Worlds Finest Trimmer, Rube Goldberg Style!

[Rule3]

Just got the trimmer and was testing in the garage. Works really well but even though my garage is a mess I don't want little brass shavings all over. I go barefoot a lot!.

So here is the prototype brass shaving container.

Cut a 1 gal jug, drilled a hole for the cutter shaft in the bottom and a bigger hole for the shop vac tube. Put duct tape (required) on the sharp edges.
Drill is held in the vice and locked on high.

Works great for a prototype. I am going to glue together an acrylic container but my acrylic glue is dried out. Need to get more. Then the container will be clear. This plastic jug is big enough to put your hand and arm in to feed the 223 brass.

 

[cfullgraf]

Nice idea on the trimmer.

I learned long ago to not go barefoot (actually sock footed) out in my garage, shop or reloading room. I got tired of picking all sorts of metal shavings out of my feet.

 

[CGT80]

That is a good, simple, idea. I think I have the same drill, and I thought about using it.

Here is my solution for use with the CTS trimmer (very similar to WFT). I thought about trying a WFT trimmer in my machine, for other calibers. The CTS is a 3/8" diameter shaft. I don't know if the WFT is too big in diameter to fit inside my chip guard. The shavings fall inside the round pipe. I just dump the shavings in the trash. Without the guard, the shavings were thrown 18" or so across my bench. I used a 1070 rpm motor and made the housing out of aluminum which I TIG welded together. I also use mine to debur the brass. I tried deburring and trimming on a drill press, but pushing up on the brass sucked and it was hard to see what I was doing. Pushing down on the brass is much easier. Some people mount a motor to a simple flat plate and then screw the plate to the edge of their bench. Of course I had to go all out on mine. I wanted to practice my fabrication work, and I didn't have the money for a Giraurd trimmer. I have around $100 into mine, including the cutter.

 

[hueyville]

Nice work, if you decide to move to north GA give me a call. If hiring will put you in the shop.

 

[CGT80]

That is a great compliment, thanks.

Hey OP, were you going to make your shield the same size as the prototype? The clear acrylic should look great. I tried a few projects with it, but I didn't like waiting for the glue to dry and I wasn't sure as to how strong it would be. For a chip guard it will probably work well. My dad suggested that I hook a vacuum to my trimmer, but I found it wasn't needed and I didn't want the extra noise when trimming.

Keep us updated.