Just curious....

[opfoto]

Sorry....

I would like to turn aluminum round stock on the Jet mini. I need to make some parts for my studio lighting equipment. I am wondering if I can do this myself rather than going to a machine shop and having them mill them for me? If I can...do I need special tools or can I sharpen and use what I have? Any other suggestions/thoughts/opinions would be most appreciated.

 

[PenMan1]

I turn aluminum round stock all the time. It is quite easy with Ken Ferrell's Woodchuck Pen Pro carbide cutting tool. You can do it with a hss skew, but you will have to stop and sharpen a gazillion times!

BE SURE TO WEAR GLOVES! The aluminum is comes off in very sharp and very hot shavings.

 

[David M]

with hhs it will take a while if it is not near size , thin cuts

 

[tim self]

I also turn on my Jet. I also use the woodchuck carbide or a file. Just be careful!

 

[Rfturner]

just be careful but I have turned many things before on my turncrafter out of Aluminum, no probs

 

[ldb2000]

Aluminum is no problem to turn , even with just HSS tools but carbide means you won't have to sharpen them as often . Here's an example of both Aluminum and brass turned on my Jet 1014vsi . The threading was done with a Tap and Die . The clip is a brass rod .