Page 1 of 3

Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 5:04 pm
by HT4
I decided that I needed a pinning tray, but didn't feel like paying $30+ for a wood block... So I decided to make one. I snagged a uselessly small (5"x7") cutting board from the kitchen, bolted it to my Harbor Freight mini mill, and went to work. All told, it took about a half hour (including convincing my wife that she didn't need the cutting board). Pictures below.

image.jpg

image.jpg

image.jpg

image.jpg

image.jpg

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 5:23 pm
by GWiens2001
Very nice work. Bet the hardest part was convincing your wife that a (what looks like new) cutting board was not needed. :)

Gordon

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 5:36 pm
by HT4
GWiens2001 wrote:Very nice work. Bet the hardest part was convincing your wife that a (what looks like new) cutting board was not needed. :)

Gordon


It was new... Originally part of a set. We use the two larger ones, but never used this one. It's better off with me. :cool:

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 7:37 pm
by l0ckcr4ck3r
Nice Job with the Pinning Tray!

Not sure I've ever seen a DRO on one of them before... neat little mill.

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 8:13 pm
by HT4
l0ckcr4ck3r wrote:Nice Job with the Pinning Tray!

Not sure I've ever seen a DRO on one of them before... neat little mill.


Thanks!

I'm pretty proud of the DRO setup. I did the conversion for about $250... it beams coordinates to my tablet via Bluetooth. If you have any interest, I did a write up on a shooting forum that I frequent (my other hobby is gun building). http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=143512

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 9:10 pm
by mickysickz
Love the pinning tray and the dro. Ever considered a cnc conversion? How do you like that mill im considering that one or one of grizzly's cheaper models.

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 10:13 pm
by Neilau
Welcome and a VERY nice job.

We also have a shooting thread here (as you probably already know) "Full Metal Jacket Required".

I, and I'm sure many other members would love to see some of your firearm work.

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 11:53 pm
by l0ckcr4ck3r
HT4 wrote:
l0ckcr4ck3r wrote:Nice Job with the Pinning Tray!

Not sure I've ever seen a DRO on one of them before... neat little mill.


Thanks!

I'm pretty proud of the DRO setup. I did the conversion for about $250... it beams coordinates to my tablet via Bluetooth. If you have any interest, I did a write up on a shooting forum that I frequent (my other hobby is gun building). http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=143512



Yeah, i do have an interest :) Think i'll sign up to that forum tomorrow just to take a look!

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:42 am
by HT4
mickysickz wrote:Love the pinning tray and the dro. Ever considered a cnc conversion? How do you like that mill im considering that one or one of grizzly's cheaper models.


Thanks.

Never considered CNC. I don't use it enough to to justify the cost... Plus, it is rare that I make more than one of the same part, which takes away much of the utility of a CNC setup.

If you are in the market for a hobby mill, get the best one you can afford. I'm actually disappointed with mine in two respects: rigidity and power. In retrospect, I wish I had gone with this machine... https://littlemachineshop.com/products/ ... 1387807683 With all the mods I made to mine to remedy the little problems it has, the cost would have been about the same, and I would have ended up with a stiffer and more powerful mill. Good luck with your purchase.

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:47 am
by HT4
Neilau wrote:Welcome and a VERY nice job.

We also have a shooting thread here (as you probably already know) "Full Metal Jacket Required".

I, and I'm sure many other members would love to see some of your firearm work.


Thanks. Regarding the gun thread, I actually did not notice that... Maybe I'll post a few of the more interesting pieces in my collection... Though I'm pretty sure most of our members hailing from outside the USA (and maybe some members living here) will think I'm nuts. :armed:

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 4:55 pm
by Neilau
HT4 wrote:
Thanks. Regarding the gun thread, I actually did not notice that... Maybe I'll post a few of the more interesting pieces in my collection... Though I'm pretty sure most of our members hailing from outside the USA (and maybe some members living here) will think I'm nuts. :armed:


Please,please.

People already think that lock pickers are nuts and here you are among friends. :D

Seriously, I and I'm sure many others would love to see some (all??) your collection.

PS there is also a thread for knives here - we cover the whole spectrum of "nuts".

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 7:30 pm
by HT4
Neilau wrote:Please,please.

People already think that lock pickers are nuts and here you are among friends. :D

Seriously, I and I'm sure many others would love to see some (all??) your collection.

PS there is also a thread for knives here - we cover the whole spectrum of "nuts".


Hmmm. A gun thread and a knife thread? Where would I post this little treat?

image.jpg

image.jpg

image.jpg

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:05 pm
by MBI
HT4 wrote:Hmmm. A gun thread and a knife thread? Where would I post this little treat?

Cool, that'd be at home in either the guns or knives subforums.
I've wanted one of those for years but never got serious enough to look where to get one.
I'm guessing high three figure or low four figure price tag for the gun/knife combo?
At least the $5 AOW transfer tax isn't prohibitive.

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:51 pm
by huxleypig
HT4 wrote:
mickysickz wrote:Love the pinning tray and the dro. Ever considered a cnc conversion? How do you like that mill im considering that one or one of grizzly's cheaper models.


Thanks.

Never considered CNC. I don't use it enough to to justify the cost... Plus, it is rare that I make more than one of the same part, which takes away much of the utility of a CNC setup.

If you are in the market for a hobby mill, get the best one you can afford. I'm actually disappointed with mine in two respects: rigidity and power. In retrospect, I wish I had gone with this machine... https://littlemachineshop.com/products/ ... 1387807683 With all the mods I made to mine to remedy the little problems it has, the cost would have been about the same, and I would have ended up with a stiffer and more powerful mill. Good luck with your purchase.


Gotta agree with this. I 'upgraded' the mill I was going to purchase three times! Trouble is, I now rarely use it anyway! I mean, I use the setup but I have a secondary high speed spindle bolted to the head and I use that almost exclusively now!

About your DRO setup, I am looking to upgrade mine. What are the encoders you are using? By that I mean are they glass or magnetic? I am looking to get some magnetic ones with a 1 micron reading head, about $550 all in. The 5 micron head is about $75 less. Right now I am using the equivalent of large digital calipers and they work fine (better than planned tbh) but I would really welcome the extra accuracy/repeatability. All I have to do then is keep it on the quiet from the missus!

Re: Home Brew Pinning Tray

PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2015 4:22 am
by Mitchell s
You are easily the coolest lawyer in history! Awesome work on all of your hobby fronts! :armed: