Great video. If you're in a location that has a local model engineering club, or anything of that sort, check into it. I agree that the TH-cam videos are a tremendous resource, but being able to visit an experienced individuals shop is also worth a lot. I recently made a connection with a more experienced local amateur machinist through one of the hobby machinist websites. He's helping me begin to rehab my -- very -- vintage M head Bridgeport. Also, I think it's important to seek out opportunities to get young people into one's shop. A lot of the activities we're doing in our home shops are no longer taught in the public schools (I'm commenting from the central US). Thanks again for the video.
I couldn't convince my spouse that the guest bedroom really needed to be a machine shop, and at that same time my High-School son got involved with FIRST Robotics at his school. All the "Technology Education" in school was so general that things like "machining" were magical processes students watch on How It's Made videos. I started to mentor the robotics group, and decided they needed a mill and lathe to make robot parts. Sure, the mentors had to pay for it, but the school gladly provided space and the students had a hands-on experience with manual machining. Over the years, I've shown a hundred kids that they can make something from a bar of aluminum of steel and enjoyed a place outside my house for my machining hobby.
Along those lines, also consider a makerspace or hackerspace. They are akin to a gym membership with access to tools and (in my experience) community/knowledge/training that goes far beyond the tools themselves. Where I live, we run a shop that for $55/month you can use a metal shop, wood shop, cnc (large and small), fabric/textile/soft goods, computer lab, storage, electronics, 3d printing, and business incubator space. That 55 would take a long time to buy your first lathe even, let alone the extras. I live in a bigger city, but there is a makerspace in almost every population center in the developed world. Some are more expensive, some lean more on a commercial bent while others like ours are community/member driven nonprofits where we strive to keep the cost accessible to anyone.
@@rsaunders57I used to (2016-19) volunteer with a FIRST team. If we had had access to even a basic lathe-only space, it could have made a HUGE difference in build quality and interest.
TH-cam/Google has an enormous amount of information on it. I would also venture that it has the answer to every question that an amateur or even professional has. However, the biggest benefit to talking to an experienced machinist (or any profession for that matter) is that most of the time people don't know what the question is to begin with. They might think they know but there are so many nuances that only someone with experience can answer. Most of the time the amateur will ask what they think is the right question and then proceed to mess up and only to later realize their mistake. Whereas a Pro will know the issue before the project has even begun.
I have learned so much from others willing to mentor my interest. Being older now, I feel beholden to that spirit to share my own and the ones before myself, to give that knowledge to anyone interested.
the thing that consistently explodes my brain with your videos is how, on top of your machining skills, your shooting and editing style makes your shop seem like it's 10 times that size.
Chris is CLEARLY an old hand at shooting instructional videos. I think it might have been his profession. If it wasn't, the human race has suffered as a result. I had to watch a LOT of bad instructional videos during my TWO stints at T.A.F.E., and if they had been produced to the quality that Chris makes these videos, I'm pretty sure that today I would be the world's greatest Licensed Aircraft Mechanical Engineer.
I was instantly blown away by the fact that the lathe and the mill was actually in the very same space. I've always thought due to the camera techniques used that the workshop is much larger.
This guy is making this amazing stuff in a broom closet. His shop is the size of my workbench. I have a whole newfound respect for this guy. Great work man.
The list of people I learn from every day is endless, but Mr Pete will always be a standout for me. My journey started with him: www.youtube.com/@mrpete222
@@Clickspring Ooh another great resource! A couple of others that I enjoy for precision metal work are www.youtube.com/@spahlow and www.youtube.com/@joepie221 with Steffen specializing in watch making and Joe being a veteran machinist that loves to make tiny tools. Had to edit to correct: www.youtube.com/@StefanGotteswinter is another machinist I confused with Steffen. Both are great resources!
@@Clickspring Mr. Pete is the ONLY reason I had the courage to begin machining at all. Then you came along a blew my mind with the Antikythera series!!
One top tip that applies to most hobbies is to find others in your area with the same interests, be that via clubs or by asking around. Not only will you possibly find new friends but you will get access to a wealth of local knowledge about where you can get small amounts of materials, others that are selling tooling or machinery, advice on how to solve problems you are having etc. Talking to a retired person who has been working in the field their whole life can be fascinating and really informative.
Also if you can join a club, a maker space or just find like minded friends then possibly you can get access to machines you do not have. In the past many school districts and tech schools ran night classes. But sadly many if not all of these have eliminated any machinery they had. Often for insurance reasons.
One of the cheaper tools I would add is a ShopVac. I made mine from a broken household vacuum(for the motor, power cord, hose, and filters), 2 five gallon buckets (one with a lid, the other for the motor cover), and a switch I pulled from a broken lamp. It took less than an hour to make and I got all the materials for free. I just grabbed what I needed on garbage day. It's been working for 5ish years now.
Absolutely agree! Cutting chips are sorta easy enough to handle with a hand broom but filing and sanding dust is just a pain in the rear without a vacuum device of some description.
another good one for the shop, or even the deck is a power washer... but if you are working with small items... look toward dental equipment... you can do alot of cleaning on small parts with a waterpick and a toothbrush... just saying. =D
Adjunct to this: you can use flex tubing like locline or even just some corrugated plastic tube with a heavy steel wire down the middle of it, to make an adjustable vacuum chip removal setup you can bend to be close enough to the cutting point on the mill and catch at least half the chips. The long stringy stuff off the lathe seldom goes far, but the mill makes a huge mess. Same goes for the grinding wheel: a box behind it with a shopvac helps contain the grinding grit. Jewelers set their buffing wheels up with a loose cloth bag behind the wheel to catch jewelry that snags in the wheel and gets thrown, but generally we use tool rests so we don't have to worry about that.
One piece of advice I received early on was to remember that hand tools (especially files) can do everything that a machine can do, often with similar precision and accuracy. So, before buying a specialty machine I consider whether I actually just need to get out the files so that I can use the money and workshop space for another project.
In addition, I've found that sometimes it's both faster and more fun to lay out and file a feature than to set up a complex fixture and dial in a tool.
I find that if you’re patient, a lot of retiring machinists are parting out their collections of metrology and tooling. In the last three months I found a machinist-made height gauge, surface plate, and Interapid tenths and half-thou indicators at very good prices. A lot of these guys are glad to be able to pass them onto another generation of makers.
10:00. That "Build Your Own Jet Engine" ad ran for years. I always wondered who ordered the plans, built one, and was stupid enough to attach it to a bicycle.
And others. I've seen one in New Zealand, down in Invercargill at a Burt Munro motorcycle rally, and a guy I work with now helped build one many years ago in Dunedin.
George Daniels's Watchmaking cover far more than I expected. There is a section on shop layout even! Was a really good book to get an idea of everything.
One of the best tools you have got is your excellent cameras and lighting so that we can so clearly see the techniques, joy and satisfaction in making the parts.
Wish I could've seen this video 20ish years ago.....but this is pretty much how I got going. Lathe, bandsaw, grinder and torch; and then added accessories/welder/mill/surface grinder as I was able. It's been a long road, but can do a lot with what I have. Pretty sure that the list never ends- Great video Chris!
While i haven't set up a machine shop, I did set up a woodshop 20 years ago. A great way to learn how to use your tools is to make more tools. In woodworking, I made shop "furniture". A router table here, outfeed table, workbench, simple cabinets and drawers to hold stuff. It's great because you can use lower quality material, and if you make a mistake, who cares, it's workshop stuff. Use a new technique or two each time you make something. That's how you learn what works and what doesn't. And have fun, because that's what it's all about!
One tip is to find a local volunteer organization which will allow you to join and learn from their masters. My own machining journey began at the Dixie Wing of the CAF where I learned the basics from a retired professional tool maker and machinist. Many of these organizations will, with a sideways nod, allow you to do your own "Government Jobs" which is code word for doing your own personal projects on their equipment - obviously this is allowed only as long as their own jobs take priority. Use good judgement and you'll be fine, and they'll probably have a level of shop equipment available for your use which would be next to impossible to acquire for home shop usage.
