Old timer in the shop gave me a tip about speeds and feeds that still bugs me

I was setting up a job on our Haas VF-2 last Tuesday and this guy who's been running machines since the 80s walked over and told me to ignore the manufacturer's recommended chip load... He said he always runs his endmills 20% slower with 30% more feed and just lets the chips fly. Do you guys follow the book values or tweak based on feel?

3 comments

3 Comments

simon_carr11h ago

Honestly, why risk wrecking a tool just to follow some old timer's gut feeling over the actual specs?

alicer5311h ago

Old timers wrecked plenty of tools doing it their way too.

jenny_lee10h ago

My '78 Ford manual said 35 ft-lbs, old timer said tighten till it squeaks. Snapped a bolt @simon_carr.