Custom Billet Shift Knob for Toyota Tacoma (2-1/4" diameter). ***Utilizes factory boot.***

So based on posted weights, I have stainless w brass core or something? Looks like solid stainless to me?

 

No core in that one, solid stainless with the ring.

 

Cool, so I have the heaviest Rick ball (er, knob) possible! I like that distinction.

$7 Permatex 77134 Nickel Anti-Seize Lubricant, 0.5 oz Tube

Permatex 77134 inbound.

Any advice on making the shims? Probably several options for raw material, something not too squishy but a little squishy ish?

 

Check this out: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...es-factory-boot.534205/page-121#post-22912490

The shim kit that Rick has mentioned is like $50 on Amazon - and you'd only need about 1% of the material. There is another plastic shim stock set I found on there for quite a bit cheaper:

Shim Stock Assortment, 0.0005" - 0.005" Plastic - 7 Sheet of 5" x 5" of Polyester Shim Stock, LittleMachineShop.com (4304)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTZZPFG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glc_fabc_S097GVEZ77YV87XYD3GY. Even that is way more than you'll actually need!

Just whatever you do... don't try to force (overtorque) the knob into alignment. It may or may not have been done before with horrendous results.

 

Parts. It's full of parts.

Looking good, lots of progress. There appears to be some Ti hiding over in the back

 

Yep, I am drilling those out right now. This is my least favorite part of all these steps. Can't decide if I will stop at after 4 of them, or just get all 7 over with now to save future-me some pain.

 

Yes, basically anything will do ... even paper if you don't mind a little trial and error. Standard paper has .004 thickness, but compresses a bit more than the plastic.

If I were feeling MacGyver'y about it I'd probably find a length of unused fuel line in the garage and cut off a little hunk of that to drop down in there. This isn't something I could put on the install instructions with a straight face, hence my overly complicated (but cleaner) shim method.

 

I was contemplating some plastic shelf liner since we have some leftover and I don’t have any spare fuel line. I do have a lot of poly RO tubing though which might work if I slice it properly.

So the shim is sort of the test, the write of passage from boy to man? I like that.

On the collar, Al vs poly, that’s all personal preference there too? No option for Ti or Stainless collar? Because that would just be utterly ridiculous?

 

Nobody ever asked for a Ti collar. It can be done, but being stupidly expensive already the free collar option always looks best with Ti. Stainless has always been available, but it adds another 65g of weight . Usually, with stainless knobs, the specs are geared toward lightening the final weight (because they start at 900g). Most go with the black copolymer/delrin, outside of that is a personal preference. It happens more often than it should, but some do not familiarize themselves with the anatomy/terminology of the knob parts prior to order and simply spec them incorrectly and get surprised when it shows up.

 

Answering this from yesterday.

The machine I use for engraving has limited RPM, which does not matter for free machining materials like aluminum. In SS, you really need to get the RPM's up, but to compensate I just have to go very slow with the feed. In short, it takes way too long and breaks too many tools. I pocketed only two SS knobs in the past, and they ate up about $80 worth of tools before I found my sweet spot on the feed rate and smoothing settings. No more tool breakage, but the time is far too long (which translates to $$$ that is beyond reason) for it to be worth offering.

When I upgrade this machine, I have eyes on something with 4x the RPM and pocketing will be offered in Stainless and Ti at some point.

Why I do not offer pocketing in delrin/copolymer. This is purely a tooling issue. I use an all-arounder 60 degree conical D-bit cutter, which works okay for most engravings, but on delrin, overlapping toolpaths will leave fine hairs that are a pain in the ass to remove. They can be frozen off with a CO2 blaster, but I'd rather just wait for the higher RPM machine upgrade so I can switch to a 5 degree tapered ball-end mill.

 

I feel puppy dog excited when I see new activity on this thread. But, alas, was not a popular season for aluminum. Still I wait in the shadows envying these rare finds. What a fun ride! Awaiting your install pictures David. Keep the dream alive

 

Fuck. I didn't even think to ask for a Ti collar. I need this now. If only to one-up @TeecoTaco. PM me if you have availability to make one (pretty please).

Old credit cards or store discount cards will get you about 0.020" to 0.030" and squish pretty easy. They're all plastic or laminated paper and not all that different than shim packs, just not as uniform. From doing mine, I feel like if you're off by 90-270 degrees on where it stops, you can still safely crank it around to where you want it.

 

I can just here TOT saying "feeds and speeds, gotta check the feeds and speeds." Kinda like Joe Miller saying "door and corners, gotta check the doors and corners."

We all need Ti collars.

 

I looked into anodizing the collar but was quoted $125 minimum from one shop. Not sure I want to try a second.

Wait, f, Brian gets a Ti collar. No way, the line starts behind my ass

Actually, gonna try to see if my buddy with a lathe can make me a Koa one.

 

I feel like the book on speeds and feeds are good to mention, but more important are the *reasons* they matter. There is a reason that tooling manufacturers give a very wide range of numbers for suggested speeds and feeds. It is very dependent on conditions. There is zero substitute for the experience and intuition of an experienced toolmaker/machinist using his/her ears, touch, and visuals to optimize an operation.

"Straight, Plumb, and True" got that reference?

 

Lowly stainless knobs don't deserve Ti collars.

 

Oh yeah. @7r41lbr34k3r chatted about that on some of the part ideas and his current tooling.


I got nothing for that reference and ol' google let me down.

 

I'll give you a hint. It's an old school carpenter on youtube.

 

Norm? I used to drool at his tool for every task. It really set in the idea that sponsorship was not a good thing.

 

Essential Craftsman