For the milling machine, DRO is a must have. Not so expensive today, but sometimes difficult to fit on small benchtop machine. And never forget, always buy the biggest machine that fit both the kind of work you do and the machine shop you own.
Absolutely! A lathe can be worked on without a DRO to a very reasonable extent. Usually a Dial indicator and calipers are enough and can be added upon with micrometers and telescoping bore gauges. Neither of which are expensive at all. But a mill? Of course there are also dials, but making mistakes is easy. Working to dimensions and drilling Hole patterns is just so much easier with a DRO. And as you said, they are pretty cheap nowadays. I believe I paid maybe 250€ for mine on the mill and that one even has an LCD display with graphical interface. Highly recommend! Funnily enough, I *did* order a DRO for my lathe just 3 days ago. Well, haha.
I have always used the "buy twice" plan for things like drill bits. Buy a cheapo set first to get a wide selection. Then buy quality replacements when you figure out what you will actually use. My tap set has ~10 harbor freight ones but the 1/4-20 is now actually good.
I never considered the abrasive dust from the grinder being an issue! I’ll have to stop concentrating my power tools around the main power outlet. That will certainly save me some money and heartache when I eventually get a lathe. Love your work mate thank you!
I wish I had something like this guide before we had set up our shop. My father and I have a machine shop similar to yours and we set about doing it much the same way, however we learned some of the lessons the hard way, primarily about avoiding the cheaper sets of milling tooling and files and such. Ours wasn't set up for clock making but for gunsmithing. We built and accurized black powder weapons for competition, but seeing as my father passed away almost 2 years ago, I guess the shop is now mine, I am taking the time now to teach my son's the skills to do what my father and I used to do. I'm betting that our tools end up going to one of them and I hope they can find the same enjoyment teaching their kids like my father and I have. One side note, we had the opportunity to buy a Smithy mill/lathe combo and it has turned out great for us. If anyone follows that route, just save yourself the headache off the bat and the first time the control board burns up, just go ahead and get a VFD for it and not fight the issues with that darned control board, we went through 4 boards before I finally said screw it and taught myself how to wire and program a VFD for it, you lose the factory rpm dial but it's not hard to get around.
Does your VFD not have pins for a speed dial (potentiometer)? Most VFDs do, as well as pins for forward/reverse and start/stop, to allow for external controls.
The great thing about machine tools is they can make parts for themselves. Unless you get a *really* broken one that needs some brazing then you can make parts for your tools on your tools. If you're in an old industrial city then people are just givong this stuff away
Good advice. Too many folks seem to go buy a whole shop full of tools without knowing what they would do for them or if they’ll ever need it. When I was a mechanic I tried not to buy anything I hadn’t already borrowed for a job. (Fortunately I worked with others like myself who would share and take responsibility for caring for other’s tools). Making tools in a pinch is always satisfying to me as well if I’m not on deadline.
A bandsaw is a game changer! Watching Artisan Makes use a hacksaw as much as he does is painful. If he was anywhere near me I would love to gift him one of mine.. I pretty much agree with everything you've said. A lathe and grinder will definitely keep you busy for a while.. Tools like a live center and edge finder are awesome jobs if you're just getting into the hobby. Hemingway kits are also a great place to make tools you'll need while learning as well.
