Machinists ?

[DanStokes]

Re: Machinists ?

One of the worst parts of retirement is that I no longer have access to Lennie, the guy who ran the shop at EPA. We were not allowed to do any personal work at the lab, but he had a beautiful shop at his house with a lathe, big Bridgeport, and almost anything else you could name. It also had Lennie, who knew how to run all this stuff perfectly. I did a little work on the Bridgeport at work for work projects and loved it, but I never learned how to correctly determine cutting speeds, feed rates, etc. I was on the Do-All band saw a LOT and would die a happy man to have one of those in the shop.

Dan

[squirrel]

Re: Machinists ?

When the kids are building the robot (Jan-Feb), I get to spend some time in the IEWTD fab shop on Ft Huachuca, not a real big one but they have a mill, old Do-All, Rotex punch, brake, shear, etc. Fun stuff

[Bornfree]

Re: Machinists ?

Hello Junkies!
I thought I'd say Hi, I'm a new member and I am also a certified Fitter Machinist, and Mill Wright too, but I now sit at a desk as a custom machine Applications Engineer, (they pay me for what I know, not what I can do). I too have grownup in a machineshop, welding and fabricating since a child, Dad's home shop was and is, well stocked, and as pointed out by others here, if I can't design and make it, I don't need it. I enjoy taking weak OE parts and redoing them for strength, performance and looks. I have a website of one of my project cars, a 66' Chevy II, there are many custom bits used throughout this car, most of them done only because I could, it's a hobby, just like going to play golf or pickup hockey. There are many pictures yet to be uploaded, as I have progressed into the build a little further since last updated. Check it out, and post here some of your cool components, I look forward to sharing knowledge here at this site.

P.S. Thanks D.F., you are an icon in this Hot Rod industry!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2503437/1

[CudaZappa]

Re: Machinists ?

I think I do ok... right out of high school I started "interning" at a job shop that during my college years became my full time job, and now career. Right now I'm foreman of the Assembly dept. But in the past 8 years I've run most every machine there. Manual lathes and milling centers, as well as there CNC counterparts, Water Jet, Laser, OD grind and surface grind. Past weeks I've been making some bushings for a bunch of Mopar guys, but also when I need stuff done, I'll show up an hour early and fab something up. I'm notorious for bringing in parts (particularly rims), and now the shop floor manager wants to start doing it, too! I'm such a bad influence...

[6pakdakota]

Re: Machinists ?

ive got some experience with a lathe and vertical mill. i wouldnt say im good at using them, but i get buy.
these things are amazing though. cant wait to get some of my own.

[FastmOp]

Re: Machinists ?

I have done tool and die work for a long time, have a bridgeport and working on getting a lathe.

[Kurt]

Re: Machinists ?

I went to tech school for machining when I was in High School. Attended 2 semesters of Machining at Ranken Tech and worked part time at a shop before being deployed. I've done work with lathes, mills, presses. Done setup and operation on a few CNC's.

[RacerRick]

Re: Machinists ?

Once or twice a year I take courses at the local community college. The last few have been in relation to my job (Checkpoint admin cert, Citrix admin cert) but the one coming up in january is - Introduction to Bodywork 101. I could care less about this course but I need it to get the courses I want - metal fabrication and machine work.

We have a small verical mill at the shop and I have no idea how to use it...

[henny496]

Re: Machinists ?

I am a tool and die maker. The reason I became a toolmaker was so I would know how to run the machinery for my car I was building at the time
Back then, you could work on your own stuff after hours. Near the end of that deal I had a moly frame up on the top of a die rack that I would pull down and weld on weekends
It is different now, but I have my own lathe, arc and tig welder, nice drill press and I am just hooking up a mill that I have had for a while
I had dreams of doing lots of work for others, but I think now it may come in handier when I retire as a small odd job machine shop
I have made quite a bit of stuff and learning how to do it old school in the beginning comes in handy now when everyone thinks it has to be CNC'd
Old school teaches guys how to make stuff in your garage and do a good job of it
Tom

[Eric68]

Re: Machinists ?

I have done cool stuff with just a MIG welder and an angle grinder LOL Does that count?

