There is nothing wrong with modifying your files to suit an application.
There are a lot of interesting varieties out there in shape, cut, and safe surfaces. In my clock work I have decided that you can't have too many small files and I'm guessing I have over a thousand.
If you aren't in a...
There are no set standards for escapement files but a search for escapement files will at least get you headed in the right direction. I've seen them vary widely from tiny to almost standard needle file size. My all time favorite set was made by Nicholson and the tiny box had somehow worked its...
Thanks for posting this, I don't know which part I like more, the scroll drawing or his "rabbiting on".
For those who want a link.
https://www.youtube.com/user/cmc306/videos
Troy
A small lathe? This jumps to mind first although I have been accused of being lathe obsessed.
Something similar might be accomplished with a fixture to hold the screw on the center of rotation of your ball vise. Then you can use the hermaphrodite divider as Dave mentioned. I think it would be...
You don't want those, drilling to attach the shaft that holds the graver will likely be miserable to impossible.
I started with a standard 2 in ball hitch and turned away everything that wasn't part of a wiggle tool. You need to remove a lot of material, even with a good lathe it was a fair...
When I took John Schippers class at Connor Prairie he had a wiggle tool holder made from a trailer hitch ball. One of my classmates liked it so much he rushed out to Menards to buy one and I volunteered to make the necessary modifications.
John liked the mass of the holder and found the shape...
It is an engraving tool. Patent docs attached below. I may be able to find it in one of my old catalogs but this will take a while. I have a lot of books to sort.
Troy
Thanks for posting, your timing is perfect as I am nearly finished building a new shop. When I took my class at Connor Prairie the vises were mounted on posts at the corners of the benches. Sort of a ¾ walk around. I have been thinking about building something like your pedestal to use at home...
Automatic index adjusting? Plus it even displays normal time. That is amazing.
Thanks for the heads up.
On the watch theme, take a look at Kees Engelbarts. It was this article in the Horological Times that prompted me to continue my membership one more year. I made a version of his half ring...