Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Enco M2 bits for $0.39?
Shawn - in ID
>Enco has 3/16 square (2.5" long) M2 HSS bits for $0.39. It's item #383-5312. They confirm that the bits are hardened,tempered,ready to use. Is there a better deal somewhere? I just made a swan-neck bar and Ellsworth style bar to try my hand at smaller hollow turnings up to ~5" diameter. 2.5" bit seems long - comments, advice?
Re: Enco M2 bits for $0.39?
Fred Holder
>I've used those bits to good effect. In most applications they are a bit long. I simply cut them in half with a grinder. A Dremmel with a cut off wheel also works well to cut the tool bits in half.
Re: Enco M2 bits for $0.39?
John Lucas
>I bought a dozen last time they were on sale. You can break them quite easily if you score a line using the dremel cut off tool. I make a quick mark and then stick them in the vise at the mark and tap on the protruding part with a hammer. Wear safety glasses. I've made a lot of hollowing tools this way. I just made an ornament hollowing tool by silver soldering one of the cutters onto some drill rod. Probaby didn't need drill rod for that but I had it handy. John
Re: Enco M2 bits for $0.39?
Fred in NC
>I use HSS tool bits all the time. They can be cut with a grinder and a thin blade, or score them, preferably on all 4 sides with a Dremel. Careful! wear face protection.
The thing is that a few bits at that price make a very small order. Enco has other items that you might want to look into.
I find the 1/4" square, 1/4" round, and some rectangular shapes very useful to make special purpose tools. I have made beading tools with them too.
Enco also carries drill rod at very good prices. In my opinion oil hardening is best for my use.
OK...so who is...
BubbaBob
>...ENCO and how do I contact them?
BubbaBob
Re: OK...so who is...
John Lucas
>Bob
Enco is a machinist supply house. I use 3 places that you can get almost anything from them.
www.use-enco.com
www.travers.com
www.mscdirect.com
Two other places that have things like knobs, screws, handles and you won't believe how much other useful stuff are
www.reidtool.com and www.smallparts.com
Happy metal working. John
