Mill/Lathe

[Dan]

I couldn't beleve the weather on the national news for you folks down that way.

Am sitting in my shop with a roaring fire just out side the door. Old gas froze thick and didn't want to light. Doing paper work in pencil 'cause all the ink pens are froze up.

As is I. I iz.


but we are supposed to be froze up, up here. I'm wearing full Carhartts, 2 sweat shirts, 2 hoods, one wrap around and a hat. Teheeee

 

[Tinsmith]

It's around 22 degrees here with a lot of wind but I'm not in the shop tonight. Will start the old wood stove in the morning to get the chill off. Hope to get some time out there later in the week. Climate Change has arrived!

Other Dan

 

[Greg58]

Its 23.9° here in middle Ga. The news tonight said this will set a new record for the lowest high temp on this date of 36° ( does my wording confuse anyone else but me?)

 

[Dan]

LOL, Greg. The wording thing.

Here on El Rancho del Poco, any time carol or I have trouble forming a sentence or under standing each other, the correct statement is "Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth!?"

The reply is "Don't no body understand the words coming out of your mouth"

 

[Tinsmith]

I'm usually confused so I understand completely!

Dan

 

[Dan]

Har, LOL Dan!

Me too some times on but always on days ending in Y, some times

 

[DaveC]

I'm very close to getting a mill/drill/lathe here pretty soon I have a small inheritance coming in next month. Because I'm on SSI I have to convince Social Security that a used tool is not a resource. When your on SSI there's a $2000 Resource limit. I can have a place to live (30 foot travel Trailer) a car any value (Freightliner Sprinter, cargo van). I consider a "resource" to be cash, gold and silver, jewelry, stocks & bonds, things like that. Tools are not a resource. I did manage to convince them that music equeptmtnt isn't a resource and they agreed, it is a tool.

I had my eye on a real nice used ENCO I think it is on eBay but of course it sold. I'd rather have a better brand than the HF one, I can't save the money, it would put me over the limit and I don't cheat on this. I absolutely can not work doing anything like I used to and the benefits paying for my drugs are almost higher than what I get to "live" on.

 

[Dan]

Dave, I can't say this strongly enough, it is a cool thing to have! Northern tool has the exact HF one for $1500. Sold under a different name and color. And is in inches not mm.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_7171_7171 Paid $800 at HF when it got discontinued.

The thing about em is ya really have to figure in the cost of tools for the tool. So far, has cost me at least $500 just for tools. Then there is the raw materials.

Still, so, so worth it! Craigslist is your friend.

Mine is more than enough for what I do now but will be buying a dedicated mill as soon as I can make some money with this 3-in-one. Just sayin'. But to make one of a kinds here and there, this is a great choice.

But even if you have to wait a bit, a perfect situation might be a hobbyist who got board but will include something similar with all the odds and ends you will need to do anything.

Just looked on clist and there is a CNC, commercial mill for $1800 here. I'd be calling right now if I had the $ stashed, lol.

Just some thoughts & IMVHO, but would look around. With patients, can do really well within your constraints.

=========

Man, know what you mean about the meds, Brodder. Mine cost 3X what I make a month, a month. And one is (as of last week) no longer covered by my insurance. Just crazy.

 

[Dan]

Forgot to say and an after thought but out of the box/crate, the tool post is all but useless on that machine. So figure another hundred bucks right there.

I replaced mine with one from Little Machine shop, with this;

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3048&category=

 

[DaveC]

I did a search on this but got nothing so...

I've been watching several small shop machinists on youtube. These guys are good. Keith Fenner runs Turn Wright Machine Shop, a one man job shop that specializes in everything as a good machinist should. Very best thing is he shares his knowledge without talking down to you, setting up weird tutorials, or really push product on you. He does sell a pink sweat shirt with the shop name but that's more of a goof Then there Abom79. Adam Booth is a 3rd generation machinist who has made everything from the tiniest parts to repairing immense hydraulic rams at his job. The guy is so into it it's his job, side job, and hobby Tom Lipton oxtool is another, he can be a bit of a joker at times. He once sent Adam a 4 jaw chuck for his Monarch lathe, welded up in an 1/8" aluminum box....Adam had to cut it open on the mill so as not to ruin anything. The chuck was undamaged and Adam had an aluminum box to go with it. I think Adam was a bit bent out of shape at first then he got into the humor of the situation Keith Rucker shares his spare time at the Georgia Museum of Steam and his small shop at home. He's mainly been restoring a wood plane that runs off shaft drive pulleys that are driven by their stationary steam engine. He also maintains the small steam locomotive they have.

