I thought I could push a worn end mill just one more job

Running a batch of aluminum brackets on the old Tormach, I ignored the slight chatter and kept going to finish the day. The last part came out with a burr so bad it took me an hour to file down. I learned that saving twenty minutes cost me sixty, plus a new tool. Anyone have a good rule for when to just swap the cutter out?

2 comments

2 Comments

lane.mason2d ago

My buddy Jake lost a whole vise jaw pushing a dull 1/4" end mill.

simonw412d agoProlific Poster

A whole vise jaw from a dull quarter inch cutter? That seems a bit much. Those jaws are solid steel and usually bolted on tight. A dull end mill might grab and break itself, but wrecking the vise hardware is a bigger claim. Maybe the setup was already loose or something else gave way first. It's hard to picture the tool being the only thing at fault there.