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Author Topic: Hello from Southern California  (Read 6643 times)

Offline Phrog

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Hello from Southern California
« on: October 21, 2013, 11:55:57 PM »
Yes I am from California... So please do not hold that against me :drool:

It was just luck I found this site.... But I have not stopped reading since.
Such a wealth of information and great people thus far.

My main interest is in lathes and mills.... Which I have never used but have been wanting to for a few years now.

Any advise on both regarding buying one or both would be greatly appreciated.

The first question that I will answer is... What do I plan on doing with it?  Well I am got sure... To tell the truth.  Learning is the first thing... But I would like to try metal working for sure.

I am also trying my hand at CNC... Just bought MasterCam learning materials...

I am a aircraft mechanic by trade.... So between playing on aircraft I plan on getting some spin time in.

If anyone knows of lathe training in the LA/IE ( Los Angles / Inland Empire ) please let me know.
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Offline krv3000

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2013, 04:27:57 PM »
hi and welcume
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Offline stovebolt

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2013, 05:28:06 PM »
Hi Phrog,

Relatively speaking I'm not too far from you,  Lake Havasu.   There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing , budget, what's available, old iron / new Chinese, how much space do you have, etc.   Here are some sites that might help you.

     http://www.mini-lathe.com/

    This question has popped up many times here

     http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/forums/3-General


    http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/


    As for training, you might check with some local community colleges  or watch a lot of Youtube videos  and slowly get your feet wet.

   Jim 
 
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Offline mklotz

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2013, 05:34:42 PM »
Where exactly are you located in SoCal?  I'm near Torrance and belong to a local metalworking club, SCHSM,

http://www.schsm.com/

which meets at El Camino JC.  They have metalworking classes.

Also, if you're near Pasadena this Saturday, Little Machine Shop,

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/

is having an open house.  SCHSM, including me, will be displaying some of our projects and you'll be able to see and touch the equipment that LMS sells.
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Offline vtsteam

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2013, 08:27:04 PM »
Hi Phrog, and welcome! Here in Vermont, I'm about a day's drive closer to you than I am to the UK. Except i can't drive there!

If it appeals to you, another path might be to get copy of Dave Gingery's book on building a charcoal furnace for melting metal, and then his book on building a lathe with that furnace. That's what I did to start.

It gives you practice in practically every aspect of metalworking, from casting to sheet metal, to riveting, turning, scraping, measuring, grinding lathe tools, etc, and it also solves the "what should my first project be?" question rather usefully and enjoyably.

 I think building a lathe from scratch is a pretty good way to learn about how to use one, what it is, where they came from, and the amazing things you can do with very little. For instance, only a faceplate, centers, and angle plates -- all of which you make.

Having said that, also absolutely do not pass up the opportunity to connect with a metalworking club if one is near you.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll have fun and learn an immense amount no matter how you start.
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Offline AussieJimG

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2013, 12:53:46 AM »
Welcome Phrog from the other side of the world

Jim
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Offline Phrog

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2013, 05:39:46 PM »
Quote from: mklotz on October 23, 2013, 05:34:42 PM
Where exactly are you located in SoCal?  I'm near Torrance and belong to a local metalworking club, SCHSM,

http://www.schsm.com/

which meets at El Camino JC.  They have metalworking classes.

Also, if you're near Pasadena this Saturday, Little Machine Shop,

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/


is having an open house.  SCHSM, including me, will be displaying some of our projects and you'll be able to see and touch the equipment that LMS sells.


I got your post too late....

I am just south of Glendora so Pasadena is a short drive....
I will have to stop by the LMS and see what they have.

Thanks for the links.

Rob
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Offline Phrog

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #7 on: October 27, 2013, 05:41:01 PM »
Quote from: stovebolt on October 23, 2013, 05:28:06 PM
Hi Phrog,

Relatively speaking I'm not too far from you,  Lake Havasu.   There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing , budget, what's available, old iron / new Chinese, how much space do you have, etc.   Here are some sites that might help you.

     http://www.mini-lathe.com/

    This question has popped up many times here

     http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/forums/3-General


    http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/


    As for training, you might check with some local community colleges  or watch a lot of Youtube videos  and slowly get your feet wet.

   Jim 
 

Jim, thanks for the links.... I will take a look at them.

Rob
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Offline Phrog

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #8 on: October 27, 2013, 05:43:54 PM »
Quote from: vtsteam on October 23, 2013, 08:27:04 PM
Hi Phrog, and welcome! Here in Vermont, I'm about a day's drive closer to you than I am to the UK. Except i can't drive there!

If it appeals to you, another path might be to get copy of Dave Gingery's book on building a charcoal furnace for melting metal, and then his book on building a lathe with that furnace. That's what I did to start.

It gives you practice in practically every aspect of metalworking, from casting to sheet metal, to riveting, turning, scraping, measuring, grinding lathe tools, etc, and it also solves the "what should my first project be?" question rather usefully and enjoyably.

 I think building a lathe from scratch is a pretty good way to learn about how to use one, what it is, where they came from, and the amazing things you can do with very little. For instance, only a faceplate, centers, and angle plates -- all of which you make.

Having said that, also absolutely do not pass up the opportunity to connect with a metalworking club if one is near you.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll have fun and learn an immense amount no matter how you start.

VTSteam,

I have read your thread on that.... Such a great job you did.  I will be reading that collection ASAP.
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Offline Phrog

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2013, 05:45:35 PM »
Thanks for everyone for the warm welcome and info.  I am sure I will be picking all of you brains in the future.

Rob
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Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #10 on: October 27, 2013, 09:44:06 PM »
Hiya Rob,

Welcome to the collective :borg:

I took a course at the local community college. I just got in on one semester (I had planned more). There were 5 of us in the class. 3 wanted to be machinists, me and another guy were hobbyists. The instructor was kind enough to give the 2 of us a general knowledge type thing in the short span of the class. Gave me a good foundation. The rest has been reading, videos (youtube, swarfrat etc..)

Eric
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Offline rockknocker

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #11 on: October 28, 2013, 07:44:53 PM »
Hi Rob! I've know a few people from SoCal that were worth their grit, i'm sure you're not all that bad.  :clap:

My brother is taking a class in metalworking this semester at the local university, it seems to be a real good way to get started. Otherwise, I'm intrigued by the Gingery books that vtsteam mentioned... might be worth a look as well!
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Offline mattinker

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #12 on: October 29, 2013, 01:17:22 AM »
Definitely follow up "Gingery", it's a whole outside the box approach to a subject that can get bogged down in expense!

Regards, Matthew
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Offline Meldonmech

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Re: Hello from Southern California
« Reply #13 on: October 30, 2013, 03:52:57 AM »
Hi phrog

                         Welcome to the forum

                                                                Cheers  David
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