Seriously, my last home machining attempt was cutting down a crank mandrel (for a vac pump). I chucked it up in my drill press with a bolt through the center and used a mill file to cut it down a little. It worked for a season but always had this little wobble to it. So I took it to the machine shop this week for my machinist friend to fix -- he told me my work only had 17 thou of run-out . . . oops. :o

For now, I'll leave the 'chinist work to the 'chinists. ;D

[wikd69]

Re: Machinists ?

Hello Junkies!
I thought I'd say Hi, I'm a new member and I am also a certified Fitter Machinist, and Mill Wright too, but I now sit at a desk as a custom machine Applications Engineer, (they pay me for what I know, not what I can do). I too have grownup in a machineshop, welding and fabricating since a child, Dad's home shop was and is, well stocked, and as pointed out by others here, if I can't design and make it, I don't need it. I enjoy taking weak OE parts and redoing them for strength, performance and looks. I have a website of one of my project cars, a 66' Chevy II, there are many custom bits used throughout this car, most of them done only because I could, it's a hobby, just like going to play golf or pickup hockey. There are many pictures yet to be uploaded, as I have progressed into the build a little further since last updated. Check it out, and post here some of your cool components, I look forward to sharing knowledge here at this site.

P.S. Thanks D.F., you are an icon in this Hot Rod industry!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2503437/1

Just checked out your website - you really do beautiful work - I'm trying to get back to a point where I can fab more stuff - been out of practice for quite a number of years, but at one time I worked as a millwright and machinist, did industrial electric work, diesel and general mechanic, you name it. Grew in up a family logging and sawmill business so you get to both run the equipment and work on it when it breaks. You know the story Anyway, I got out of the business a long time ago, got into computers and software, etc., and have not had occasion to do much wrenching and fab work until the last few years when I got back into hotrods. Now I'm painfully re-acquiring the tools and whatnot I need to become halfway effective in building stuff. I bought a new plasma cutter, a new Miller wire machine, and a bunch of stuff I needed in my recent motor overhaul. I'm thinking I'll pick up a new TIG machine next, and I've been looking at the little combo lathe / vertical mills they're selling. They run somewhere in the $2,000 to $3,000 range are limited in what you can do with them. Forget surfacing a flywheel or doing any heavy work, but they might be handy for those little small parts you just can't seem to find anywhere.

Thats another thing; parts and equipment shops. The world is overrun with Kragens and Autozone and Checker stores and it's getting dang hard to find combo parts house / machine shops like there used to be. The Walmart phenom has hit that trade, and it's pretty sad.

Anyway, just wanted to compliment you on your work. Wish I had access to all the cool hardware you have there. I'm probably a little rusty, but I want to get back into the swing of running the mill and turning stuff on the lathe. May Mama will let me spend some money on that this next year And I'd *kill* to get my hands on a CNC mill or water jet machine (drooool).....

Harry
Rocklin, CA

[sawracer]

Re: Machinists ?

I bought a bridgeport and a sheldon lathe this month. I also have a home foundry. I am officially a "MADE" gearhead. My only limit is my imagination now. Machine tools are a one time big expense that are totally worth it in my opinion.

[KeithTurk]

Re: Machinists ?

Tell us about your foundry... matter of fact... I might start a thread on that... always been a fasination of mine...

Keith

[ADV1]

Re: Machinists ?

My family (Particularly on my mom's side) have all been very invloved in machining... I didn't get into it right away like some of the others as I had different plans on my mind and went the engineering route and am now back dooring myself into machining. As a result I get the privleged opportunity to sell some of the best CNC equipement in the world! and yes, I can say that... My company sells high end equipment and it is simply amazing to me some the things we can do with them.

In fact, John (Blu65Ramb) is one of my customers... that's how I met him and some other guys who are EXTREMELY talented in this field... It's a terrific job and I get to see some really neat applications. That and I get to meet people like John who share other passions with me like cars and so for a guy like myself who really gets into this type of stuff it really is a Dream Job.

With that said, I am keeping my eye out for my own manual lathe and manual mill for my own shop... I am lucky as I do have some customers out there who can help me with some more complicated stuff but I want to learn to do it on my own with my own machines for that "Pride Factor"

[Lobucrod]

Re: Machinists ?

Ive got a pretty old Atlas 10x54 lathe with the quickchange gear head. It's one of the tools I wouldn't think of parting with. Dont use it much but it sure saves me some money when I do get to use it.