I do a lot of surface grinding at my day job and the previous comments are spot on. Also a few things I do. You have to get into the steel and away from the surface.Ideally I like to remove 0.010 or more from each side . I find alot of folks don't remove enough material . Shiny just doesn't cut...
Yup Randy, tapmatic or generic brand will do the job and the money you save in broken taps will more than pay for it and just think, tapping 2-56 threads in .085 Titanium at 1500 rpm. Ya gotta love it. Oh!and the tapped hole is dead square when your done.
Great job Zeb, gotta love building your own equipment. Yup , that way you know how to repair it when it craps out on you. Now to make a few more knives.
For 304 ss grind your high speed or cobalt drill bit at a bit flatter angle , cut the speed of the drill down and use a good moly based cutting oil like "moly dee" . The moly dee makes it drill like night and day comparing to other cutting oils. Oh , and use a centre drill to prevent the drill...
Randy it was great meeting both you and Mike at Kevins smelt in. This press is really a beautiful piece of functional art (best kind in my opinion) . I was impressed with Mikes scrimshaw samples he had with him and boy he really delivered on your "Dragons Breath Press" congrats. Paul