we are so lucky to have you on KZfaq, a lifetime of knowledge in a few hours , thanks a million

I had to smile about the engineer comment. I was that engineer who couldn't understand the machine shop constantly asking if I really wanted it that size? It was during a previous life when I was designing wire and slick line equipment here in Aberdeen Scotland. Admittedly it was half a lifetime ago so I think I may have learned a bit since that time. Thanks for the pointer from the machinists point of view - and the memory.

I was a carpenter for 35 years back when we use to cut roofs, before premade trusses. (roofs are all angles). This is exactly how i use to figure angles/lengths,rises, diagonals . If you buy a construction master calculator, which i used for years, this will all be extremely simplified. On the calculator there are three keys called run, rise and diagonal (the three parts of a triangle). You can enter as fractions 1-1/4, or decimals 1.25, or metric 31.75 or whatever. The amount of weird angles on all the different pitched roofs with hips and gables and interrupted angles and so on are endless. Greatest tool ever invented for us dumb carpenters.

I love this one Joe! The way you break things down helps so much. I find I was over thinking this issue and your explanation on the board and then in the shop got me on track. God Bless you bud. I agree with the vast majority of your subscribers that your an excellent teacher and I feel personally blessed to have found you. I'm 46 starting again since being disabled and you truly inspire me. The classes I'm taking plus all the other videos have left me more confused. I understand you better than anyone and I really thank you for what your doing. I'm proud to call you one of my instructors. Tim Ditmore Matrix Gunsmithing Lake George, CO.

At last someone succeeded in explaining me in a comprehensive way why I had to learn all that trigonometry back in highschool allmost 35 years ago. Thanks and greetings from Belgium.

Joe, I used this technique last night in order to set my compound cut an precise 8-degree taper for an ER11 collet cavity for a holder I made. Worked like a charm! Here I thought I would need to go and buy a sine bar to do this but with a little math and your technique I saved some much needed dough! Much Thanks and keep up the videos. This is priceless knowledge that you are choosing to share and I greatly appreciate it.

Oh that was very clever indeed. To quote a New Zealand saying, “you really do know your onions!” I am super impressed. The only thing wrong with the whole approach is that I did not think of it..Bravo! Not only that but exactly the same trick will work with my mill. Double winner! Thanks Joe.

Hi Joe, your content is a little advanced for me at this point. It took me a whole weekend to machine 8 levelling feet for my lathe my first lathe so small steps. However even being a novice your presentation was done in such a normal way without you needing to pull out the technical terms and language that for us novices make you sound like a brain surgeon and goes straight over the top of our heads, you have a way of conveying a circumstance that is understandable to many, thank you. Your clearly putting it out with a genuine desire to help not to stroke your own ego.

Gee Joe, it is with great interest that I watch you channel. Even though I won’t ever need this information, for this ‘ol maintenance engineer I certainly do admire you and your approach/application to a situation such as this. 👍

I'm ashamed to admit this, but I'm still going to... I did not know this method. It's so simple! To those people who are having trouble grasping it, watching the video while standing in front of the lathe is a good suggestion that someone else mentioned. Thank you, Joe!

That's great. Personally I'm a CNC guy. But watching these videos in you channel helps me on the manual lathe and mill for small projects around my shop. Keep them up. They are very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to show it step by step. You are a great teacher. Two thumbs up!!!!

I just used this technique today to cut an internal taper with a 3 decimal precision callout! Thanks Joe.

Great tutorial Joe, I have watched it three times and appreciate you sharing you knowledge. all the best from the UK

Hi, allow me to say that you are the ONLY one that makes videos where someone thinks: "...exactly this I wanted to know for years". thanks for sharing your knowledge. The day that you will come to Florence let me know, I will show you my city and we take REAL Italian coffe ;-) Take care and stay save

Its great joe,in the beginning it was a little difficult, but as i stand by my lathe and repeat what you explained,suddenly it become clear to me. Thanks a lot for your time , and i hope you will go on to help us.Again Thanks Hans, from Holland

Great tip. Practical trig application. Fantastic explanation helps demystify the complexity of such a complex part. Thanks again, Joe.

Excellent series! Your practical tips are gold for a hobby machinist like myself with just a couple machines in my garage and no professional experience.

Very clear easy to follow. I am not a turner, but I enjoy every one of Joe's videos theory and practical and no unnecessary chat.

