Hey guys,

I have a little project I'd like to do that requires a waterjet cutter. I can't afford what commercial machine shops charge for waterjet cutting, but I thought someone here might have access to one through work that they could run for cost. Years ago when I was still an engineer, I worked at a research center that had a great machine shop for prototype builds and we could use the machines after hours assuming we paid for all the materials, etc.

Alternatively, if any of you know someone who has one of these machines who does small run jobs for cheap I'd love to talk to them. China is fine, too, if anyone has a contact, and if they will use the right material.

The project is to make some reproduction 18th-century "firmer chisels" out of O1 or A2 tool steel. The material is tapered from about 1/16" to about 1/4" at the thickest. The waterjet is to cut the outline of the chisels out of this tapered material, and possibly to put the taper on them after they're cut. Waterjet cutting is ideal because it won't affect heat treatment on the tool steel.

Here's an example by a guy (lunatic!) who made them with a hacksaw and files:

http://planeshavings.blogspot.com/2011/08/making-18th-century-style-firmer.html

http://planeshavings.blogspot.com/2011/08/18th-century-style-chisels-first-two.html

A friend of mine also made a set with a power hacksaw and files, because he couldn't find a CNC alternative he could afford:

http://schoolofwood.com/node/52

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Jim

Wire EDM would be much more readily available, I'd think. Afterwards you can sand/polish the edges with a belt. No worry about heat treat because the operation takes place underwater.

We've got a CNC EDM here at work and it's not in use most of the time, but I don't know how to run it and can't offer it up for you.

Wire EDM wod definitely work, and the surface finish is just fine as it is. We used to do a lot of wire EDM parts, and it's great technology. A little slower than waterjet but perfect for what I need. I can't afford either at retail :-)

Good suggestion!

Jim

They had waterjet cutting in the 18th century to make these? J/K but why not put a lot hard work into to see what they had to go through in the 1700s to make these things?

They would have been made by a blacksmith, with a whole host of specialized forging tools. It would be fun, but I'd never get my furniture made!