Today's little project

Swim step bracket and 3/4 inch spacer. I have made a couple of these now. This one is different because they want two separate locations to mount the ladder 2 inches apart.

Making the part square





Holes marked (there is nothing precision about these swim steps so it's better to just center punch the holes instead of measuring and doing it on the mill)

Front location


Back location


Center drilled

RD, I could square those plates up for you fast if you ever needed multiple quantities.

This new machine we just picked up handles plates less then 5.500" X 16.875" X 16.875".

Amada THV 430

[video=youtube;BiXL7F037Qk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiXL7F037Qk[/video]

I bought the CMC tilt plate for my mini in the 1/2" version plate. I have a shit load of milling to do one day this weekend to lighten up the bracket

Interesting :hmm

Looking forward to the Finished Product & seeing in Mounted :thumbup:

Don't let the v drive guys see that, they will lay claim to it.

oldschool said:

Don't let the v drive guys see that, they will lay claim to it.

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Sorry for the delay in progress.. I had to write something logical on the Internet and we all know how that goes.. Lol


Holes chamfered



Hand tap setup

RD how does that hand tap setup work?

rivergames said:

RD how does that hand tap setup work?

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Well.. Bad ass is how it works. I have already bottom tapped 16 holes and test fitted the part

Dave you are pretty good with metal why not build a new toon boat.

TCHB said:

Dave you are pretty good with metal why not build a new toon boat.

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That's sheet metal and welding. Both things I know zero about.

rivergames said:

RD how does that hand tap setup work?

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Sorry I thought you were asking how well it works.. Just read it again and realized you might be asking how it actually works.

Give me a minute and I will make a quick I phone vid and show you.

RiverDave said:

Well.. Bad ass is how it works. I have already bottom tapped 16 holes and test fitted the part

View attachment 408525

View attachment 408526

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HA!I see that it works well, but how does it work. Is it mounted to the table? Does is slowly screw down with 0 slip on the piece you are tapping?

RiverDave said:

Sorry I thought you were asking how well it works.. Just read it again and realized you might be asking how it actually works.

Give me a minute and I will make a quick I phone vid and show you.

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Sounds good! I would tap a hell of a lot more if it were no biggie. Looking forward to this video :thumbsup

[video=youtube;XRQVuFrCiBI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRQVuFrCiBI[/video]

Dave that's exactly what I need done (bottom tapping). Next time I'm in Havasu maybe we can meet up?

That hand tap is nice, harder to break taps with too.
We tap almost ask of our holes with our cordless impacts. Good quality taper taps, a set of tap sockets, some rapid tap and a cordless m12 or m18 and your in business. I tend to be more careful on the 1/4" and under and especially on a blind hole. Also the dewalts seem to break taps easier for some reason.

First lightening pocket laid out .100 deep. Four more passes down to .500 and it will be done.. Then another then radiuses.

She's Mine said:

Dave that's exactly what I need done (bottom tapping). Next time I'm in Havasu maybe we can meet up?

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Anytime you want.

RiverDave said:

First lightening pocket laid out .100 deep. Four more passes down to .500 and it will be done.. Then another then radiuses.

View attachment 408531

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What are you making here?

She's Mine said:

What are you making here?

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Removing material from the part to make it lighter and for looks

Mounting holes spot drilled (center drilled)




Putting on edge details

Very nice

Yup, I am going to find a tap tool like that! Graci :thumbsup

Who makes the hand tap setup. That looks very handy.

She's Mine said:

Dave that's exactly what I need done (bottom tapping). Next time I'm in Havasu maybe we can meet up?

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Uh Myke, that comment outside the context of this thread belongs in a different kind of forum.:yikes

Lunatic Fringe said:

Uh Myke, that comment outside the context of this thread belongs in a different kind of forum.:yikes

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Neil, I just noticed that... Lmao

You have a sick mind!

Finished edge details

Quick looks at an easy setup with no indicating. Using 1/2 inch dowels in the table grooves to setup straight.


Pre drilling mounting holes






Dropped off at Barrett a couple hours ago.. Then raided his beer fridge and bullshitted with his customers.. Lol

Fucking A, wish I had the talent to do this stuff.

Top notch work

I was wondering how you were gonna do the edges...

I've quit doing them on the mill...too slow. Something you might want to try some day....I have a little trim router (for woodworking) that could run around that plate in about 30 seconds. Use carbide bits with the little bearing on the tip of 'em and squirt the workpiece down with WD40 before getting started. The bearing makes it so you'll never get that little step on the edge if your offset is a wee bit off....very consistant

Looks good

Hey Dave, great job I kind of do the same things for my friends, it appears by the chips that is a pretty good piece of material at least 6061 can you source REMS out in Havasu or do you have to order it and pay through the nose for it? In the OC most of the cost effective places that used to cater to the walk in guys have dried up, they are still around but wow they think its Jewelry.

regards