Box joint bit ?

[phi1l]

Looks good Loring. Short of using credit cards... where might you locate the .030 spacers?

My milk Carton plastic is 0.015.

2L soft drink bottle plastic is in that area as well...

Those are both blow-molded so you results may vary.

8 layers of 20# bind copier paper is 0.029"

[pelligrini]

Another good source for small metal shims are the cheap feeler guages from HF.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32214

This HF automotive body shim assortment is pretty handy too:

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=93754

[LCHIEN]

My milk Carton plastic is 0.015.

2L soft drink bottle plastic is in that area as well...

Those are both blow-molded so you results may vary.

8 layers of 20# bind copier paper is 0.029"

8-layers of new $1 US bills (actually any denomination $5, 10, 20 etc.) are .032"

[Bill in Buena Park]

8-layers of new $1 US bills (actually any denomination $5, 10, 20 etc.) are .032"

I like the idea of putting a dollar to good use. So you'd need to get 35 shims from the dollar... which works out to ~2.9 cents each.

Does anyone know if Brian H. sells something similar to the stock spacers?

(edit: Found this, but no description. Waiting on call back from Brian. http://www.holbren.com/whiteside-shim-washer-kit.html)

[Mr__Bill]

Looks good Loring. Short of using credit cards... where might you locate the .030 spacers?

When, in the past, I need shim stock I just asked a friend who was a machinist. I expect a good machine shop would have it in various thicknesses and be able to just cut off a piece for you. Of course you may have to repair his dining room table to pay for it.

Another thought is Teflon, that too was available in thicknesses ranging from thinner than tissue paper to millable blocks. When the bit heats up the credit card stock may get soft and the cutters loosen up on the spindle. After some use the quality of the joint may deteriorate.

Bill
over here in the sun

[LCHIEN]

When, in the past, I need shim stock I just asked a friend who was a machinist. I expect a good machine shop would have it in various thicknesses and be able to just cut off a piece for you. Of course you may have to repair his dining room table to pay for it.

Another thought is Teflon, that too was available in thicknesses ranging from thinner than tissue paper to millable blocks. When the bit heats up the credit card stock may get soft and the cutters loosen up on the spindle. After some use the quality of the joint may deteriorate.

Bill
over here in the sun

yeah, i'm a little worried about the plastic long term, but it seems to be OK.
I don't know any machinists offhand. I found rolls of brass shim stock in sizes from 1 mil up to 20 or more mils. But it was like $10 a roll plus shipping and i might have needed a couple of sizes. Didn't want to spend $25 shimming up a $25 bit... haha.

[cgallery]

What is the I.D. and O.D. required?

[Mr__Bill]

Didn't want to spend $25 shimming up a $25 bit... haha.

You'll never make it in government with that attitude

You could just lap brass washers until they are the right thickness, could be a bit time consuming though.

An auto parts store that does machining may have the stock too.

Bill
Ever notice that when you factor time into a buying decision you pay yourself full rate?

[LCHIEN]

...Ever notice that when you factor time into a buying decision you pay yourself full rate?

nah, most of the time i shortchange myself. I put several days into making this bit work so i could save $50.

[phi1l]

22 gauge steel is 0.0299"


20 ga. Aluminum is 0.0320"

Here's the chart

[LCHIEN]

22 gauge steel is 0.0299"


20 ga. Aluminum is 0.0320"

Here's the chart

its not that i couldn't find any, its that i couldn't find any that wouldn't have cost $15-20. That's about what Lowes wanted for a 6x24" sheet of that stuff.

[pelligrini]

I don't know if the case anymore, but I used to get small sheets of aluminium, steel & brass as well as strips, tubes and rods at some hobby stores back when I was making architectural models. Michaels used to carry some, but a mom and pop shop carried quite a bit.

[LCHIEN]

Nice job, those joints are going to look terrific. Do you cut to the final depth in a single pass, or do you move the fence once or more to get to the final depth?

Also, what are the I.D. and O.D. of the original shims? Are they metric?

Phil,
I didn't mean to ignore the question - i had to wait to get home to verify my memory.

The threaded arbor measures 5/16", it's SAE, I'm pretty sure by looking.
The large, thick spacers are 0.625" OD, exactly 5/8"

The thin supplied shims are .01" and .02" thick are 8mm ID x 13mm OD, seemingly metricish. Inch measurements are .315" and .520" respectively.

I made the cut in one pass. Had to go a little slow, but it was a hair over 3/8".

[phi1l]

its not that i couldn't find any, its that i couldn't find any that wouldn't have cost $15-20. That's about what Lowes wanted for a 6x24" sheet of that stuff.

Wow, really??? Up here at Menards they have 4"x 18" pieces for around $5-$8... bummer....

[cgallery]

Phil,
I didn't mean to ignore the question - i had to wait to get home to verify my memory.

The threaded arbor measures 5/16", it's SAE, I'm pretty sure by looking.
The large, thick spacers are 0.625" OD, exactly 5/8"

The thin supplied shims are .01" and .02" thick are 8mm ID x 13mm OD, seemingly metricish. Inch measurements are .315" and .520" respectively.

I made the cut in one pass. Had to go a little slow, but it was a hair over 3/8".

Yeah, I figured that after posting the second time. Duh. Sorry.

I was going to order one of those bits if I could find off-the-shelf shims that weren't too expensive. McMaster has some that are close but no cigar (all the numbers match but the I.D., which is 3/8").

Those joints are amazing, I think they'd be great for storage trays, etc.

I guess I'll wait for a follow-up and see how the credit card shims are holding up. If they continue to work for you I'll give it shot.

Thanks for the help.