Mill/Lathe

LOL Greg and Map.

Note to self; use the "shoe card" (not gonna work with my plan to buy a used school bus, convert it to a camper and weld it to a self propelled barge but hey)
 
My wife was, at first, incredulous as to why I needed a scroll saw. I explained some of the various and sundry things it could do. I could tell she was softening up, but wasn't there yet. So I then told her it would also help me do welding.
"Welding?" she repeated, looking over the top of her glasses.
Yes, I explained, because the guy down the street from us expressed an interest in borrowing the scroll saw and, in return, agreed to let me borrow his old stick welder to practice with once he doesn't need it on his site. A man's access to tools is very often greater than the amount of tools he, himself, actually owns. Tools are sometimes like "Man Money", or "Man Collateral"; when you don't need the certain tool at that precise moment, you can trade it to a trusted neighbor in barter for a tool you need. Thus, you expand your "Usable Tool Base".
I'll never quite be able to interpret that next look she gave me. But at least she didn't say anything else.
 
A/W its funny how that works, one of the men I work with has borrowed my utility trailer several times to move and for use around his place. He last week bought a tractor with bucket and box blade and offered it to me to use anytime I need it. Sometimes helping others with things comes back to you in a good way.
 
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Allen_Wrench said:
My wife was, at first, incredulous as to why I needed a scroll saw. I explained some of the various and sundry things it could do. I could tell she was softening up, but wasn't there yet. So I then told her it would also help me do welding.
"Welding?" she repeated, looking over the top of her glasses.
Yes, I explained, because the guy down the street from us expressed an interest in borrowing the scroll saw and, in return, agreed to let me borrow his old stick welder to practice with once he doesn't need it on his site. A man's access to tools is very often greater than the amount of tools he, himself, actually owns. Tools are sometimes like "Man Money", or "Man Collateral"; when you don't need the certain tool at that precise moment, you can trade it to a trusted neighbor in barter for a tool you need. Thus, you expand your "Usable Tool Base".
I'll never quite be able to interpret that next look she gave me. But at least she didn't say anything else.
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LOL Allen, you are the master!


There is an old farm in our happy little village. (oddly enough, referred to as "the Farm") Now it is partitioned out and the renters are a welder, a mechanic, a hot rod guy and almost every trade is represented.

The really cool thing is as you said, not only do these guys and one elderly Chinese woman freely share their tools, they also do odds and ends work for each other. Most incredibly cool, teach each other tricks of their trades.

It is really cool to hang out with these folks, always some thing to learn, contemplate or do. For our motorized bicycle thing, it is of an incredible wealth of knowledge and a "tool room"

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!?
 
Greg58 said:
A/R its funny how that works, one of the men I work with has borrowed my utility trailer several times to move and for use around his place. He last week bought a tractor with bucket and box blade and offered it to me to use anytime I need it. Sometimes helping others with things comes back to you in a good way.
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Big time Greg, fer sure.

Before the "pay it forward" concept and movie was so popular, I had a thing about "return a favor before its owed"

9 times out of 10, it greatly comes back to good for you. The one thing that gets folks dismissing the pay it forward sort of thing is the 10th time and getting burned and/or insulted.

Is human nature and I am most certainly guilty but 100 folks can be kind to you on yer way to work but all I remember is the guy who cut me off and flipped me the bird.

People are crazy and we are just some of them. (hehe, roses are red, violets are blue. I'm schizophrenic and so am I)
 