Oh my - so simple when you know how! so many thanks Joe for passing on this invaluable knowledge - Going to try this on my 70 year old Myford ML7 Also thinking of trying to make some angle gauges, we will see. Again many thanks and best wishes to you and you family.

A very elegant technique! Good clear and concise explanation. Keep the videos coming Joe. I'm learning so much. Many thanks Paul

Another piece of simple trigonometry. No expensive sine bar, no even more expensive gauge blocks. Thank you! I learned trig a million years ago in a third world school. I had the world's worst math teacher. So I found the Barnes&Noble College Outline Series on trig and taught myself. Then I taught my buddies and that cemented it in my mind. Trigonometry is the machinist's best friend. Nowadays there are online aids to learning it, such as the Kahn academy, and whether you use a book or online, every machinist should learn it. At least the rudiments. It is not necessary to learn the identities -- just how to solve a right triangle.

Well done, I was sent to class today. Just when I think I'm making huge strides, I have so far to go.

this one trick is worth trillions of hours of work. thank you so much

Stumbled on this video on 12th July 2023 just in time for making accurate angles on mating parts. Thank you, Joe for all of the incredibly clear advice you've given for so many of us over the years. Long may it continue!

You are awesome . i have been working with Lathe almost 25 years , and still learn everyday . all I can say that you are the best .

Great video. I love it. When I need that kind of accuracy I usually indicate along a sinebar. Very precise also and rules out leadcrew inaccuracies. Works in milling machine too.

Joe, I am not a machinist but I love watching this type content. I want to thank you for taking the time to create these videos explaining not only the how but the why. You have the heart of a teacher and the ability to convey in understandable terms the concepts and techniques involved. Michael

It is amazing how much you can learn in this trade. I haven't stopped learning yet. Joe, your videos are just great. Keep up the good work!!

Great lesson on how to apply trigonometry to the cross slide and the compound using the graduated dials. This video was a breath of fresh air!!!!! Thank you.

Trig is always the answer... what an eye opener this info was when I began machining. It all started by asking what a Sine plate was for... Then the explanation, then Jo blocks, then confusion, then a million tests and now I use trig all the time. Thanks for the info.

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and publishing the videos! I am just a bloody newbie and your videos have helped me immensely. Your videos are clear, concise and very well presented without any annoying babbling. Basically, you taught me via youtube. Thank you! Bernhard

Thank you, Joe. I'm making an ER32 collet holder for a D1-4 spindle and this tip allowed me to cut the angle in the holder that mates to the lathe spindle. Thanks again

Hi Joe, thank you so much for your videos. As a 65 year old I regret never taking any trigonometry classes. You break it down and make everything seem so simple

Excellent explanation of setting a precise angle of the compound! Thanks for sharing!

Hey Joe, good stuff. I really appreciate your videos like this one. You present well and it is refreshing to see tips from someone with current, relevant practical experience on KZfaq (in contrast to so many sloppy home-shop guys like myself). I practiced with this technique and was able to hit my chosen test taper spot on. Thanks!

This is especially useful when trying to mate components machined previously. In the past I have had to make sure I did not disturb the compound slide setting between machining components which can be a nuisance when the operations do not follow each other. Keep up the good work, much appreciated.

Hi Joe, I'm new to your videos, I'm self taught what I know about machining and your informational videos are excellent, this last compound angle video is one awesome idea, just what I needed to cut some morse angles. What I want to say about figuring angles is get that construction master calculator and with the run/ rise/pitch/diagonal functions you can figure those angles so fast and easy without getting into fancy geometry stuff. Thanks again for making life easier when cutting precise angles.

Thanks Joe for the trig refresher. Even better, you demonstrated its application on the lathe. That tip is a gem for setting the compound. Thanks again.

I spend a lot of time using trig (soh cah toa) for mill work. That is one great tip for lathe work!! Sure beats the eye loop! Thank you for passing on your knowledge.

I've been trying to get a 1.4 degree taper on a hardwood sprue using an old Lesto Scintilla with a removable cross slide, very tricky, but your method produced results on the 2nd attempt. After sanding smooth and a sawdust polish, the taper was measured at 1.409 degrees. Thanks for the time to make this video, its much appreciated.

Joe, I realize you did this video in 2016 but I just wanted to let you know how much help you've been to me while doing things at my work that I've learned from you. I'm very much a novice when it comes to machining but I'm just good enough to make things work the way I need them with the help from your videos and a few others. Thankyou again for all the great videos Joe you really help guys out like me a HUGE AMOUNT.

