Home Hobbyist Training, Where to begin?

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Dewey

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Hello All,
Just another new guy here wanting to delve into the world of the Hobby Machinist and was hoping I can get some pointers on where to get started. I've been trying to search the forum, but with so many posts the search returns come up with many off topic threads that don't answer questions.
The first thing I’ve learned that I should of remembered from other forums I’m part of is to write long posts on word processors to your account doesn’t time out and lose most of your work.

A little about me, I'm a late middle aged guy with a good job as a network engineer with a lot free time on my hands. I've wanted to get into a hobby like this for a long time and now I want to get started.
I’m self-taught in many areas and can teach myself anything I put my mind to. My father and grandfather were carpenters so that is where I learned those skills, but I want to go beyond wood and start fabricating parts out of metal or plastics as a hobby.

The equipment I think I would like to work with is combo lathe, Mill, Drill like the Grizzly G0514 or Midas 1220. What would be some other equipment suggestions that would match the capabilities of the combo’s above with a cost of about $2000?

Two places to start my studies before I buy my equipment are listed below. Are there any other avenues for the home hobbyist?
A book I found, Precision Machining Technology, ISBN-10: 1435447670
The training section at Smithy.com

What other materials besides metal and plastics are used to make projects for the hobbyist?
 
Check old book store for text books like Technology of Machine Tools by McGraw-Hill, any of the Argus Books/Nexus Special Interests books series called Workshop Practice Series. They are a good primer. Also Machine Tool Operation, Metal Working by Cooley. There are many like these out there. Most I purchased used. Also an edition of Machinery's Handbook is likely the best reference book that we all refer to, home or at work. I have 17th edition at home, used of course. Others will have their fans as well, but these are what I started with.
Once you get started you will likely find that any reference books and plans will start to build into a library.
 
One thing you will want to do is figure out the kind of things you want to make. This will help you to match the equipment to your needs. Unfortunately the "needs" will always be increasing :biggrin: - nature of the beast.

Personally, I just started reading everything I could get a hold of, decided I wanted to start with an older U.S. made lathe (South Bend). The reading was a great start but the education didn't really begin until I had the machine in front of me. Right now I have a good general idea of how most of the operations are done but am in no way an expert on any of them. In other words I ask a lot of question on here to the guys who do know.

The next stage in my "education" is to procure an older Bridgeport so that I can make flat stuff to go along with my round stuff. :biggrin:

-Ron
 
Dewey said:
Hello All,
Just another new guy here wanting to delve into the world of the Hobby Machinist and was hoping I can get some pointers on where to get started. I've been trying to search the forum, but with so many posts the search returns come up with many off topic threads that don't answer questions.
The first thing I’ve learned that I should of remembered from other forums I’m part of is to write long posts on word processors to your account doesn’t time out and lose most of your work.

A little about me, I'm a late middle aged guy with a good job as a network engineer with a lot free time on my hands. I've wanted to get into a hobby like this for a long time and now I want to get started.
I’m self-taught in many areas and can teach myself anything I put my mind to. My father and grandfather were carpenters so that is where I learned those skills, but I want to go beyond wood and start fabricating parts out of metal or plastics as a hobby.

The equipment I think I would like to work with is combo lathe, Mill, Drill like the Grizzly G0514 or Midas 1220. What would be some other equipment suggestions that would match the capabilities of the combo’s above with a cost of about $2000?

Two places to start my studies before I buy my equipment are listed below. Are there any other avenues for the home hobbyist?
A book I found, Precision Machining Technology, ISBN-10: 1435447670
The training section at Smithy.com

What other materials besides metal and plastics are used to make projects for the hobbyist?
Click to expand...


Dewey:

Start with this:


Books:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php?2195-Basic-Books-on-Machine-Shop-Practice
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php?2336-Good-list-of-necessary-books-for-beginning-machinists!

There are DVDs by AGI - A Lathe Course and A Milling Machine Course by Darrell Holland- rent them from www.Smartflix.com

There are threads on Necessary Lathe and Milling Machine Tooling:

First Ten Things You Need for a Lathe....
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/show...lling-Machine&highlight=Ten+Things+Need+Lathe
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/show...r-a-Lathe....&highlight=Ten+Things+Need+Lathe

First Ten Things You Need for a Milling Machine
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/show...lling-Machine&highlight=Ten+Things+Need+Lathe

Things for your machinist's tool box....
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/show...t-s-tool-box....&highlight=things+machinist's

MIT Tech TV Videos on Machining....
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/show...on-Machining....&highlight=things+machinist's

What stuff do you need to get a lathe up and running?
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/show...a-lathe-up-and-running&highlight=Things+Lathe

There are a lot of old threads here containing real newbie stuff that I started.


:tiphat:Nelson
 
Dewey,

I'd skip the combo machines, You will out grow them very quickly. Go with a dedicated mill and lathe. They will cost you less in the long run.
I used to live in Escondido. There are some great hobby machinists in the San Diego area. You should be able find a good mentor. Also check some of the community colleges. They may offer some basic machine shop courses.