But if you're going to watch any of these it's Keith Fenner. He is among the very best machinists in the country as far as I'm concerned with Adam Booth a close 2nd...no that's not right, a close parallel but all 4 are worth watching. I guarantee you will learn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvcY4lSEqGo&list=UUDmxnPem-pPfJQATIkfgY2Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYgzOf8R95c&list=UUw3UZn1tcVe7pH3R6C3Gcng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lwccjdr5Pg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGws9QKhYbI&list=TL8tx9MK3zJ1w

These guy otta keep you occupied for the winter

 

[Dan]

Search on which, Dave? Tool post, used machines?

Last night I headed back to the house and found an ENCO catalog waiting for me on the porch. YAY!

But going through it page by page, (took hrs) it had some really cool 3-in-ones. One came with some goodies. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=525&PMITEM=328-1308 The one I was thinking would be an option is not on the web site ;(

The thing about QCTPs (quick change tool posts) aside from the quick part of swapping tools is it also makes it very easy to adjust the height of the tool. Makes life so much easier.

Awesome and thanks for posting those links. Exciting time to live. Buy some tools, watch some vids and ya can make any thing.

My favorite thought about a 3-in-one machines is it is a machine that you can make another one with.

 

[DaveC]

Ok, that's just not fair. That lathe/mill is worth every dime, my problem is I need to find it used Part of the weird laws and rules SSI makes you live by. A new lathe is an asset and has to be sold but a used one is a tool and they don't consider a tool that the can only be sold for a quarter of it worth or less then they don't bother and it doesn't count against your Resource limit What sucks is there WAS one on eBay like the smallest one for about a grand buy-it-now.

Search on the videos, I thought maybe someone had already posted about this. I'm not kidding, I think watching these guys is like getting an apprenticeship with some of the best. Not a CNC in sight but Keith Fenner did put together a PlasmaCAM, a computer driven plasma cutter. Another great thing is they will answer your questions.

I have a couple of projects for them. Keith Fenner and Abom both take mail-in work because they do video on it. It's the variety of projects that's amazing. I talked with Fenner about keyways and which kind is stronger cut, the end cutter kind or the horizontal mill cut. Horizontal mill cut is stronger and what he uses in the 1.5" 350 pound boat shafts he builds.

 

[Dan]

OH! My Bad, Dave. I thought the constraint was just the $, cap. LOL, I'd cheat and have some one buy it, then buy it from them.

I in no way mean the kits but there are some amazing DIY mills and lathes. Never looked for vids for that but has to be some. Really not hard. Motor to make a chuck spin on an adjustable bed. Can graduate via a formula the exact amount of movement per turn /revolution. Or just use a dial indicator which you'd want any way.

There is a build here (any one remember and have a link?) Guy built all these great tools in his kitchen from parts. Then built a MB that was featured in a magazine.

Dunno. Really feel for ya with the needing a tool and not having it.

I meant it big time. Thanks (from many of us, I'm sure) for those links and they sound great. Learned a ton about this, welding, building my shop. Just amazes me what available. This one is pretty awesome, too; http://motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?t=56955

My Saturday night is planned around checking out the links you gave. (TY again!)

Tonight, I got comped tickets to the "The MOuTH" show in Hartford!! Am excited. Is on NPR and really cool. I wanna submit stories but always forget.

http://www.museumtix.com/venueinfo/...id=2222646&evd=4/11/2014&evt=19:30:00&pvt=mth

 

[WECSOG]

I have been thinking about this for yrs but following that model, buy an old mill or factory and get folks from all trades to rent a space or just chip in and do for profit projects and help each other make cool stuff. Kind of a fantasy but I live in CT and old and abandoned mills are every other odd mile on any river.

LOL, "tinker-er's paradise" or socialist workers' paradise?


But really, how cool would that be!?

Google "Hackerspace."

 

[Dan]

Howdy WECSOG.

Am a huge fan and been following for years. There's one pretty close by.

 

[WECSOG]

Yep. On the very next page I saw your mention of it.
Great thread btw; I'm slowly working my way through it. I have a mini mill, mini lathe and 9 x 20 lathe. Also HF band saw and a couple drill presses. I'm thinking about selling the 9 x 20 and buying a 10 x 22, primarily because of its larger spindle bore.

 

[Dan]

I forgot to say welcome to the forum, WECSOG!

 

[Dan]

Yep. On the very next page I saw your mention of it.
Great thread btw; I'm slowly working my way through it. I have a mini mill, mini lathe and 9 x 20 lathe. Also HF band saw and a couple drill presses. I'm thinking about selling the 9 x 20 and buying a 10 x 22, primarily because of its larger spindle bore.

Bummer you and Dave weren't closer. Just figures. Lots of folks here, from down your way. Think some one would snap em up in the swap shop section.

LOL, I was trying to remember where those links were. 2 funny.

Your nickname is great! Had to google it.

 

[WECSOG]

Thanks! I didn't originate it, but it certainly describes some of my endeavors.

 

[FFV8]

Dremel flute much?