Took me until I retired before I got a lathe and mill. The lathe was an Emco that I had always wanted and bought secondhand, the mill I bought as a retirement present. However I have been collecting hand tools since birth. Now I'm retired I still am buying tools, especially relating to the mill and lathe. The moral of the story is it takes a life time and all the experiences that go along with it to setup your workshop so don't expect to set it up from day one as a boxed set. Even if you had unlimited money you still have to know what you want, why and where you are going to put it to find it when you need it. I would say first up, after you have the basic hand tools you need to decide your primary direction is wood or metal, that will define your first machines. I can assure you its not particularly practical ( or satisfying ) to try mixing both in the same room. And there in is the final point, what ever you do you will not have enough room :)
I'm currently building up a machining toolset. These are my early experiences. A bench grinder is great to create a new cutter, but a small diamond stone is ideal to touch up the edge of a cutter every time before using it. Especially when cutting steel. You'll also need holders for your indicators : a mag-base holder and perhaps a holder for around the spindle. These are the tools I created, in order, right after buying my Sherline lathe: - T-nuts and slotted clamping plates (for a Sherline-size lathe, most of the tools you can buy are too big and buying them from Sherline, too expensive) - A ball turning tool (because I needed one for an early project) - Storage! For my situation, wooden boxes are ideal - I like making these myself. Since I don't have a dedicated machining workshop, they allow me to quickly take out and store away my tools. - A hex collet block for my ER holder. Made out of hex stock. Accurate enough for now. I'll make a square one later. The hex version will also work for square features for now. - A wide screwdriver for the custom screw that tightens the ER holder in the block. - A boring head as I need to make wide radii. (Boring head currently in the making - the ones you can buy online are MT2 or higher, while the Sherline needs an MT1 holder) TODO: - Pancake V-blocks. I bought small V-blocks but they are still too large for the Sherline vise! Some 120 degree pancake V-blocks (V-plates?) will help me hold round parts in the vise. - For these V-plates, I'd like to use a fly-cutter...so, I'll be making one of those. - Bought some saw blades....need to make a holder for this. - A quick-release holder plate for my mag-base on the cross slide. Sherline's cross slide is aluminium - magnets don't work! - A sine plate. To set the height, I'll make some rough gauge blocks myself as I need them. They'll be more than precise enough to set an angle. - Single-point threading. A Sherline can't cut threads out of the box. You can buy a gear set for this and it's actually not that expensive for what you get. Still...I would like to be able to make gears myself, so...more tooling needed. - Offset center for the tail stock to support taper turning. You can't adjust the Sherline tail stock, so a little offset jig (just a dovetail slide) allows the setup. I mainly want to use the lathe (and mill) to repair things and to create hardware for furniture or to create parts where wood or 3D printed plastic aren't strong enough. Notice above how easily you get into side projects, just to make tools and jigs you'll need. My first big project is a wood+brass lamp, but I can't make it yet because I'm lacking tooling. So be prepared for quite some journey before you can actually make what you want. My most frustrating thought as a beginner has repeatedly been "Darn, can't build that yet because I don't have..." All the youtube projects you see built will typically involve a wide toolset! So, I do NOT agree with a statement like "With this minimal toolset you can build anything..." Nope. You can't. Trust me. To prepare you for what you can do when you buy a (bare) lathe, hold this thought: "A lathe can make cylinders. That's it." (ok, that's not entirely true, but still)
Wow. Your shop is a _lot_ smaller than I thought. Props for the good camera work for all these years, disguising the true size of the space. (Or maybe I'm just inattentive lol)
Great video Chris. You were the first person I asked about setting up a workshop years ago after watching all your videos. Great to see you back producing videos again. Really missed your productions 😊 You inspired me and I even started my own channel, it's not great but it's doing OK for someone with no budget and mobility issues. Looking forward to the next upload! Cheers Neil
In one of those magazines, I saw an ad for making your own Geiger counter. If you're worried about radiation that badly, a Geiger counter is the last thing you should worry about 😆 🤣. Awesome video Chris!
I enjoyed this video - fortunate to have many of the items Chris mentioned including the Daniel’s horology manual! Best book I ever bought - I just wish I had more time to spend in the workshop than I do!
Chris - it's lovely to see that you recommend the old British classic books. They seem rather outdated today but they are still as valid as ever. My first lathe was a HobbyMat and I hated it because it was too small. I have since acquired many lathes - I found the bigger ones are much cheaper than the small ones. So I have a Colchester Triumph and a massive Holbrook H20 that weighs nearly 5000kg. Ironically now I have huge lathes thanks to your inspiration I would much rather do small delicate work! My lovely old Triumph is very accurate but a tad too big for clockmaking! I also have a CVA which is much better for smaller work but is still 1400kg.
