Building a McDonald rolling mill.

jdm61

jdm61

itinerant metal pounder
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
47,357
I downloaded the plans for the McDonald rolling mill. Here is the burning question. Precisley what kind fo craftsman would you go to if you wanted to get one built? You can safely assume that I can do NONE of the steps involved in putting one of these together other than turning the odd bolt nor do I have ANY interest whatsoever in learning how to build such things in the short term.:D
 
I'd check the yellow pages for "metal fabrication" job shop
You need some welding and some machining.

No one too big, you need the creativity and lower shop rate of a small shop

I'd drop a copy of the plans and notes on being open to modifications - maybe some photos at half a dozen shops and ask for a quote



I've looked at lots of builds and the ones that are probably exact to the drawings are unnecessarily complicated

First I think it's in millimetres and you have to convert, not just to exact dimensions, but also to take into account the standard stock sizes it will use.



You can probably skip the hand handle & just use the foot pedal.

I think you can simplify the cam mechanism by substituting different size stock and pinning then welding together instead of lathe time

I think you can simplify the rollers by using large flange or pillow bearings and straight stock with no shoulders. less lathe time.

Some comments I've read included that the designer worked from a chair or was much shorter and if you will use a standing height, you want to make it taller to avoid hunching.

I dont' have the drawings, but there are some good threads
http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=13865

I like the simplicity of this one.
mill2.jpg
 
I hav e a buddy that made one in a couple days. I will say that the lever for tapering is one of the harder parts of the build. After many times useing it we both agree that this function does not work very well for what we do. We where hoping to use it for distail taper.If I where to make one I would leave that function out.Also the blue prints make it seem way harder then it is to build this press. (over enginerd) LOL.
 
From the video, it appears that the lever was originally designed so that you could get three quick passed without having to grab the wheel. The ability to taper was a bonus.
 
That is true but it does not work as well as it looks. We get three pass easy before needing to adjustment. Many smiths have buit this rolling mill. Maybe there is one around you can try before having one made. But for me I just dont use the lever. What would be nice is if both rollers where powered so your work does not curl up when rolled.
 
I built my own a couple of years ago...probably took 30 to 40 hours....it does require fab and machining skills (I grew up in a welding shop) so with whats been mentioned before both a welding fab shop and machine shop are requisit but it's worth it...I consider it a very valuable tool!
 
I'll throw out Brian Fellhoelter as who I'd contact. With his tool building skills if he has time and wants to a really clean unit could be made. Maybe a collaboration between Brian and Nathan?

I've never seen one nor used one, but Brian's grinder building skills speak for themselves not to mention his knives!
 
my understanding is that the handle is there so that a certain thickness can be preset by putting the handle in the last notch stepping on the pedal and rotating the hand screw to the desired thickness. To use, move the handle to the first notch and roll your steel through by stepping on the pedal. then reheat steel move lever to the next notch roll etc. until the lats notch is reached. wala steel is the theckness you pre-set. I have used one with the lever omitted and though not hard to use I think having the lever would be an asset. you don't have to use it but if it is not there you can't use it.
 
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