Welcome to the brotherhood Dan. As 2Door said, not a big fan of HF machinery.
You need to learn basics like: Tramming in the vise or angle plate or what ever you have set up on the table. You will need to know basic math, and some geometry and trigonometry too. You will need a couple of magnetic bases and dial indicators, a .0005 test indicator and a indicoil. Do you have a tooling kit? If not you will need collets and a drill chuck, some end mills, machine wrenches, and a strap set to get started.
Never climb mill (your not experienced enough) always cut with your tool cutting towards and into the work surface, pushing against the cut.
When moving to a desired stationary location always move the table and saddle dials in a clockwise direction even if you have to pass the location in a counter clockwise direction and come back to it in a clockwise direction. This will help keep the table and saddle from jumping when your cutting tool makes contact with the work surface.
Use the table, saddle, and head locks to secure your location or to create a little drag in the movement. There is no need to torque down on the lock levers. Just a little push should do. Keep your machine clean and lubricated, don't over load it and it will last you a life time.
Keep your fingers and face out of the cutting area. Remove all jewelry. If you have long hair tie it back and wear short sleeves. Let the tool do the cutting forcing it will only wear it out faster. Use a water soluble coolant when cutting and drilling. I use a squirt bottle. Your mill may be mini but it will cut through flesh and bone like warm butter... Believe it!
There is so much to learn. If you have access to any applicable adult education programs in your community I strongly erg you to take classes. I am a tool maker with over 30 years of experience and I learn new tricks and tips all the time.
Should you need any assistance (and you will) PM me any time.
 
I was once told don't lend your mower, your missus or your tools, they'll come back f***ed.
I only have one 'brother' that I lend tools to.
I recently 'hired' an old mower to an old friend, and was having to do a few repairs when I got it back.
The guy I left my cement mixer with when my house burnt down and I had to leave town, don't wan't to give it back!
My advice on lending tools, is don't do it unless you have a new one and didn't really want the old one anymore.
 
When I have no access to a mill or lathe, I perform small miracles with an angle grinder and a drill press ;)

And never underestimate the power of a Dremel tool laff
 
I bought an angle grinder at HF a few years back for about $15, not really knowing what I would do with it. It has become one of my most used tools! I really think I need two so I won't have to keep swapping from the cutting disc the grinding disc. :)

Speaking of angle grinders and drill presses, I often use both at the same time.

Another useful little tool is a tile saw with a grinding disc in it instead of a diamond blade. It makes nice straight/precise cuts.
 
Always looking for the down-side of things...I see two possible problems with all this talk of trading skills and borrowing tools... If it gets too popular, the government will tax it, then regulate it to death. Then, insurance companies will require you to either sign a waiver or add it to your policy with fees. It's the world we live in!
 
I have most of what I need, and can often make do for the rest so I haven't really checked it out or used it yet myself (haven't had a need to) but there's a place here... check this out:

http://vancouvertoollibrary.com/

If I ever do a clean out of surplus I might send things there... like some of the 7 or 8 claw hammers I seem to have...
 
My father is involved with a 'Men's Shed' a Christian run volunteer workshop, I go along with him when I'm down there.
It is mostly Donated tools and supplies, and a great opportunity for the less fortunate as well as those that like to help. If there is anything similar locally, this is a great place to leave unwanted tools. I go just to help others, as I have most of the tools I need already, and between my one mate I do share tools with, we can accomplish most things.
I'm all for sharing, just carefull with my tools as they are my lively hood.
 
Wow, some great posts.

This is doubly apropos to the thread and where the conversation led. This guy was interested in machining as a hobby, so he went to/joined " University of Akron, as part of the Formula SAE program (lots of fun!), and loved it. Since I discovered and joined TechShop I suddenly have access to things like vertical mills and lathes again, meaning I need to knock the rust off my skills. :)"

Cool little project; http://www.instructables.com/id/An-Aluminum-Burr-Puzzle/?ALLSTEPS

This is cool and just adding to above posts; http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/Hackerspaces
 