Beautiful. I LOVE it when practical trig shows up. I still believe most kids would get trig if they had a lathe and a mill to work with. AND a good, clear, teacher like you. Thank you!

Joe, I used this method today (to cut a precise outside angle) and it worked perfectly! Thanks!

This technique came in very handy. I had to make bevel gears on an old Cincinnati universal miller. Great job Joe!!

Thanks Joe for another excellent tips video. I am sure i speak for many people in that we greatly appreciate these, there are few places this sort of information can easily be found - especially for us home shop machinists that have not had formal training. Keep them coming :)

I got a Hardinge lathe and made my own cross slide and compound so I had no graduated marks for the angle and needed to cut a backing plate for a chuck with the Hardinge 4 degree taper. I failed three times trying to use protectors and digital angle fingers and a few other items to double check the angle. I had one that would work but wasn't true. Only hit at the very back of the spindle nose taper. I just got done setting up using this method and I believe it's going to work great. Thanks for all the knowledge you are giving away and keep up the good work.

Great video, very informative, its like a master class of tips and tricks for machine shop setups,can't wait for more.

Thanks for the trig refresher and application tip. Look forward to your next video

How about that, you never stop amazing me Joe. just looking over your stuff, this is in my top ten. No trick just very clever thought out work.

Nice one Joe! I was looking, because I need to do an outside tapered bushing for a project. My dimensions are much less critical, but the measurement quite simple! Tested in a mini lathe on bronze for practice, then did a full 304 SS version. Wonderful. Now, just have to cut threads.

What a great review of my plane geometry class of 59 years ago... I loved geometry and still love it!!!

Nice one glad I'm not the only one who think that about the odd engineer. Very timely for me as I had been considering the very problem. Thanks for your time and passing on the knowledge.

This was way over my head , but I enjoyed watching it , I can tell you know what your talking about, Loved your video on threading away from the chuck. I haven't ran a manual lathe in 30 years but I'm about to retire and I'm going to buy one just to play with. I will watch all your videos for a refresher coarse .

I cut a JT33 taper with this technique and it worked perfect! Thanks for the tip!

Thanks Joe, very informative as usual and as expected of your presentations. Hope you're recovering from your recent taste of winter.

very clever! I love the simplicity and logical approach.

I have been toying with the idea of single point cutting a rifle chamber using the info provided in these conical feature videos, leaving just a few thousands for the reamer to clean providing a perfectly concentric bore. I am not pioneering this processes, I just wouldn't have the confidence without you. Thanks Joe

Used this method to set to bore 1.5" taper per foot for wheel hubs on hydraulic motors. Worked great and very easy to set up. Thanks!

Terrific (and easy) method Joe, I've written this out in my notebook, one to remember for sure!

This is some good stuff... I've used gage blocks and indicators before to trig out the angle, but never once did I thought to use the tailstock as a reference. This is gold for me. Thanks Joe!

I just used your technique and it was spot on! Thanks Joe!

Hi from New Zealand Joe. I've just binge watched your entire channel and subscribed. You have fantastic technical info and new techniques I haven't seen before. Hope you can make more videos for us. Don't worry too much about camera angles / steadiness and production values etc if this will put you off putting out videos. Your content is high quality and speaks for itself. Cheers Tim

Thanks guy! I'm a home hobbyist and I got an RFQ that included an inside taper at 10.62*. I wasn't sure I could even quote the job 10 mins ago. Cheers!!

Hi Joe, Thanks for another great video. Learning lots from you Many thanks Max

Joe, you are a great teacher! Thanks!

Excellent. Such a simple solution I wish I would have learned years ago! Thank you!

Joe I am a hobby lathe operator. S.B. 9". Your KZfaq videos are fantastic. I have utilized several of your ideas. Thank you so much.

That was super good info! This is going into my my keeper list. Thanks for the video, JB

Awesome Joe ! So simple it hurts ?! Love your classes

This worked perfect to set 7.125 degrees to open up the taper on my D1-4 backplate. Thanks Joe, as a hobby machinist I have learned a lot from your videos. It took me ~10 times to get less than .001" error on the cross slide measurement, but I did get it. Then checked how true the angle was by checking with a .0005" test indicator along the original taper. Zero dial movement.

Excellent geometry/trig application. Much appreciated.

Joe thanks for sharing your knowledge and taking time to make this video.