The Engineering company I worked at for 30 years as a machinist closed its doors in 2022 . Subsequently I found a position as a fitter . But really really missed the lathe , milling and gear cutting . So I bought a Myford super 7 lathe that needed some TLC . But just as you said SIR now I need other machine tools to complement the Myford. But it's like having a new lease on life for me . Thank you Sir for the video. Regards from South Africa
Hey Chris, been following your channel for a good while now, the engineering fascinates me even though i am a `Wood Butcher` Kitchen Fitter lol. Not sure this is your thing but I`de` like to draw your attention to the work of British Aerospace Engineer Christopher Dunn, who with the help of his Son have done the first in depth measurements on an ancient Egyptian Vase. According to the mainstream Egyptological dogma these Rose Granite and Diorite artefacts were all cut, shaped and polished by hand using copper tools, stone pounders and flint. They have used state of the art engineering equipment, laser scanners, CMM`s, Structured Light Scanners etc and found the objects surfaces are to within 1000th of an inch accurate, something that could not be achieved using primitive tools, they had to have been made using Lathe`s, Mills and other lost engineering techniques.Your videos on the Antikythera device amazed me, that over 2000 years ago there was a technology being used that had to have been handed down, you don`t just develop that kind of engineering and technology when you are just crawling out of the stone age. Chris Dunn and Ben over at UnchartedX have asked that anyone with engineering backgrounds look at the data they have collated and give their take on it. There are over 40,000 such objects that were found at a place called Saqqara in Egypt, all of them show this extreme high precision, well worth 30 minutes of your time mate, especially seeing as you already have some knowledge of ancient engineering. I`ll post the link below to Ben`s first video where they scan the vase, there is a part 2 he released a week or so ago. Cheers mate, Glen UK. th-cam.com/video/WAyQQRNoQaE/w-d-xo.html
@@Clickspring Chris, it`s amazing mate, the thought that 12,000, possibly even 36,000 years ago there was an advanced global technically advanced civilisation that was wiped from time by some cataclysm and all we know of them is the amazing high precision artefacts and monuments. I`m following this with great interest.
One of the cheaper tools I like to have is a Dremel. It's usefulness should be evident, but in the right situation you can grind out a broken tap with those little diamond burrs.
"Here is my tiny shop that I do more in than your huge shop." I got 1400 sq ft shop and never have any room. You're over there doing it in a shed. It's always so crazy to see what you make. It's so awesome.
This video came at the perfect time! I just finished setting up my sherline lathe for my shop yesterday and had just started compiling a list of essential tools that I regularly see you use in your videos 👍Thanks Chris!
I am really impressed with the Sherline Chris has. I just returned from a visit with my son in SOCAL and found out he lives just 1.5 miles from Sherline headquarters! Sadly, we didn't have time for a tour, maybe next time. I did visit the Craftsmanship Museum and highly recommend it for anyone visiting the area.
Great information - thanks Chris. I got a particular thrill seeing your opening clip that featured the Popular Mechanics magazine. As a hobby machinist I find they are a fascinating glimpse into the past technology. I inherited a few dozen of these from my late father (who was also into making stuff) and I agree that they are full of interesting articles and tips for hobbyists. Love your channel BTW!😊
Hey Chris, I just wanted to say that I have been watching since the beginning and the incredible quality of your work is amazing. You have paid incredible attention to detail. I have also noticed that there has been a change in recent years. I don't know if I will get to see the completion of Antikythera, but if I don't I am glad to have seen all the things you have made. It really is incredible what you have made. I hope you are doing well and I wish you good luck on all of your endeavors.
Ripper, a very efficient introduction to growing a home shop! My tip: ordinary floor or bench drill presses may not do a good job of centering drill bits of 3mm and smaller. Years later I discover this video's collet set and morse taper collet chuck. Thats where I should have started!
