Who keeps a knowledge book?

[Cactus Farmer]

That is what I call my "notes to self" collection. When ever I have a tough to figure job,setup,ect I make a few pencil drawings and notes and keep them in a three ring binder. Then when the same or simular issue resurfaces I remember the general deal and "think to myself" I've done this before.....and go looking for the cheat sheets I've made,sometimes years ago. They have saved a headache or two over the years. The "surge of finite magnatude" comes to mind.....
Cactus Farmer

 

[Rbeckett]

I keep a notebook with speeds, feeds and material as well as type of cutter. That way I can flip back through it and be pretty close on feeds and speeds from the very beginning. I find that I refer to it quite often and would feel naked without it in the shop when I am working on a project. So I think a notes to self type of notebook is a great idea and should be used by every one, especially those of us with short memory spans.

Bob

 

[calstar]

Good idea, I've done it for various endeavors over the years but have'nt started one yet for machining(just started this hobby +- 6 months ago). In the meantime I rely on computer bookmarks and searches categorized fairly well.

Brian

 

[ome]

I have been keeping a knowledge book for years about different areas of interest and research.
I like to write down all the necessary materials,vendors, tools , and detailed notes on the project step by step.
I recently bought a label printer and a laminator. They both work great. Now I laminate up to 5 mil, anything that I tend to need out of its file, and exposed to the workshop.
Thanks for the post,
Jon

 

[Cobra]

When I was working I kept a perpetual notebook for years. For the last two years workin I switched to iPad. Worked great for work but whine I retired and went to working in the shop I went back to a note book. Much better for sketches than the iPad. Notebook is now for how thing went and a three ring binder for CAD sketches.

 

[Bill Gruby]

I have a 3X5 note pad with me all the time. If I think of something, I write it down. That's how the Tool & Cutter Grinder was born.

"Billy G"

 

[engine ear]

I maintain a build log for each of my projects. The current engine I'm working on, which is almost finished, has a log that's 80+ pages long with many photos. I like to document machine setups, especially when I've done them for the first time. If I make a part exactly as the plans specify, I may just refer to the plans in the log, otherwise I'll try to include my actual dimensions. Sometimes that helps to troubleshoot problems later on.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[vapremac]

Guess I'm like a lot of the others , I keep a 3x5 note pad in my shirt pocket and take notes
for just about everything ,speeds and feeds , materials used and current quantities , cycle times,
also handy when I'm at the opposite end of the shop and need to write something down.
At the end of the day when I'm doing my paperwork I flip through my note pad and update a
master book .

William

 

[Ray C]

Absolutely... There are many things of course that I do over and over. I got those pat down and don't need to write them down. There are other things I've done that I know I won't do too often so, I write it all down and put it in a computer file. I tend to take handwritten notes while in the shop but I always find the time to re-write them in the computer.


Ray

 

[sinebar]

You guys are way more organized than me. I have pieces of paper and post-it notes all over the place. Most of the things I do are one-off projects anyway.