Practical Mechanics for Boys | Page 5

the ones essential in the initial equipment of a small shop.
VISES.--One small, good vise is infinitely preferable to two bad ones. For ordinary work a 3-inch jaw is preferable, and it should be firmly mounted on the bench. So many kinds are now made that it would be a costly thing to purchase one for each special use, therefore the boy will find it profitable to make some attachments for the ordinary vise.
[Illustration: Fig. 2. Pipe Grip for Vise.]
SWIVEL VISES.--A swivel vise is always a good tool, the cost being not excessive over the ordinary kind. Then a pair of grips for holding pipe, or round material which is to be threaded, can readily be made.
The drawing (Fig. 2) shows a serviceable pair of grips, made to fit the jaws of a vise, and will be acceptable in much of the work. Then, the vise should be provided with copper caps for the jaws to be used when making up articles which would otherwise be injured by the jaws.
[Illustration: Fig. 3. Swivel Vise.]
Let us get a comprehensive view of the different kinds of tools necessary in a fully equipped shop.
PARTS OF LATHE.--The first thing of importance is the lathe, and of these there is quite a variety, and among the accompaniments are the slide rest, mandrel, back gear, division plate, angle plate, cone plate and various chucks.
There must also be change wheels, studs and quadrant plates, self-acting feed for surfacing and cross slide, and clamping nuts.
Drilling machines, both hand and power, hand and ratchet braces and breast-drill stocks.
[Illustration: Fig. 4--Speed Lathe.]
CHISELS.--Chisels of various kinds, for chipping and cross-cutting; round-nosed, centering, set punches, tommies and drifts.
Back, tee and centering square; bevels, spirit level, inside and outside calipers, straight edges, rules and surface plates.
Gages for boring, scribing blocks, steel and brass scribes, stocks and dies, screw-plates, taps for bolts, reamers.
[Illustration: Fig. 5. Calipers]
Files for various descriptions, countersinks, frame and hack saws.
GRINDING APPARATUS.--Emery wheel, cloth and paper, paper, flour emery, polishing powders, laps and buffs, and polishing sticks.
[Illustration: Fig. 6. Engine Lathe. A. Lathe Bed B. Rack Gear C. Live Center D. Dead Center E. Dead Spindle F. Face Plate G. Feed Screw H. Train of Gears I. Head Stock J. Mandrel K. Cone Pulley L. Angle Plate for Tool Holder M. Tool Post N. Tail Stock O. Wheel for Slide Rest Mechanism P. Locking Lever for Tail Stock.]
Forge, anvils, tongs, swages, punches, bolt tools, hot and cold chisels, blow-pipe, soldering iron, hard and soft solders, borax, spirits of salts, oil, resin and spelter.
To this may be added an endless variety of small bench tools, micrometers, protractors, arbors, collets, box tools and scrapers.
[Illustration: Fig. 7. Center Gage.]
LARGE MACHINES.--The list would not be complete without the planer, shaper and milling machine, with their variety of chucks, clamps and other attachments, too numerous to mention.
The foregoing show what a wonderful variety of articles are found in a well-equipped shop, all of which can be conveniently used; but to the boy who has only a small amount of money, a workable set is indicated as follows:
A small lathe, with an 8-inch swing, can be obtained at a low cost, provided with a countershaft complete.
CHUCKS.--With this should go a small chuck, and a face-plate for large work, unless a large chuck can also be acquired. This, with a dozen tools of various sizes, and also small bits for drilling purposes.
The lathe will answer all purposes for drilling, but small drilling machines are now furnished at very low figures, and such a machine will take off a great deal of duty from the lathe.
[Illustration: Fig. 8. Pocket Screw and Wire Gage.]
As the lathe is of prime importance, never use it for drilling, if you have a driller, as it always has enough work to do for tuning up work.
BENCH TOOLS.--Of bench tools, a 3-inch vise, various files, center punch, two hammers, round and A-shaped peons, hack saw, compasses, inside and outside calipers, screw driver, cold chisels, metal square, level, straight edge, bevel square, reamers, small emery wheel and an oil stone, make a fairly good outfit to start with, and these can be added to from time to time.
Everything in the machine shop centers about the lathe. It is the king of all tools. The shaper and planer may be most efficient for surfacing, and the milling machine for making grooves and gears, or for general cutting purposes, but the lathe possesses a range of work not possible with either of the other tools, and for that reason should be selected with great care.
[Illustration: Fig. 9. Handy Bench Vise.]
SELECTING A LATHE.--The important things about a lathe are the spindle bearings and the ways for the tool-holder. The least play in either will ruin any work. Every other part may be defective, but with solidly built bearing-posts and bearings,