I would add storage to the essentials list! Spending some money upfront on machinists chests, or similar quality storage will make your shop time more enjoyable and efficient. It will also help keep your expensive new tools in decent condition and make the most of small spaces.
When it comes to the price of machine tools especially now it's almost a plunge you have to take. I financed my machine tools through a personal loan and it amounts to a used car payment. But I was able to get full size machines that have done me quite well. I followed a similar path with getting the machines, some basic tooling and measuring equipment, and it's been a journey over the last few years purchasing all the other things I needed. If you're in the spot where this is something you really want to do and wondering how to get over the price to play, try thinking beyond liquid cash. This hobby can also be an investment.
Excellent video man. I too am an older hand at this and you're setting up a newbie to succeed. As most of my work is quite small I went with the Sherline lathe and mill. One nice thing about them is that they have such a huge selection of tooling and accessories for their equipment. Their only limitation is the same as all machinery: size constraints.
Sir, your shop never ceases to amaze me. Up until your first video on your shop. I thought you had a pretty large workshop. Now I just realize you put your shop in a Tardus. And your timelord status is pretty credible. :) And I hope all is going well with your research. And building of the Antikethera machine?
You just reminded me I've got the Build Your Own Metal Working Shop From Scrap series by David Gingery. It's on my list of things to do. It's just that running an aluminum-melting forge in an apartment, let alone a lathe, is probably a bad idea. Heck, I probably won't build the Gingery lathe. Just buy a small one and a drill press, then make the rest of the machines and accessories from the books as best as I can.
before you buy any tool. Think about what you actually want to do in your workshop / in the project. Sometimes it's a second or even third thought that leads to the decision in buying or not buying a tool. I'm asking myself permanently the question: "Do I really need the new tool for this specific task?" It's often possible to reach the same goal without spending a lot of money beforehand.
Completely agree about getting a lathe. Very useful thing thing to have, and even those cheaper import ones are a great start to get used to how one operates. Do get one that is a little bigger than what you think you need because there will always be that one project that won't quite fit on it :) As for single quality tools VS a cheaper set, i respectfully disagree on that one and prefer to get a cheap assortment first. That allows me the freedom to try different things and complete several projects with one set. Then as parts are used up/wear out, i can get quality replacements for just those since at that point i know for sure what is used the most. Couple of things i won't cheap out on are hand files and drill bits. Quality files cut WAY faster and cobalt drill bits last way longer compared to the cheap versions. As a side note, being able to resharpen drill bits is a really useful skill to have, and it is really easy to do on a bench grinder. Lastly, regular straight taps are kind of a pain to use (have to back them out completely after just about every turn that you cut, just to clear out chips), spiral taps or so-called "gun taps" (named so because they can be used in a drill, not necessarily because they are meant for firearms) are way more efficient because they form a long chip and direct it out of the hole, somewhat like a drill bit does.
I have many of those same books from that series, great reference material. I always joke and tell people to save as much as the mill costs to buy tooling for it. Man that stuff eats your wallet alive for quality tooling. I tinker making model engines, it's such a relaxing pastime to go in the shop and make one part at a time until it runs. I don't have the patience for watch making but I love watching you work your magic.
Insert nondescript gushing here. Your videos are all so amazing. I don’t even know what to say. It did occur to me that saying nothing because I’m intimidated doesn’t help your numbers so thanks for the video. It’s beautiful.
Amazing video, as always. I also love that you suggest starting small and building up from there. I personally find myself wanting to jump in at the very expensive side, though that may be because working as a machinist making aerospace parts, I use the high-end tools and machines every day.
I'd agree with everything Chris has said, especially about the good reference books. In general there properly researched and written with very few mistakes. The same isn't always true on YT and hobby forums where some posts and videos are done by probably well meaning but still those with not quite enough experience and knowledge. And no forum topic or video can ever go into the same technical depth those books can.
