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-I've taken a few of my Mitutoyo dial calipers down to bare beam and prefer that brand because if even a klutz like me can repair them then about anybody else should be able to if careful -I tried repairing a double needle model once for another co-worker and gave up in failure. I reached the...

-I can see where your field data might have led to your conclusion. You'd also have to include the sheer number of idiots out there in with access to those wheels. I've run into them in machine shops where they ought to know better (but didn't seem to).

-Just for additional info, the silicon carbide wheels are often a green color. They can also be used for rough grinding carbide (cemented carbide lathe bits, insert touch up. carbide end mill relief, etc.) but they don't leave a very good finish for a cutting edge. The edge will be rough and...

-Not sure of the maker, I've seen several double needle types over the years. Many of them were from the era when metric was being pushed for the USA. I suppose they work but it seems that the extra component (likely a small gear) to track the red needle is something else that can foul the...

-If this is the wheel you interpreted as "for aluminum" I can assure you that it is NOT for grinding aluminum. Aluminum oxide wheels are very common but used for steel and ferrous materials only. If you want to know why just ask, I'll tell you and you'll be sorry you asked. Attempting to grind...

-All of the above postings are good advice. You also need to define the level of precision (tolerances) you'd want to hold, what materials you expect to work with, and whether this will be repair/rework or new components. -You budget is a bit thin but perhaps doable. Does the budget mean you...

-There's likely another reason besides brand that Japanese tooling is used in Japanese factories. A vertically integrated business model (Zaibatsu) seems to be commonplace from my limited exposure. When I contracted at Denso (Nippon-Denso) in the design dept. (American location) we were...

-Production numbers have no bearing here, it only takes one for bad things to happen. -Some people can't foresee the factors that lead to bad things occurring if they have little experience. The greater number of industrial accidents occur with 1) Newbies 2) Experienced workers that have...

-Starting his shop in 1960 meant he was what they now call "old school". I came into the trades about 17 years later and learned under men like your father. I still have a deep respect for what they had to accomplish with what they had to work with back then, crude/primitive by todays standards...

-It depends upon how far and how often you need to move heavy things. I made a gantry crane out of wood and slapped a chain fall on it for moving the larger machinery in my shop when I relocated. For smaller items (surface grinder, lathe, tool grinder, etc.) that get moved within the shop I...

^ correct ID in the post above. They're used for locating the edge of a block in milling operations. Can't see using one in a lathe, although Hardinge did make cute little milling machines in addition to the more well known lathes. Some folks prefer using the older "wiggler" instead of a more...

-eh, I'm pretty sure you've only done this once/twice and declared it a safe/reliable process. A pity we (toolmakers) can't be fearless in machining like you've stated, especially when giving out advice to a novice for a sight unseen application. Gee, what could go wrong? -No surprise you've...

-The type of abrasive discs/wheel would be an indicator for how it was used in general. Hard/rigid wheels would be for removing relatively large amounts of material (rough shaping). Softer/semi-flexible discs/wheel would be for removing less material but improving the surface finish. That's...

-Most important aspect to drilling any material: The drill bit needs to be sharpened correctly and stay sharp at the cutting edges. -Even some new twist drills (and other cutters) I've seen weren't sharpened correctly by the manufacturer. New doesn't always mean it's good to go even though it...

-Chip evacuation becomes more critical the deeper in the hole you go. Chips pack against the sides and encourage the wander. Frequently removing the drill for chip evacuation may help. Deep hole drilling/boring in metal uses a similar approach with guide blocks. Looking forward to your project...

-Thread pitch (TPI) is real important, better identify the pitch before attempting a fit. Several inch-to-metric threads fit ok for the first couple of threads but the difference shows up (tighter) after a few threads. Compression angle of the fitting can/will make a difference too as you're...

-I'll agree there is that too. To an extent, almost everything does come from China now. -I was part of the design team for Whirlpool in 09, With all the different brands under the Whirlpool umbrella I only changed knobs, grab handles, and grates for the stoves per brand. This approach was...

-Refusing to learn why some things are more expensive is willful ignorance. Same type of people that buy into expensive battery platform power tools just to join the "me too" club but insist on buying cheap twist drills, cheap taps, and cheap dies. To some, everything is the same except price.

-No they're not "identical specs". Not one mention of the Benchmark being made from HSS. The TiN coating, at that price, is also an indicator being made from inferior steel. Looks the same? That's where marketing hooks the novice on price point. The Norseman set at least states that they're HSS...

-A drill press, no matter who makes it, is entirely the wrong machine for the job. You've already found this out. -Nothing for a reasonable cost except a used square column mini-mill for work like that. The round column mills may work but I consider them a lesser design for milling. Both will...