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How to Make a Gear Hob

A gear hob is a tool used to cut teeth for a gear into a gear blank. This tool needs to turn against a blank to cut the teeth into the material. To make a gear hob, you need to determine the size to make your tool from a piece of steel rod. A metal lathe and milling is then needed to make the cutting teeth into the steel rod.

Things You'll Need

1/2-inch steel rod
Tape measure
Chop saw
Band saw
Metal lathe
Felt tipped marker
V-shaped cutter
Propane torch

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the tooth spacing you want for the gear hob. This spacing is based on the gears you need to cut with the gear hob.
- 2
  Measure the 1/2-inch steel rod to a length of 8 inches. Cut the steel rod to this length with the chop saw or use a band saw.
- 3
  Attach the cut piece of steel rod onto the metal lathe. Measure 2 inches from one end and make a mark with the felt tip marker.
- 4
  Remove material from the end of the steel rod to the 2-inch mark with a V-shaped cutter. Cut five rings into the end of the rod that are spaced at 1/8-inch.
- 5
  Mill the rings on the end of the steel rod to make five cutting teeth. Use an end mill on a rotary table to cut the teeth into the rings.
- 6
  Remove the finished gear hob from the lathe and apply heat from the propane torch. Dip the end of the gear hob into a bucket of water when it appears red in color. This will temper and harden the steel.

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