To grease or not to grease the 3-jaw

[Larry$]

The great thing about math is: your either right or wrong. Why I hated literature classes and got a math minor. Not that I ever used calculus but it was fun taking the classes and they were prerequisites for upper level physics & engineering classes that I took as electives. Not all liberal arts degrees have to stick to psychology, 16th century English lit, etc. BTW I got kicked out of a "Types of modern literature" class. The prof. made the mistake of asking me, in class, for my evaluation of the last 16th century novel we were required to read. Apparently she didn't agree with my assessment. She stormed out of the classroom. The rest of the class cheered. I'm assuming that computer programs, that solve many engineering problems, use the calculus also. Being able to solve problems with multiple variables acting simultaneously.

 

[dewbane]

I got into languages, because I like the technical aspects. Verbs and prepositions are sort of like gears and cams in a way. Seeing how languages evolved fascinated me. To me, human and computer languages aren't that different, and if you know one, you can learn another one. The way I relate to them really isn't so different from the way I relate to a lathe or a mill.

I had no idea when I started down that road that majoring in a foreign language was 10% technical fun stuff and 90% vague artistic interpretational nonsense. I totally relate to your comment about math having one answer.

With that said, I am an artist, and I tend to be a little vague and interpretational myself when it comes to machine work. I'm more likely to work to a scribe line or a punched mark than actually count dials, though that might change if I ever install DRO.

 

[Larry$]

I got into languages, because I like the technical aspects. Verbs and prepositions are sort of like gears and cams in a way. Seeing how languages evolved fascinated me. To me, human and computer languages aren't that different, and if you know one, you can learn another one. The way I relate to them really isn't so different from the way I relate to a lathe or a mill.

I had no idea when I started down that road that majoring in a foreign language was 10% technical fun stuff and 90% vague artistic interpretational nonsense. I totally relate to your comment about math having one answer.

With that said, I am an artist, and I tend to be a little vague and interpretational myself when it comes to machine work. I'm more likely to work to a scribe line or a punched mark than actually count dials, though that might change if I ever install DRO.

Get those DROs, they make a big difference. My lathe came with one, I put a 3 axis on my mill. Actual location, instant zero, calculator, inch/metric, bolt hole pattern, straight line drilling at any angle, centering with the 1/2 function. I use the one on the lathe to set the taper attachment to pretty near dead on. Took me awhile to learn how to use what I need.

 

[Tim9]

Once you get past the poops.....Plumbing is actually probably one of the higher earners. Most of the better plumbers I’ve met were shipfitters in the Navy. And in all honesty, most plumbing isn’t even around the toilet.
Plus, don’t have to worry about getting electrocuted around pipes. Not often at least.
That said, I think electricians have the better work conditions. Just cleaner. Now industrial electrical contractors .... they make big bucks in my opinion.

 

[dewbane]

Once you get past the poops.....Plumbing is actually probably one of the higher earners.

I'd say plumbing probably pays the best. I've dealt with a lot of plumbing situations that were not pleasant to say the least, and if I were going to dig up your sludge-soaked drain field to fix a broken pipe, or redo the closet flange on your toilet, I wouldn't do it cheap. Being cheap myself, of course I did all that work myself.

 

[dewbane]

Get those DROs, they make a big difference.

It's definitely on the list, but I just haven't figured it out yet. There are a lot of choices at every level of doing a DRO setup, and I've only made a few. Magnetic scales. 4-axis on the mill. I'll get there one of these days.

 

[Tim9]

I'd say plumbing probably pays the best. I've dealt with a lot of plumbing situations that were not pleasant to say the least, and if I were going to dig up your sludge-soaked drain field to fix a broken pipe, or redo the closet flange on your toilet, I wouldn't do it cheap. Being cheap myself, of course I did all that work myself.

Totally agree. That said, at one time I felt plumbing was a pretty easy profession. But it’s actually a pretty complicated trade when one must understand all of the codes. Properly running waste water pipes and properly venting them is complicated. And those codes are there for a reason too. Because if it’s not done right.... then one ends up with a toilet not flushing properly. Shipfitters....that’s really impressive stuff when they start to cut and weld all of the stainless steel fittings.
Anyway, I’m also cheap. Needed a new toilet for a rental property I own. So I read the Building Codes for Louisiana. Complicated stuff for sure. Got it done....just that I was surprised and impressed with the trade once I finished it. And then I got a licensed plumber to file the inspection. All good now. But it was a lot of work

By the way. The second richest guy in Louisiana is an Industrial Electrical Contractor. Lots of big contracts rewiring damaged commercial buildings....and electrical utilities too. Just big bucks I guess. Not sure how he did it, but he did. Only reason I know about it is because he just ran for Governor. Thank God he didn’t win. We have a great Governor in Governor Edwards.

 

[dewbane]

Properly running waste water pipes and properly venting them is complicated. And those codes are there for a reason too. Because if it’s not done right.... then one ends up with a toilet not flushing properly.

The first thought in my head is my tub drain. One of my first collet block lathe and mill projects was to make a tool to extract my tub drain formerly known as chrome plated thingie after I totally wrecked it with noxious chemicals. It was impossible to get any kind of snake or snake alternative to the clog from the tub side, and I tried a bunch of them. The next plan was to just open the pipes and go at it from there. That was when I discovered what I call the Medusa Head. Long story short, I decided to try stronger chemicals first, and if that didn't work, it was probably time to put the property on the market and find a sucker... I mean a new buyer.

I decided to walk on by the topic of governors, because I want to avoid having a rant today.

 

[Nogoingback]

I decided to walk on by the topic of governors, because I want to avoid having a rant today.

Good choice:

Item 12 of the site rules states:

DO NOT DISCUSS POLITICS:
12. You agree not to discuss politics - EVER. PERIOD. We are a machining site- let's keep it there.

 

[hman]

Snarky comment (directed more toward high school than college) ... I've never yet seen a job ad that listed the ability to diagram sentences as being a requirement