Just wondering if there are any machinists on here or people with home shops?

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/Irnmike/IMG_1484.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/Irnmike/IMG_1655.jpg

I have a small shop and do side jobs with it. Mainly prototypes for the guitar world.

Have a pistol repair shop and reloading equiptment... As a hobby (glock armorer).. We have a lot of friends into sport pistol shooting and competion shooting! Takes the edge off of working on cars!!

Nice shop.:thumbsup: I have a 42" knee mill , and a 9" lathe and 18" band saw. but they are manual machines. It is so nice to be able to make what I need when I need it. It seems the stores never have what I need and I can spend more time trying to find it than just making it. You know when the window roller goes bad on the camaro and you need the pin to hold the new one on and ten minutes later it is back together. I have also made model engines, and many tools for the Camaro. and lots of little things for general home repair:)
TTFN
Mat

My mill is a Lagun FTV-2 10X50 and the lathe is a Victor 16X50.
Only problem with a home shop is that you become project headquarters for all your neighbors projects. Nothing wrong with helping somebody out though.

Machinist 34 years
Machine Shop Instructor 6 years

2 CNC Hass machines Lathe & Mill
3 Bridgeport MILLS
7 Lathes
1 CMMS Brown & Sharp

Working on auto projects everyday

Dang I wish I had the room for something like that in my Garage! I took some automotive classes at a local Junior College learnt how do engine machining, blueprinted my own block.

Nice setup!

Machinist 34 years
Machine Shop Instructor 6 years

2 CNC Hass machines Lathe & Mill
3 Bridgeport MILLS
7 Lathes
1 CMMS Brown & Sharp

Working on auto projects everyday

Now that's serious!!!!!!! I wish I could do it full time, but I just started 2 years ago and just don't have the business yet. I've been a machinist for 20 years, but always punched a time clock.

Started machining in 1984. Quit my last Job in 1998. Actually, started my home shop in 1993. Pulled dual duty until 98. Have been building fixtures, oilfield parts, feed mill parts, slot machine parts, etc. etc. etc. I do a lot of one of a kind items and prototypes. I have a Lion 16x40 lathe, a Sharp 1340E lathe. Victor 10 x 54 knee mill. Supermax CNC knee mill 9x 49, Goodway 16" CNC lathe, Feeler hand machine (lathe), and a Brown and Sharpe 6 x18 surface grinder. I am one man operation out on my 5 acres in a 30 x50 shop next to my house. And I have a 69 Camaro to restore! The best machine of all! Can I post pics with a free membership on this site?

cool shops and mills. i wish i could have something like those. i can only imagine the things i could make

Just wondering if there are any machinists on here or people with home shops?

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/Irnmike/IMG_1484.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/Irnmike/IMG_1655.jpg

I have a small shop and do side jobs with it. Mainly prototypes for the guitar world.

What kind of stuff do you make for guitars?

I make mostly prototype stuff. Like that is a mold base on my workbench for injection molding a new type of pick. I just delivered the sanding assembly this morning for making flat wound bass strings. I've made several types of new capo's, I've made a bunch of versions of the straploc quickrelease. Very interesting work. Everyday something new.

Mike

I did quite a bit of metal spraying and lathe stuff back in the 80s, and a bit of mill work.
I have a 1948 milford lathe...still in orginal condition thu the bed it a little tight at the far end... other than that everything is like new.
Dont use it much now but like a lot of stuff in the workshop, real handy to have to do the odd job.

It seems to be like the cobblers shoes though. I make lots of cool things for other people, but rarely for myself. Mostly just modifications.

mike,

Any advise for guitar lessons :D

I've always wanted to learn to play, but wasn't sure if lessons were worth it or if i should just buy some books and try.

Rob

Just learning the machine trade some at my part-time job at Penske Racing. Taking something totally different at the community college, now thinking of changing over to machinist trade instead. Brantly

now thinking of changing over to machinist trade instead.

A trade...a good tradesman is always in demand...its one of those things either you have it or you dont, like being able to draw...mind you the modern lathes etc are computer controlled which takes a lot of the craftsman stuff out.
A craftsman machinist, it doesnt take long for word to get around, can pull big money and always be in demand.
Over the last 40 yrs I know only 3 guys who I could put into this catorgory
1 did his 'time' up in the saw mills in Canada, came back to NZ in lare 60s, and now just potters around on specialist stuff in his own little business
2nd did his time in the 1950s in the British Royal Navy up in Scotland
3rd did his time in the 1980s in a engine machine shop, eventually took over .brought the bussiness of the boss when he died....hes the only guy who i get to do any head work..

Rockinrob--I've always wanted to learn also. Just never had time. A friend of mine is learning by books and is frustrated, but slowly getting there. I say if you have the time, go for it. I only do work for them because the shop they used before closed down. Then, their in-house machinist quit. So, I get all the work.

BK69--You can't go wrong with the machinist trade. The skills and concepts that you will learn will carry over into everything you do. You might check the job market in your area though. Because if your looking for a career it may be hard to find a job. Shops are closing every day.

Mike

I really enjoy it too Mike. It's hard work, but it's a niche profession that is needed. The really good manual machinist is very rare now. I do manual and CNC.

I have not done any automotive machining. The machinery is very dedicated. You can only really turn a crank, on a crank grinder, or bore a block with the special boring bar. One thing about it, machining the components for an engine is much more difficult than putting it together. And turning a customers crank or block into a boat anchor would be disaster.

