How not to make a shaft.

Downeaster

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shaft.jpg


1. Cut to rough length.

2. Face to final length.

3. Center Drill ends so you can 1)turn it between centers, and 2)drill and tap the ends as needed.

4. Turn the various diameters.

5. Drill the short end for a 5/16ths-18 tap.

6. Tap short end.

7. Drill long end for a 10-32 tap.

8. Break 10-32 tap off in the hole.

9. Indulge in some creative, multi-syllable, hyphenated incantations.


Yeah, uh...that was just a practice piece. I'll do the real one tomorrow. With some Tap Magic this time...
 
Yup, got a *few* practice pieces myself.
In the scrap metal box, awaiting new lives.

Coupla tips on tapping.

- While it's still too long, you could do the 60° center drill, a bit larger than the intended thread size, then drill/tap that end. Face-off to length sometime later. If the tap breaks, you haven't lost all your previous work.

- The typical tap/drill charts show using a #21 drill for a 10-32 thread. If going into steel, with more than a few threads, you can drill slightly larger. Tapping is much easier, and safer.

A better tap/drill chart.
TapDrillChart01.jpg


Notice that you can go up to a #18 drill if tapping into steel.
TapDrillChart02.jpg
 
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