I had some jobs come in once that had like that out to 3 decimal places. I managed to cut them and set up a sine bar to check them with and they were right on. A few days later the engineer came back and wanted them recut to a different angle. I told him I'd never had a print before with such precise angles called for. Turns out that they were just experimental angles on a prototype and were drawn on a computer which had put in all the decimal places. I had cut them on a cnc. The next ones I just did on a manual lathe using the numbers on the compound and they worked fine for him. Yeah, engineers mostly seem to have no idea what goes into making parts to some of their prints. Ok, enough of that rant. I never would have thought to do an angle with the method you've shown. Thank you very much and keep them coming.

Absolutely love your videos Joe. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Always grateful.

You earned another subscriber! All your methods seem to be very, very good. I appreciate that you spend so much time explaining these so that anyone can do it. Thanks!

Just made my second internal morse taper using your system. Works a treat. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Good on ya mate.

Thank you! Very well explained and easy to follow along with the method 👍

I just watched a few of your videos till now but I learned something in each one. You're showing great stuff! Thanks! The way I did this was more complicated and I hope to decrease setup time for future tapers.

Thats brilliant, super clear and simple :). A couple of comments about possible inaccuracy of the tailstock. If youre working on an old beater with known issues with the tailstock, of even if there is no tailstock, you could chuck up a piece of scrap and cut a couple of collars of equal diameter over the distance you need, then measure out youre triangle in the same way. That way youre relating to directly to the spindle. Cheers Joe, ill be needing to do this sometime soon.

Wow. I am really loving your teaching methods. Great vids. I just got a 7x10in mini lathe to start working with, cause that's all my wife would let me get. I one day I'd love to have a big boy lathe and a shop of my own. Please keep the lessons coming. Thank you.

Another great tutorial Joe. Thanks very much.

The best video I've ever seen explaining how to get tight angles. Man whoever said I'd never use High School math in life lied to me. I use it all the time. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith Noneya

Brings me back to my high school trig days. Great explanation.

That was an impressive trig lesson. I really do like this answer to a simple problem. I really like this approach over what I see a lot, what uses a "close enough" approach. Depending on the job I'm running, some of them it's "as long as it fits the box" others it's "get it as close as humanly possible... then get it closer" so the math approach is appreciated. the old slogan "If the numbers are good, the result will be good" comes to mind.

Joe you have some seriously useful videos online. Thanks a lot for that!

Thanks! Useful and informative, as always. Love your lessons.

Best channel on youtube on the topic, just second to none. Thank you for doing this

Love your videos. Trig Math is easy for me, but I have never thought about using it for setting machines up. I have always focused on using 'traditional' methods. Well done (Chris - New Zealand)

Joe, that was amazing, thanks. I always put a sine bar against the tailstock and turn cpmpound until I got 0-0 on the indicator, this is much better! after 45 years I spent in toolroom and job shop, you amaze me!

Thanks for sharing my friend. Excellent presentation.

this was like the clouds parting and the sun shining through - brilliant and thanks for such a simple concise way to hit crazy angles. awesome.

It took me 3 times listening to your video to understand, but I got it sir. You the BOSS! As always, I enjoyed watching sir

That is excellent Joe.

I'm an engineer and this is why engineering students need to spend all their free time in the machine shop. That 44 minutes on the degree just cost the company 20 minutes in additional set up time, and potentially a lot of scrap for less capable machinists. My other pet peeve is engineers tolerancing everything to +/- .001" because they can't / won't do a tolerance study or don't understand fitments. I'm getting off my soap box now.

Thank You Joe!!! Excellent technique!

You are pretty darn good at what you are doing! Keep up with those exellent videos!

Very clever method, and very precise. I had trouble, however, when turning an external taper between centers. Everything got in the way, and couldn't use full travel of the compound slide. Anyway, I think it´s a great method and will stick to it most of the time.

Cool technique! I like how it scales with different lathe sizes. My little 10" Logan has a shorter tailstock extension than yours, but it obviously also has shorter compound travel as well. I will definitely use this when needed (and I'm saving the video in a machining reference playlist). Thank you!

Love your lathe Joe, I had a 15 x 50 with taper attachment what a machine.

I was doing this trick the other day, but used a piece of straight stock (I had just machined it) in the lathe chuck to set up the triangle. Same idea, different side. Thanks for confirming I was using a REAL machinist's trick Joe! PS, I need to use your tailstock idea for confirming the alignment of my mini lathe tailstock at home too.