I would think that it would engine machining would get boring. Correct me if i'm wrong, but don't they have dedicated machines and fixtures for almost everything? The fun in it for me is variety. Having to figure out how to make something every time. My apprenticeship was at a tool and die shop specializin in diesel head repair tools. After a while, we would have setups for all the common tools. I used to love it when a customer would walk through the door and want something made.

Mike

I have been a machinist / toolmaker for over 35 years. The manufacturing industry in the U.S. has changed much in the last 10-15 years.The job shop where I work used to employ over 20 people. Now 3 employees. I am not complaining because I have always been able to support my family comfortably, but the foreign competition has killed the
trade. I always try to buy U.S.A. made products, but is getting more difficult all the time.

There are very few schools that offer machining programs anymore and even fewer companies offering apprentice programs. I'll be 40 next month and I don't know a single machinist younger than me. Not looking good for the future of our trade.

I don't think it's necessarily bad for us. If you can do "one-offs" that work will always be around with very few people doing it. Essentially, they have replaced people with better, faster machines. That helps production facilities the most. It probably going to remain unfeasible to buy a 70k machine to do "one-offs". You buy the machine based on paying it off with production jobs. And yes, I think doing engines would get pretty boring after a few days.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/pro70z28/beadrollintercooler.jpg

Bead Roller

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/pro70z28/1ef12e26.jpg

4' Brake

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/pro70z28/c287091f.jpg

CNC Router

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/pro70z28/3636c974.jpg

9" Lathe

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/pro70z28/WeldingCamaro2-15-06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/pro70z28/3375853f.jpg

TIG, MIG, O/A Band Saw

One of those cheap drill press/mill combo deals, but it works good for certain things.

Planishing hammer, electric sheers, nibbler, meatal shrinker-stretcher & some misc. other hand tools for sheet metal work.

There will always be demand for hard work. Easy stuff, that might be another story.

Check this guy out I saw his Dueseberg at a show last week.He made this car from scratch pictures don't do it justice.

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Chenot.htm

I bet you could restore 10 Camaros in the time it took to build that model!

I saw that car a few years ago. It is a genuine work of art and passion.

TTFN
Mat

WOW!!! Talk about commitment. He defined it.

It is truly something to see.....

I like this guys little engine also
http://www.weberprecision.com/weberprecision1_008.htm

Watch the video

Here was my project for this weekend. It's not for the Camaro, but it was an interesting little prototype none the less.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/Irnmike/IMG_1689.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/Irnmike/IMG_1687.jpg

I got a small atlas lathe 12in swing 40 center to center,quick change,taper attachment.When I was in the army in nam we had a traveling machine shop.It was in a five ton truck towing a 10k generator to run it. Lablond lathe with versamill attachment,drill press,10ton press,and good assortment of tooling.It was cool.I bet the gook that has it now is still enjoying it.Where did the last 40 years go so fast.

Wow! The only damger I worry about is getting my sleeve caught in the lathe chuck.

Here was my project for this weekend. It's not for the Camaro, but it was an interesting little prototype none the less.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/Irnmike/IMG_1689.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/Irnmike/IMG_1687.jpg
OK what is it or if you tell you will probably have to kill me I guess.

I would guess that that took a little longer than the weekend. Nice work!


TTFN
Mat

It's a fixture for assembling injection molded parts. The rectangular piece at an angle is a magazine for holding dowel pins and there is a pin that slides back and forth to insert the pin into the part that is lying in the steel piece with the radius. It was 16hrs labor and $140 in materials (for the record). Those kind of jobs are fun. My project for the next few days is fab'ing a safety rail for a company that got gig'd by OSHA and is in a panic. (not so fun)

Looks like more than 16 hrs did you make this for some one.

I made it for a major guitar accessories company here in Northern Ca. I do almost all of their prototype and repair work. Four different engineers call me regularly, so it keeps me pretty busy. It took exactly 16 hrs to build. I quoted 17 plus material and ended up at 16.
Bonus for me

I got a small atlas lathe 12in swing 40 center to center,quick change,taper attachment.When I was in the army in nam we had a traveling machine shop.It was in a five ton truck towing a 10k generator to run it. Lablond lathe with versamill attachment,drill press,10ton press,and good assortment of tooling.It was cool.I bet the gook that has it now is still enjoying it.Where did the last 40 years go so fast.

Did you guys lose it in an ambush?

Mike, Since Jim Dunlop is a local guy, I bet you know or work for him. He's a great guy, real down to earth. I've stuck my hand in his bowl of pics a few times.

Bingo. Great people to work for.

Hey Fred, if you see me running around this summer--gimme a rev. That pic in my sig is from Foster Freeze last year on Chevy Night.


Mike

Will do!

No Joe.I left in march 70,I just assume it wasn't shipped back like so much other equipment we left behind.Last base I was at was Chu Lai about 50 miles south of DaNang I think it got overrun later that year.

No Joe.I left in march 70,I just assume it wasn't shipped back like so much other equipment we left behind.Last base I was at was Chu Lai about 50 miles south of DaNang I think it got overrun later that year.

My wife's uncle was a sniper. He was member of the MACV SOG. He told me some stories over a few beers and drinks. My wife and her sister know nothing of his past, and I would not tell them. He made some high profile shots in Cambodia. He told me of one mission where I think it was 12 of them got dropped off, and he was the only one to make it back, but shot 3 times. They got ambushed. Pretty wild stuff. I feel for him, because those days affect him today. He was kind of a victim of being a really good shot at age 18, therefore they wanted him for a sniper.