Comments on: Honest – all I ever wanted to do was make some stuff …

By: Mikey

Mikey — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:59:21 +0000

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

By: Mikey

Mikey — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:18:12 +0000

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?

Mikey

By: David Rysdam

David Rysdam — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:33:13 +0000

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?)

By: Cementtruck

Cementtruck — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:44:21 +0000

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! ;)

By: Mikey

Mikey — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:13:23 +0000

Hi John,
I know a lot about the P-20S but have not worked on your mower, which I sounds like it might be the C25 model. I could not find an owner’s manual anywhere for my mower so I wound up calling Tru-Cut and they sent a copy to me free of charge. I suggest you do that. While you’re at it see if they will also send you the Illustrated Parts List for your mower. With that info you can completely rebuild your mower.

If any other questions arise let me know.

Mikey

By: John

John — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 01:40:51 +0000

Looks like you know a thing or two about Tru-cut. I have a 25 inch 7 blade commercial tru-cut and I’m looking for a service manual for it. It’s about 20 years old and looks just like the ones they sell today. Any help in locating this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks