[TheForge] Fwd: cutting off copper ferrules?

[Bruce Freeman]

End of story:
I used a hacksaw blade mounted upside down in the milling attachment
to saw the tubing.  I used the cross-feed to draw the blade slowly
back as the teeth fouled with copper.  I then manually cleaned up the
raw ends using files while spinning the ferrules in the lathe.  In all
cases, I used a very low rotational speed.  Worked quite well.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bruce Freeman <freemab222 at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Subject: cutting off copper ferrules?
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>


I thought this was going to be a simple task, but maybe I didn't
reckon with copper.

I need to use 1/2" (nominal, actually about 5/8" OD) copper water
tubing to make a bunch of ferrules.  For reasons I won't go into, no
other material will do, I'm stuck with copper tubing.  I tried
chucking a piece in the lathe and parting it off, but no go.  I'm not
sure what was wrong, but I could not get any sort of clean cut.

Since then I've been using a power hacksaw and LOTS of clean-up work
with files.  I'd like to find something better.

I'd love to use a roller cutter, but I can't tolerate the ID reduction
those things give.  Otherwise, this is not precision work.  All I'm
doing is making some ferrules.

Any idea?  (A solution involving the lathe is not essential.)

--
Bruce
NJ

The total lack of evidence is the surest sign that the conspiracy is working.



-- 
Bruce
NJ

The total lack of evidence is the surest sign that the conspiracy is working.