massdrive said:
Welcome to the brotherhood Dan. As 2Door said, not a big fan of HF machinery.
You need to learn basics like: Tramming in the vise or angle plate or what ever you have set up on the table. You will need to know basic math, and some geometry and trigonometry too. You will need a couple of magnetic bases and dial indicators, a .0005 test indicator and a indicoil. Do you have a tooling kit? If not you will need collets and a drill chuck, some end mills, machine wrenches, and a strap set to get started.
Never climb mill (your not experienced enough) always cut with your tool cutting towards and into the work surface, pushing against the cut.
When moving to a desired stationary location always move the table and saddle dials in a clockwise direction even if you have to pass the location in a counter clockwise direction and come back to it in a clockwise direction. This will help keep the table and saddle from jumping when your cutting tool makes contact with the work surface.
Use the table, saddle, and head locks to secure your location or to create a little drag in the movement. There is no need to torque down on the lock levers. Just a little push should do. Keep your machine clean and lubricated, don't over load it and it will last you a life time.
Keep your fingers and face out of the cutting area. Remove all jewelry. If you have long hair tie it back and wear short sleeves. Let the tool do the cutting forcing it will only wear it out faster. Use a water soluble coolant when cutting and drilling. I use a squirt bottle. Your mill may be mini but it will cut through flesh and bone like warm butter... Believe it!
There is so much to learn. If you have access to any applicable adult education programs in your community I strongly erg you to take classes. I am a tool maker with over 30 years of experience and I learn new tricks and tips all the time.
Should you need any assistance (and you will) PM me any time.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mass. I really do appreciate it. Last year, I took a course. No kidding, hardest thing I have ever done and it was a blast. (and I spent 16 years at sea. This was harder) LOL, they updated the web site and this is the folks I went to school with; http://www.mcc.commnet.edu/continuing/manufacturing/precision-machining.php

Is funny, I am 4 years, college edgumacated and $20,000 into making that bushing and still, STILL ain't made the dam thing that could be bought for less then 5 bucks!! lol

Carol; "well, you are committed" Think she meant more that I should be.
 
$20,000 bushing Dan? lol - I know that feel ;)

I miss having lathe access terribly, it's just one of those tools that it seems the more you use it - the more you will use it, in the height of my tinkering it felt like I needed (or wanted) a reason to chuck some bit or another in & give it a whirl, no matter what the project may be.

As you've mentioned bushings, I figured you might like this lil set - at the time I wasn't even sure it was something I needed to do, rather another excuse to play with the lathe. As my suspension project was going to be subject to far greater loads & speeds then the bicycle components were designed for, I grabbed a chunk of old prop shaft and spun a new set to replace the walmart plastic;



Sad to say, that lathe is no more - a bit tired & tattered to begin with there wasn't any more budget or time allotted for it's maintenance & repair after the foreman quit (for very similar reasons), I continued to care for & use it as best I was able, but when the motor quit and the only person "inconvenienced" was the 'puter guy in his off hours (me ofc) - it was decided a lathe wasn't needful in a fabrication shop... I know right? lol

I can't seem to find a better, complete pic of the thing - but here's most of it behind the Rollfast it also helped build (vintage shouldered bolts & whatnot);




...may the good lathe rust in peace *bows head*
 
BarelyAWake said:
$20,000 bushing Dan? lol

...may the good lathe rust in peace *bows head*
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No kidding BA, I have dreams about starting a thread that is titled, "the $20,000 bushing is done" (it was 17K and is still expletive rising!) Snork. Think it is more, now it is a thing and just want this quest over and done with.
Be a great movie. "if you build it, no one will care that much" lol, needs work.


Man! that is horribly sad about the lathe. (book idea) Could you imagine what has been made on it over the years and what those parts & pieces ended up doing or effected? Har, really could be a O'henry or King novel. "The evil Lathe" Makes bushings but damns yer soul.... Or a Disney version; "Herbie the love Lathe" A 1960s rockus comedy about a boy and his dreams of becoming a champion machinist and is helped along the way by a lathe that magically comes to life.....

LOL I should find a 12 step program or a hobby. Wait, I really can't afford another hobby.
 
Dan said:
Man! that is horribly sad about the lathe. (book idea) Could you imagine what has been made on it over the years and what those parts & pieces ended up doing or effected? Har, really could be a O'henry or King novel. "The evil Lathe" Makes bushings but damns yer soul.... Or a Disney version; "Herbie the love Lathe" A 1960s rockus comedy about a boy and his dreams of becoming a champion machinist and is helped along the way by a lathe that magically comes to life...
Click to expand...

Well, as that particular tool never demanded a blood sacrifice of me and seemed to happily aid in tinkering toys I'd go with the Disney version on this 'un... although from time to time it was known to throw a chuck key across the room in a fit of frustration caused by it's silly, forgetful operator - but it really couldn't be blamed for such :p


Moto... this is Maine tho... hmm...
 
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