Shoutout to the old timer who saved my week with a 1/4 inch end mill

I was running a big aluminum job last Thursday and my last good 3/8 inch tool snapped, leaving me stuck with a machine down. This retired guy, Frank, who still hangs around the shop, saw me panicking and dug out a box of 1/4 inch end mills from the back, saying "Kid, just slow the feed and take three passes." It worked perfectly and got the order out the door. Anyone have a go-to move for when your main tool goes down mid-job?

2 comments

2 Comments

fisher.rowan1d ago

Slow the feed and take three passes" used to feel like a waste of time to me. I was always pushing for speed. But getting saved by an old 1/2 inch drill bit on a steel plate job showed me it's better to finish slow than not finish at all. Now I always check the old tooling cabinet first.

rileyl6723h ago

That part about checking the old tooling cabinet first is so true. I used to just order new bits right away when something snapped. But like @fisher.rowan said, those old drawers are full of surprises. I found a box of solid carbide end mills from a job ten years ago, and they cut through aluminum like butter. It saved a project last week. Sometimes the old stuff was just made better.