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I needed a special fitting for the new fuel filter on my pulling tractor. It is a 3/8 npt 90 deg fitting with a 5/16 hose barb. I couldn't find one to buy
in any material other than plastic. With the new high pressure supply pump I didn't want to use plastic. I could have gotten brass fittings but couldn't find it in one piece. I would have needed to use pipe bushing. So I decided to make my own. I used aluminum to keep the weight down. It doesn't make much difference but every little bit helps.

Started with a block of aluminum; I drew a diagram of what it would look like; I cut a notch then chucked it in the 4 jaw chuck centering it with a live center. Turned the 3/8 NPT side to the correct size I had to buy a die and make a die holder to mount in the tail stock. I turned the chuck by hand with the chuck ket to do the threading. I also had to hold the tailstock chuck to keep it from turning. It takes a lot of torque to cut 3/8 npt threads even in aluminum. After drilling the center of the npt side, I re chucked to do the hose barb side.
Here is the hose barb turned and drilled The finished product. here it is mounted to the fuel filter I don't often use a 4 jaw chuck, but they allow you to make oddball stuff like this.

Todd,you are one handy fella!
nice machine work.

When I use a tap or die in the lathe I usually get enough threads started to make sure they are cutting square and then move it to the vise where it is a little easier to work.

"I don't often use a 4 jaw chuck, but they allow you to make oddball stuff like this."
Do you think you could fix Vince with a four jaw he's kinda oddball?

Good gosh I would have never thought something like that can be made at home! I canrt wait to get mine going, wait till you see what I can screw up!

Mike 4 aunt big enough, LOL

I spent 1 1/2 hrs on the phone the other night with DSW about lathe work, man can that guy talk!

Todd,
Nice job! I might have a brass 1 if I can find it. I can put my hands on a 3/8 and 1/2 but cant find the 5/16 1.

BigMike wrote: When I use a tap or die in the lathe I usually get enough threads started to make sure they are cutting square and then move it to the vise where it is a little easier to work.

I usually do too, but I didn't have a die stock big enough for that die. Most of my larger dies are hex. I couldn't justify buying one for just that project and the die holder was fairly easy to make. If I end up getting any more big dies I'll probably get a die stock.

Hee hee... Nice work!

I rarely use my 3-jaw chucks... the 4-jaw not only allows you to do an oddball part, it allows you to re-set a part that doesn't land true if the 3-jaw doesn't register properly against the jaws...

EVERYTHING can be made at home... except... for things that can be made at WORK!

One trick I learned with a 3 jaw chuck. If you mark the part and the chuck with a sharpie before removing it, and line the mark up when putting it back in,
the runout will be fairly minimal. This only works if you are chucking on the same surface again. Most of what I do isn't that precise anyhow.

Nice work Todd

A lot of times you can get a part running truer in a four jaw chuck than a three jaw. Just takes a tiny bit of patience and a dial indicator.

Jeff

Nice Todd!