Randy
 
Dewey, I'll have to agree with Randy on the combo machine up to a point. I have a combo Smithy and it has served me well, as a lathe. The mill is another thing entirely. A round column mill is really aggravating when you need to move the head up to drill a hole in the bottom of a pocket you just made with an end mill. The head is going to move out of alignment with the pocket as soon as you start to raise the head. Been there, done that. The mill will chatter if you extend the quill to work on a short part. The quill has a lock but if you need to adjust the quill stickout while milling, you have to loosen the lock to move it. Just a few thoughts about a combo, Smithy or anybody else's. Good luck and have fun. It can be a very rewarding investment in time, but it can also be very frustrating.

Pat
 
All great inputs so far, I appreciate the feedback especially the links from Nelson, Tyrannis and the previous thread link from Mayhem. I do have a plan to attack this massive undertaking of starting this hobby and my questions will be to build upon and expand that plan.
So I don’t put the cart before the horse like I’ve done in the past my plan in broad terms is as follows;
1. Gather, store, organize and create an index of the information collected. Study and continue research
2. Research equipment for selection, cost and space available
3. List the projects and items that I would like to create. My thoughts are on smaller items, but I’m sure most people grow beyond what they think they will need.
4. Initial research tells me there are few avenues available in San Diego to find someone to learn or train under, but I won’t stop searching. I’m limited as only have nights and weekends available due to my job.
5. College training, I found City college has several programs, but looks like only one class then everything else is CAD/CAM and CNC. Not much to pick from
6. Select and purchase my equipment
7. Get started applying what I learn.


For initial equipment the reason I was thinking about a combo unit is because most of what I want to build will be small, at least at the beginning. I have time before I end up setting up equipment so continued research will answer initial purchase questions.
Other reasons right now are due to divorce I am renting so I don’t want to move heavy equipment every time I move.
After another two or three years I can get back into the housing market and get a place where I can build or reserve space for a small shop setup, but for now it will be out of the garage.
From the links below if I get a milling machine it should be a vertical one

vertical vs horizontal milling machine
http://www.sperdvac.org/Horizontal%20Mill/Mill_horizontal_face_milling.htm

Link below tells me I should get a vertical mill machine
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=12214

 
All great inputs so far, I appreciate the feedback especially the links from Nelson, Tyrannis and the previous thread link from Mayhem. I do have a plan to attack this massive undertaking of starting this hobby and my questions will be to build upon and expand that plan.
So I don’t put the cart before the horse like I’ve done in the past my plan in broad terms is as follows;
1. Gather, store, organize and create an index of the information collected. Study and continue research
2. Research equipment for selection, cost and space available
3. List the projects and items that I would like to create. My thoughts are on smaller items, but I’m sure most people grow beyond what they think they will need.
4. Initial research tells me there are few avenues available in San Diego to find someone to learn or train under, but I won’t stop searching. I’m limited as only have nights and weekends available due to my job.
5. College training, I found City college has several programs, but looks like only one class then everything else is CAD/CAM and CNC. Not much to pick from
6. Select and purchase my equipment
7. Get started applying what I learn.


For initial equipment the reason I was thinking about a combo unit is because most of what I want to build will be small, at least at the beginning. I have time before I end up setting up equipment so continued research will answer initial purchase questions.
Other reasons right now are due to divorce I am renting so I don’t want to move heavy equipment every time I move.
After another two or three years I can get back into the housing market and get a place where I can build or reserve space for a small shop setup, but for now it will be out of the garage.
From the links below if I get a milling machine it should be a vertical one

vertical vs horizontal milling machine
http://www.sperdvac.org/Horizontal%20Mill/Mill_horizontal_face_milling.htm

Link below tells me I should get a vertical mill machine
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=12214

 
Dewey- just a few thoughts.

In my experience it's very difficult to figure out what works best for you until you actually start doing something. Kind of like a house - until you've lived in your own house it's tough to actually know what you need - same for a car or other major item. That doesn't mean the research you are doing has no value - my statement suggests that you might have to accept having some regrets over your first choice of machine(s). I'd encourage you to not over-think it - just do some basic research then go for it.

Regarding materials: don't overlook wood as a useful material in a metal shop. Not so long ago I needed to remove the windsheild wiper arm and did not have access to a puller of the right configuration. I realized that a pickle fork (more or less U shaped wedge) of the right size would work but had none of the right size. It occurred to me that this tool was a one time only thing so I made one from a scap of maple. In no time the job was done.


In my shop, along with wood, I use iron/steel which is often small structural shapes of common steel, hot or cold rolled 1018 or similar steels, hex steel, some round or hex "leaded" steels, brass and aluminum. Plastic is also part of the collection.

Back to the "how-to" discussion. As already suggested, I'd encourage you to see if you can't think of a simple project to complement other things that you have going on. I purchased my metal lathe thinking I'd use it to construct model steam engines. I've used the lathe more than I ever realized and have yet to begin the engine project. The first parts I made on the lathe were standoffs to improve the mounting of a transformer - part of assisting a 5th yr EE student with his final project. More recently I made brass pins to assist with the registration of some templates and parts - part of a woodworking project.

I think it's safe to say you should start simple and don't be afraid to ask for help. Everyone began at the beginning. Unless I am sadly mistaken most people here can recall that they too were newbies, beginners, apprentices if you will.

Hope this helps.

Steve
 
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