Greetings From Michigan

[TLGriff]

Hello, my name is Tom and I am addicted to building things.

I've spent most of my life as a research machinist and have recently (last 12 years) started doing mechanical design and also some prototype machining out of my home shop. Of course that's only for the first nine hours of the day, after that machining becomes my hobby. I enjoy gunsmithing and have built a 1/5 scale Napoleon cannon, a 1911 Colt Officer's model with a few improved features and am currently scratch building a 1915 Steven's Favorite single shot rifle. I am also an avid muscle car enthusiast and drive a 540 cubic inch 1972 Chevelle SS on which I did a full frame off restoration. One of my recent projects is an anodizing set-up that stores away as a workbench when I'm not using it, so my projects can now take on a little more personality. As a former shop teacher, I also have a very active YouTube channel where I teach basic machining techniques as well as share the progress on some of my projects.

I see a lot of familiar names here and  look forward to joining in on some of the threads or starting a few of my own project oriented threads.

Tom

[vtsteam]

Hello Tom, and welcome aboard! 

[dsquire]

Hi Tom

Welcome to MadModders. It looks like you have a well rounded bunch of interests and activities. I know that the members will be happy to hear and see them when you get a chance. I am sure that a few will want to learn more about your anodizing set-up. If you have any questions just ask, there is always someone around to answer or at least give an opinion. 

Cheers 

Don

 

[Brass_Machine]

Hiya Tom

Welcome to the collective

Sounds like you will fit in just fine here.

I would love to see the 1911 and the SS. I am really curious about the anodizing set-up. I am very limited on space in my new shop and want to do some anodizing.

Eric

[AussieJimG]

Welcome Tom, that anodising setup sounds interesting.

Jim

[TLGriff]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys.

I'm planning a YouTube video on the anodizing set-up, but I'll see if I can throw together a few pics in the mean time.

Eric, here's a link to the build site for my Chevelle. It's a bit outdated, but shows all of the early work.

1972chevelless

Tom

[DaveH]

Goodness me - who left the door open 

Welcome Tom to MadModder 
 
DaveH

[Brass_Machine]

That's a nice looking Chevelle. 

One of my friends in high school had an amazing 66 Nova...

I take it Dave knows you? 

[Brass_Machine]

Wait. I just went back and looked at your build log again... where did you paint it?

[DaveH]

I  take it Dave knows you? 

Tom is a great guy, magic sense of humour and for fear of embarrassing him some more he has some fantastic instructional videos.

 
DaveH

[Brass_Machine]

I was teasing you Dave 

I wait awhile before I tease the new guys 

[DaveH]

I was teasing you Dave 

  yea I know 
 
DaveH

[TLGriff]

Dave and I do know each other, but I don't normally admit it in public.

I painted the Chevelle in my driveway, but weather became an issue and it didn't turn out as well as it should have. I'll probably shoot it again when I can find the time.

Tom

[Brass_Machine]

Dave and I do know each other, but I don't normally admit it in public.

I painted the Chevelle in my driveway, but weather became an issue and it didn't turn out as well as it should have. I'll probably shoot it again when I can find the time.

Tom

Did you build a tent over the car?

I ask because I may have to do some paint work and I don't have a place to do it... except a driveway. Yours looks like it came out pretty good. I figured you knew a secret or two.

[TLGriff]

I've done my fair share of driveway paint jobs and there are a lot of tricks involved to make them successful.

Other than keeping an eye on the weather forecast, the main one is to do all your prep work the day before so you can paint first thing in the morning, before the wind, bugs and sun show up. You also need to build some sort of framework to hold a tarp above the car. That keeps any leaves or other tree crap from falling in the paint from above and to block the sun if (when) the paint job takes longer than expected. Lastly, the cement needs to be watered down to keep from rasing dust as you walk around while painting.

I generally have pretty good success with driveway paint jobs, but some unexpected weather moved in during this one and I was forced to rush the job. I'd say it's a pretty good 15 foot paint job, but that's about it.

Tom

[krv3000]

hi and welcume

[TLGriff]

Thanks Bob!

[doubleboost]

Hi
Tom
Welcome to MadModder
You will like it here
John

[TLGriff]

Thanks John, it looks like an interesting place. I see you are up to part 25 on your dividing head videos. You are making them faster than I can watch them.

Tom

[mattinker]

Hi Tom,

I'm a fan of your videos, the left hander who bugged you about the Hardinge screw cutting!  I hope you like it here, I think it's one of the best machining forums around.

So, welcome, regards, Matthew

[TLGriff]

Thanks Matthew.

Yes, I hear a lot from you lefties. It's not my fault they made the lathe backwards! 

Tom

[mattinker]

Tom,

it wasn't until I saw your video that I even thought about right-handed filing on the lathe, it amused me as I've spent my whole life adapting to this right-handed world, from scissors to electric planes that spew wood shavings all over you if you're a leftie!

Cheers, Matthew

[awemawson]

It's reading a digital caliper on work in the lathe chuck that gets me. Need to stand on my head 

It'd be interesting to poll the forum membership for lefthandedness - I reckon it's be above the average 1 in 7 in the general population.

AWEM

[mattinker]

This is getting off topic!

Micrometers are a real pain too!

Matthew