Thanks for the compliments folks ... it was a small piece of burr (80 x 200 x 18mm) just enough to make three small blanks from that had been lurking for several years... knew it would come in useful one day :wink:
In the first attempt I wish I'd taken my own sage advice
and mounted it in compression... expansion mode was just enough to weaken the micro cracks and the piece flew off into the distance :lol:
The second attempt was also mounted in expansion but with the tailstock for support... enabled a small spiggot to be formed. made the recess for the watch insert, turned the outside and front, sanded and treated with Chestnut's melamine.
reverse chucked using the insert recess (just enough expansion for a friction hold!!!) turned and polished the back. Just a small flat sanded on the outer rim, 3.5mm hole drilled and the coupler screwed in... added watch insert and the job was a good'un.
The insert and coupler were bought from
http://www.craftmaterialsupplies.co.uk/acatalog/index.html
They're currently waiting for stocks of the couplers from the US... there are other suppliers out there but Everglades gave good service.
Just need to make a 'D' ring in brass... I know I have some suitable brass rod
somewhere :roll:
I have a 60mm insert that's been lurking waiting for the right project so the next one will be jumbo size... I'll have to make the couipler from brass rod 'cos the commercially available ones are too small... another round tuit :lol: