Machine Tools

[terryg]

After KiwiGF's post I'll own up to having a TIG setup, too.

Had it for just 2 years and now wouldn't give it up. Increases the range of possible DIY stuff enormously.
It's AC/DC, so good for ally too.

[Topdad]

Re  Jools question , I'd say to torture anybody foolish enough to try to steal any of his bikes 

[Greybeard]

...What is it? but what do I use it for?

I believe that is a Mark II Transmogrifier

http://calvinandhobbes.wikia.com/wiki/Transmogrifier

[RichardL]

My 1940's maybe older little Southbend lathe, I could not have built my bike up without it. It can cut imperial threads 

Travelled a long way. Made about 120 miles from where I live and made it to NZ.

Richard L.

[danma]

 My Richmond mill started life as a horizontal job , but was modded to take a bridgeport head  by a firm I used to work for.

 I paid £150 [bargain] for it but have spent many times that on tooling since. It is just like bikes -never ending.
 It was recently overhauled, has a nice plate screwed on it saying so  dated Dec 1953.

 It must weigh over a ton and even dismantled is not easy to move. When carting the main body home in a nissan people carrier I had Tim tailgate me home to try and hide the reconfigured rear suspension and scraping exhaust system.It never drove quite the same after that.

 The Harrison lathe was another bargain at £100 and came with a bit of tooling including two 8 inch chucks. Has a nice long bed  .

 I could not imagine life without either--the possibilities are endless. I just dont like finding swarf in the bed at 3 am.

[tinu]

I got my old Arboga vertical mill from my neighbour... 300 kilo of swedish heavy metal. it solved some problems, I don't know how I could have done without, not only with the bike.

[Joolstacho]

Richard sussed it! (Jools' mystery machine).
The machine is actually a TAPER GRINDER, used for grinding tapered shafts etc. I adapted it to shape guitar necks which require a slightly tapering D shaped section.The whole bed traverses left to right, but it also pivots about it's centre, which gives the taper. A cross-slide holds the grinder, or in my case, a router, and this traverses in and out to machine the work.

I found the machine abandoned when a factory closed down so it cost me nothing, (though it's a massive weight, it was no fun getting it to my workshop).

Jools

[Greybeard]

You guys are very lucky to have these lovely machines and somewhere to use them. I'm envious.
I have a nice set of files and a bench vice!! I also have an air compressor and tools, a woodworking Jig Saw, a chop saw, a decent press drill and a MIG welder, (used to have Oxy Acetyline equipment). Over the years I've managed to cobble together some clever stuff using simple tools.

[KiwiGF]

My 1940's maybe older little Southbend lathe, I could not have built my bike up without it. It can cut imperial threads 

Travelled a long way. Made about 120 miles from where I live and made it to NZ.

Richard L.

Yes Richard, odd isn't it, being so far from home, and so old, I bought it at an auction resulting from a firm making wood burners and fires closing down, its had a hard life and it is difficult to get it to do accurate work, the cross slide is very poor, it was a high quality machine when new, I would be better off with a modern machine but it matches the bike in many ways  :-)

[kiwipom]

hi guys, KiwiGF, ( its had a hard life and it is difficult to get it to do accurate work, the cross slide is very poor) just right then for working on our old machines of not to fine a tolerance or measurements, ha-ha

[RichardL]

Inspired by my fellow members, I'm thinking I should pick up this little beauty for turning new cam bushes.

OK, maybe not, but I'm looking forward to seeing more of your machine tool pictures. Got 'em?

Richard L.

[Greybeard]

Inspired by my fellow members, I'm thinking I should pick up this little beauty for turning new cam bushes.

OK, maybe not, but I'm looking forward to seeing more of your machine tool pictures. Got 'em?

Richard L.

Great little model makers lathe!

[RichardL]

Guys,
 
My ststus for having the use of machine tools has changed pretty dramatcally.

Recently, my wife told about a concept out there called "makerspace". I looked into it and found one pretty close to me. Basically, it is a DIY shop with tools to die for. It has a wood shop, graphics shop, and metal shop, all with 2D and 3D capability. Also has an electronics shop and some other stuff. Operates on a membership basis, weekly monthly or yearly. For the hobbies I have (read, "BSA") this place is going to be great.

I've been spreading the word out to my friends and neighbors who might appreciate this place and, maybe, help keep it viable as a business. I went to their open house today and won a raffle for a free class (granted, there was probably ony 10 tickets in the jar.)

I've attached a few pictures.

Richard L.

make-it-here.com

[muskrat]

You lucky bugga. That's my idea of heaven.
Taking orders are we?
Cheers

[WozzA]

Kind of like a mensshed concept  http://mensshed.org/what-is-a-mens-shed/  with cool tools..