Newbie hobby machinist looking to make some tool adapters and jigs out
of drill rod.
I've got a small, 1/3hp drill press, 9" bandsaw with metal cutting blade
(not bi-metal) and a Taig micro lathe with carbide cutters (C2).
Can I machine O-1 drill rod with this setup?
Max size would be 5/8 inches. Just want to cut it in suitable lengths,
drill/ream some holes in it and slit it to use as expanding mandrel.

Would I be better off with 12L14 CRS ?


Thanks

Can I machine O-1 drill rod with this setup?

Yes.


Would I be better off with 12L14 CRS ?

It would be much easier.

"James" wrote in message
news:_c_%d.17$TZ.16@okepread06...
Newbie hobby machinist looking to make some tool adapters and jigs out of
drill rod.
I've got a small, 1/3hp drill press, 9" bandsaw with metal cutting blade
(not bi-metal) and a Taig micro lathe with carbide cutters (C2).
Can I machine O-1 drill rod with this setup?
Max size would be 5/8 inches. Just want to cut it in suitable lengths,
drill/ream some holes in it and slit it to use as expanding mandrel.

Would I be better off with 12L14 CRS ?


Thanks

O-1 drill rod will work just fine

Drill rod is "tool steel" in that it is suitable for making into cutting
tools. Drill rod as it comes from the supplier is in the annealed state;
that is to say it hasn't been hardened and is machineable with standard
cutting tools. After machining you can harden it into tool steel, if
desired. In some cases not intended for cutting or subject to heavy wear,
such as your expanding mandrel, it can be left in the annealed state.
Modern tool steel (O-1 or W-1) is generally considered to be high carbon
tool steel by definition as opposed to HSS (High Speed Steel) which is usu.
used for making drill bits and other cutting tools. A major difference is
that HSS can't be heat treated in the home shop without special equipment.

Bob Swinney
"James" wrote in message
news:_c_%d.17$TZ.16@okepread06...
Newbie hobby machinist looking to make some tool adapters and jigs out of
drill rod.
I've got a small, 1/3hp drill press, 9" bandsaw with metal cutting blade
(not bi-metal) and a Taig micro lathe with carbide cutters (C2).
Can I machine O-1 drill rod with this setup?
Max size would be 5/8 inches. Just want to cut it in suitable lengths,
drill/ream some holes in it and slit it to use as expanding mandrel.

Would I be better off with 12L14 CRS ?


Thanks

"James" wrote in message
news:_c_%d.17$TZ.16@okepread06...
Newbie hobby machinist looking to make some tool adapters and jigs out
of drill rod.
I've got a small, 1/3hp drill press, 9" bandsaw with metal cutting blade
(not bi-metal) and a Taig micro lathe with carbide cutters (C2).

That's the wrong grade of carbide for steel. Choose a C5 or C6 grade.
C2 is excellent for non-ferrous and stainless. (Yep, stainless!. Also very
good for cast iron).

Can I machine O-1 drill rod with this setup?

Drill rod is tough to cut, but actually cuts quite well (clean, not like
1018, that likes to tear).. Take light cuts with moderate feeds and you
should do fine. Use a little cutting oil to keep the chip welding to a
minimum. You might also consider using HSS instead of carbide. It does
a much nicer job of turning tough materials on small machines. If you can
grind a small chip breaker that forms a positive rake, you'd have the best
of all worlds.

Max size would be 5/8 inches. Just want to cut it in suitable lengths,
drill/ream some holes in it and slit it to use as expanding mandrel.

Would I be better off with 12L14 CRS ?

Not for a tool, you wouldn't. You'll get better service life from the drill
rod, but if you intend to use it once or twice and never use it again, the
leaded stock would be much easier to machine, and would hold up fine for
limited use.

Harold