Comments for MachinistBlog.com http://www.machinistblog.com Machining and Metalworking for Hobbyists Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:59:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Honest – all I ever wanted to do was make some stuff … by Mikey http://www.machinistblog.com/honest-all-i-ever-wanted-to-do-was-make-some-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-4019 Mikey Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:59:21 +0000 http://www.machinistblog.com/?p=2347#comment-4019 Hi John/Cementtruck, Welcome to MachinistBlog! Thank you for your kind words. Its nice to know that there are other guys in the same situation - shop widow, too many interests to count, shop-time deficit, etc. Its also interesting that you go by the same moniker and your first name is my middle one! I think hobby machining is something us self-reliant types just fall into by default and I cannot think of anything that is as useful or as challenging. If making your own CNC machine is your way of dabbling in machining I would love to see you when you get serious! You might want to post it here so we can see it when you're done. Jump in, buddy, the waters fine!! Mikey Hi John/Cementtruck,
Welcome to MachinistBlog! Thank you for your kind words. Its nice to know that there are other guys in the same situation – shop widow, too many interests to count, shop-time deficit, etc. Its also interesting that you go by the same moniker and your first name is my middle one!

I think hobby machining is something us self-reliant types just fall into by default and I cannot think of anything that is as useful or as challenging. If making your own CNC machine is your way of dabbling in machining I would love to see you when you get serious! You might want to post it here so we can see it when you’re done.

Jump in, buddy, the waters fine!!

Mikey

]]> Comment on Honest – all I ever wanted to do was make some stuff … by Mikey http://www.machinistblog.com/honest-all-i-ever-wanted-to-do-was-make-some-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-4018 Mikey Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:18:12 +0000 http://www.machinistblog.com/?p=2347#comment-4018 Hi David, First, welcome to MachinistBlog! Sorry about not including a "must have" list of tools but it was more an introduction to the hobby. It might be best if we handle this discussion on the forum instead of in comments. That way anyone who wants to contribute, can. I'll think about a basic list of tools and tooling that will get you started and we can go from there. Will that work? Sign up as a member of MachinistBlog.com and you can post to the forum. See you there! Mikey Hi David,
First, welcome to MachinistBlog! Sorry about not including a “must have” list of tools but it was more an introduction to the hobby. It might be best if we handle this discussion on the forum instead of in comments. That way anyone who wants to contribute, can. I’ll think about a basic list of tools and tooling that will get you started and we can go from there. Will that work?

Sign up as a member of MachinistBlog.com and you can post to the forum. See you there!

Mikey

]]> Comment on Honest – all I ever wanted to do was make some stuff … by David Rysdam http://www.machinistblog.com/honest-all-i-ever-wanted-to-do-was-make-some-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-4017 David Rysdam Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:33:13 +0000 http://www.machinistblog.com/?p=2347#comment-4017 Great article and has re-ignited my interest. But once again I founder: There's a lot of help out there on how to pick a machine, but not much on what else is needed. You mention "tools" including measuring, but don't really give a comprehensive list. Obviously you can buy and buy and buy and never be done. But what is the minimum set of tools needed? And what dependencies do they have on each other? (i.e., if I find a bunch of reamers at the flea market that seem to be in good quality, should I get them even though I don't have a lathe yet? or will I need to know the frobnitz number of the lathe first?) Great article and has re-ignited my interest. But once again I founder: There’s a lot of help out there on how to pick a machine, but not much on what else is needed. You mention “tools” including measuring, but don’t really give a comprehensive list.

Obviously you can buy and buy and buy and never be done. But what is the minimum set of tools needed? And what dependencies do they have on each other? (i.e., if I find a bunch of reamers at the flea market that seem to be in good quality, should I get them even though I don’t have a lathe yet? or will I need to know the frobnitz number of the lathe first?)

]]> Comment on Honest – all I ever wanted to do was make some stuff … by Cementtruck http://www.machinistblog.com/honest-all-i-ever-wanted-to-do-was-make-some-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-4013 Cementtruck Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:44:21 +0000 http://www.machinistblog.com/?p=2347#comment-4013 Mikey, I too go by the same moniker and, oddly enough, share a lot of your hobbies and passions. Most of my yard equipment has been hand me downs that I've resurrected and saved from the landfill. I've made parts for them with simple shop tools and have always wished I had a mill/lathe combo. I've been on the verge of being a hobby machinist for a number of years and find your post both comforting, and scary at the same time. My wife is already a "Workshop Widow", and I fear that plunging myself into this hobby would make her even more so. I've been in the process of building a hobby CNC machine for the past few months and am down to the driver boards. I might have something worthwhile to show for my efforts by Oct or Nov (life keeps getting in the way). Found your blog via Makezine. Cheers my friend. Happy milling! ;) Mikey,

I too go by the same moniker and, oddly enough, share a lot of your hobbies and passions. Most of my yard equipment has been hand me downs that I’ve resurrected and saved from the landfill. I’ve made parts for them with simple shop tools and have always wished I had a mill/lathe combo.

I’ve been on the verge of being a hobby machinist for a number of years and find your post both comforting, and scary at the same time. My wife is already a “Workshop Widow”, and I fear that plunging myself into this hobby would make her even more so.

I’ve been in the process of building a hobby CNC machine for the past few months and am down to the driver boards. I might have something worthwhile to show for my efforts by Oct or Nov (life keeps getting in the way).

Found your blog via Makezine. Cheers my friend. Happy milling! ;)

]]> Comment on Plans: HMEM’s EZ Build Engine by Rob http://www.machinistblog.com/plans-hmems-ez-build-engine/comment-page-1/#comment-3836 Rob Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:53:26 +0000 http://www.machinistblog.com/?p=2747#comment-3836 It's a model steam engine, although for safety reasons most engines like this are run on compressed air. The larger square block is the cylinder and it has a piston. The other is the valve block. The valve block opens to let steam/compressed air into the cylinder, which moves the piston and the flywheel connected to it. It then opens at the correct time to let the steam/air out before it starts the process over. I haven't built this engine. But the group who designed it put a lot of thought and work into it and I think it's an EXCELLENT project for a beginning machinist. It’s a model steam engine, although for safety reasons most engines like this are run on compressed air. The larger square block is the cylinder and it has a piston. The other is the valve block. The valve block opens to let steam/compressed air into the cylinder, which moves the piston and the flywheel connected to it. It then opens at the correct time to let the steam/air out before it starts the process over.

I haven’t built this engine. But the group who designed it put a lot of thought and work into it and I think it’s an EXCELLENT project for a beginning machinist.

]]> Comment on Plans: HMEM’s EZ Build Engine by min http://www.machinistblog.com/plans-hmems-ez-build-engine/comment-page-1/#comment-3808 min Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:27:53 +0000 http://www.machinistblog.com/?p=2747#comment-3808 can u explain to me how this engine works ? can u explain to me how this engine works ?

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