></a></p> So I finally used the "glue-a…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-02-05:2177249:Comment:1535362016-02-05T21:00:00.863ZMike Kolbhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MikeKolb
<p>So I finally used the "glue-a-block-to-a-dowel-and-turn-on-a-sander" method and it gave me the 6 spruce plugs needed. </p>
<p>Insofar as using a lathe goes, I would do the (relatively) laborious set-up and get it just right.... then crank-out plugs like there's no tomorrow! Spruce, maple, mahogany, whatever strikes the fancy. Lots of 'em. </p>
<p>Small metal lathes can be great for custom knobs and all manner of little doo-dads and they can be a lot of fun. I guess it's whatever a fellow…</p>
<p>So I finally used the "glue-a-block-to-a-dowel-and-turn-on-a-sander" method and it gave me the 6 spruce plugs needed. </p>
<p>Insofar as using a lathe goes, I would do the (relatively) laborious set-up and get it just right.... then crank-out plugs like there's no tomorrow! Spruce, maple, mahogany, whatever strikes the fancy. Lots of 'em. </p>
<p>Small metal lathes can be great for custom knobs and all manner of little doo-dads and they can be a lot of fun. I guess it's whatever a fellow enjoys.</p> Mike, I have a Delta midi lat…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-02-05:2177249:Comment:1536232016-02-05T20:28:19.158ZAndrewhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/Andrew715
Mike, I have a Delta midi lathe and I must say Ive never been tempted to make small plugs with it. David and Paul's methods are just as functional and probably much faster due to minimal set up.<br />
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The closest thing to guitar work Ive done with my little lathe is make pretty handles for rasps and files. Its a fun but superfluous tool for me mostly - it was given to me, otherwise I wouldnt have it.
Mike, I have a Delta midi lathe and I must say Ive never been tempted to make small plugs with it. David and Paul's methods are just as functional and probably much faster due to minimal set up.<br />
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The closest thing to guitar work Ive done with my little lathe is make pretty handles for rasps and files. Its a fun but superfluous tool for me mostly - it was given to me, otherwise I wouldnt have it. I've been able to make small…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-02-05:2177249:Comment:1536192016-02-05T17:37:54.444ZJohnhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/John631
<p>I've been able to make small plugs using a leather punch in the drill press. Spinning the sharpened punch into hardwood cuts a perfect plug. The length is somewhat limited.</p>
<p>For filling machine head screw holes I use a Lee Valley grafting bit, sadly they've been discontinued. The bit fits in your drill and makes a hole exactly like a sharpened pencil. You put a dowel in a pencil sharpener and you've got a tapered plug. </p>
<p>I've been able to make small plugs using a leather punch in the drill press. Spinning the sharpened punch into hardwood cuts a perfect plug. The length is somewhat limited.</p>
<p>For filling machine head screw holes I use a Lee Valley grafting bit, sadly they've been discontinued. The bit fits in your drill and makes a hole exactly like a sharpened pencil. You put a dowel in a pencil sharpener and you've got a tapered plug. </p> Stainless steel, nesting/grad…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-01-22:2177249:Comment:1533132016-01-22T22:38:10.152ZNed Knepphttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/NedKnepp
<p>Stainless steel, nesting/graduated tubing... Rabbit ears. </p>
<p> I took apart an old "rabbit ears" antenna and use the tubing for hole/plug saws. I hand cut the teeth, like Paul but they work just fine. The blades cut pretty well, don't bend out unless I put too much pressure on them and hold an edge much better than brass. </p>
<p>Since the tubing isn't exactly "standard" in diameter, I've had to expand a couple of holes a bit so the plugs fit but it's not been much trouble to do this so…</p>
<p>Stainless steel, nesting/graduated tubing... Rabbit ears. </p>
<p> I took apart an old "rabbit ears" antenna and use the tubing for hole/plug saws. I hand cut the teeth, like Paul but they work just fine. The blades cut pretty well, don't bend out unless I put too much pressure on them and hold an edge much better than brass. </p>
<p>Since the tubing isn't exactly "standard" in diameter, I've had to expand a couple of holes a bit so the plugs fit but it's not been much trouble to do this so far.</p> Thanks David... I'll try it w…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-01-22:2177249:Comment:1531092016-01-22T18:06:37.115ZMike Kolbhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MikeKolb
<p>Thanks David... I'll try it with skipping the 1/4"-dia blank step and see how that works for me. (And, yes... I meant to type "high-speed" but brain-farted!) You've been a big help and solved a problem. Good stuff.</p>
<p>Thanks David... I'll try it with skipping the 1/4"-dia blank step and see how that works for me. (And, yes... I meant to type "high-speed" but brain-farted!) You've been a big help and solved a problem. Good stuff.</p> I'm glad it worked for you Mi…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-01-22:2177249:Comment:1533102016-01-22T13:52:40.316ZDavid Farmerhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/DavidFarmer
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167753912?profile=original" target="_self"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167755088?profile=original" target="_self"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167756171?profile=original" target="_self"></a>I'm glad it worked for you Mike. For me, the key is running the drill at <span style="text-decoration: underline;">high</span> speed against the rotation of the disc. I…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167753912?profile=original" target="_self"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167755088?profile=original" target="_self"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167756171?profile=original" target="_self"></a>I'm glad it worked for you Mike. For me, the key is running the drill at <span style="text-decoration: underline;">high</span> speed against the rotation of the disc. I used to start from 1/4" plugs as you did but found I could skip this step with the high speed method. Resting the drill on the machine table, even if you need to clamp a piece of wood to it, helps too.</p>
<p></p> Thanks for the idea of runni…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-01-21:2177249:Comment:1533022016-01-21T20:02:15.879ZMike Kolbhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MikeKolb
<p>Thanks for the idea of running the dowel backwards- at slow-speed- with a chunk of spruce (or whatever) glued-on. It worked much better than I would've thought!</p>
<p>I made it easier on me by first using a 1/4" plug cutter to cut a few oversized round 'blanks', then CA'ing the plug centered to the dowel. Turning it down to 3/16" seemed easier with an already-round blank to start with.</p>
<p>The big benefit was being able to gauge the plug taper at the same time. Kudos! Great idea and…</p>
<p>Thanks for the idea of running the dowel backwards- at slow-speed- with a chunk of spruce (or whatever) glued-on. It worked much better than I would've thought!</p>
<p>I made it easier on me by first using a 1/4" plug cutter to cut a few oversized round 'blanks', then CA'ing the plug centered to the dowel. Turning it down to 3/16" seemed easier with an already-round blank to start with.</p>
<p>The big benefit was being able to gauge the plug taper at the same time. Kudos! Great idea and it saved me the $35 or so that StewMac gets for their mini cutter. Muchas gracias! </p>