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Spiral-Edge Countersinks: One Curved Slot Up the Cone Makes an Edge That Slices Instead of Scraping (Laursen, 1926)
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Forge

13. November 2026NO
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Spiral-Edge Countersinks: One Curved Slot Up the Cone Makes an Edge That Slices Instead of Scraping (Laursen, 1926)

Laust K. Laursen of College Station, Texas, received US 1,586,559, dated 1 June 1926. Ordinary countersinks have straight edges in radial planes, which press on the wood all at once and scrape it, like pushing a knife straight down on a loaf. Laursen curved the edge into a spiral running up and out from near the point, ahead of the radial line as the tool turns. It reaches the wood a little at a time and slices, leaving a smooth countersink without chatter. His simplest form is one curved slot in the cone, its leading edge sharpened and the cone behind it relieved. We make a set of three in tool steel. The patent gives no sizes; every size here is ours.
Intermediate
About 1 day

Instructions

1

Why a spiral edge shears

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2

Read US 1,586,559

"In this particular form the spiral extends outwardly in the direction of action, that is to say, the usual direction of rotation of a countersink is clockwise, viewed from the top, or counterclockwise, as viewed from the bottom." "It has been found that a hole formed with a countersink as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will be very smooth and uniform on the inside."
3

Turn the blanks

From octagonal tool steel turn three blanks: a 90 degree cone 3 to a point, 12, 16 and 20 mm across at its base, then the body 1 and an 8 mm shank 2 50 mm long with three filed flats. Heat each to a cherry red and let it cool slowly in the air to soften it.

Materials for this step:

Octagonal Tool Steel BarOctagonal Tool Steel Bar2 pieces

Tools needed:

Metal LatheMetal Lathe
Lathe Chuck 3-JawLathe Chuck 3-Jaw
Lathe Cutting ToolLathe Cutting Tool
Parting ToolParting Tool
ProtractorProtractor
Digital Caliper 6-InchDigital Caliper 6-Inch
File SetFile Set
ForgeForge
Forge TongsForge Tongs
Safety GlassesSafety Glasses
4

File the spiral slot 4

Blue the cone and scribe a spiral on it from 1 mm from the point to the rim, turning a quarter of the way round, leaning ahead in the direction the tool turns (clockwise seen from the shank). File a slot along it with a round needle file, 2 to 3 mm wide and 1.5 mm deep at the rim, shallower towards the point. Sharpen the slot's leading edge 5 and file the cone behind it slightly lower, so only the edge touches the work.

Tools needed:

Needle File SetNeedle File Set
Machine ViceMachine Vice
File SetFile Set
5

Harden and temper

Heat each head to a cherry red, until a magnet no longer sticks, and quench it point first in water, moving it about. Rub it bright with a stone, heat the shank gently 20 mm behind the head, and quench again as soon as a light straw colour reaches the cutting edge.

Tools needed:

ForgeForge
Forge TongsForge Tongs
Small MagnetSmall Magnet
Quench BucketQuench Bucket
WaterWater
Sharpening StoneSharpening Stone
Welding GlovesWelding Gloves
Safety GlassesSafety Glasses
6

Hone and test

Hone the edge lightly with the stone. Drill screw holes in hardwood and countersink them: the edge should cut a smooth bell with no chatter and throw curled shavings out of the slot.

Tools needed:

Sharpening StoneSharpening Stone
Cordless DrillCordless Drill
Drill Bit SetDrill Bit Set
Hardwood BoardHardwood Board
Safety GlassesSafety Glasses
7

Troubleshooting

Spiral countersink troubleshooting.

Flow

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8

History and honest limits

**Laust K. Laursen** of College Station, Texas, US 1,586,559, dated 1 June 1926, filed 1 August 1925. He set out to give a countersink "a cutting blade or edge so arranged that it will tend to cut, rather than scrape, the work", each edge curving spirally of the tool. He shows three forms: one slot in a hollow head, two split halves with twin edges, and a many-bladed one he found better for metal; we make the first, in one piece. He gives no sizes or angle; our 90 degree cones, quarter-turn spiral and the house hardening are ours.

Materials

1

Tools Required

20

CC0 Public Domain

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