Most of the parts I wanted to make were mill parts, not lathe parts, so I bought a little G0704 mill first. I did end up needing to make some turned parts, so I would chuck round stock into the spindle and clamp turning tools and cutoff blades into my vise. It works fine in a pinch. So well in fact, that I ended up upgrading to a large knee mill before I bought a lathe. A lot of people here will tell you to buy the biggest machines you can. This is absolutely correct. You can do a lot of stuff on small equipment and I have tremendous respect for those clever people who do (looking at you Quinn), but everything is just easier on bigger equipment. You don't have to go full Abom79 on it, but one size bigger than what seems right is probably the best move.
You missed one basic and essential tool! get a good industrial (bucket) vacuum! keeping your shop clean helps immensely with keeping your tools in good shape!
Very good advice I would say and very nice video! Essentially my story as well, had a shop all my life and a similar small space in a big closet while I was a student many years ago. It worked really well for what I did then. I now have much a larger area to play in and more and larger machines etc, it has evolved over the years according to my needs and resources. It is good advice to buy and upgrade the shop as money allows over time. Buying the best quality tools and machines that money allow is a good idea. I use some quality tools inherited from my grandfather. And foremost upgrading the shop as interests change what You want to use it for. One thing that is not discussed often is that a shop usually has sort of an "optimum size" for what you do in it. Having the stuff You use often within easy reach saves effort and makes it more pleasurable to work. One thing I noticed myself which is actually pretty obvious, is that a larger building and shop requires much more time for upkeep and maintenance... A separate grinding space is high on my wish list and I kick myself for not considering that when I was planning my present shop.
I literally just pressed but on a bench late yesterday, if I’d known you’d have suggestions I would have waited 😭 Thanks as always for the inspirational content
I appreciate having both a drill press and a mill, because a lot of the time my workflow involves putting holes in something else while a workpiece is aligned on the mill. I also prefer wearing out the relatively inexpensive drillpress with repetitive drilling and saving the mill for when I need it. (Same goes for not using the threading attachment on the lathe for mass material removal, because it'll wear out where moving the carriage with the traverse rack, or a separate feed screw, doesn't put the wear on the high precision component.)
Great video. What you need is basically dependant on what you is going to make. In my case, I changed from a machine tool researcher with all machine tools available to getting a small farm. So had to to start from scratch building a work shop. Repairing farm equipment, cars and everything else needed. Over some 40 years got about the same tools as described in this video. Some things I needed is not mentioned. A pillar drill, a sturdy vice and a air compressor was the the first things. Still used daily. Also different welding equipment. Regards an oxy/acetylene torch the most useful one. Though with current price of acetylene MIG, TIG and Plasma cutters make sense. Nowadays working with racing motorcycles, special tooling and parts are made.
I'm currently bbuilding my own machine shop, mostly second hand, a 3/5" Randa lathe, a Rapid lime hand shaper and a bench press, small bandsaw and two grinders. I also bye at shows either second hand, chucks universal rotary table or from retailers offering show discounts. An internet source I recommend is that if Harrrold Hall, a long time contributer and then editor of Practical Machineing Mmagazine. It is a plethera of desing/prodjects for the hobby machinist.
Great video full of valuable information. There are alot of great comments also. There is the age old question about buying new or used machinery. You need to do your homework no matter which way you go. I have picked up older machines in great shape that the accessories alone would of cost more than the whole package but I have also bought machines that were more trouble than they were worth. This one depends entirely on your situation.
Chris it would be nice if you did a video on a abrasive stones. I haven’t really found anything on TH-cam that has really helped. I have a bunch of stones and I don’t know what’s what.
When you're learning, buy the cheap tools and instruments so you're not holding back worrying about breaking the expensive tools. Once you're comfortable with how they work and what you can do with them, then look into buying something of higher quality. In some instances, you might not actually ever need the higher priced tools. There are several items that I buy the cheap versions of so I don't have to worry about breaking or losing them. I can buy 10+ of the item for the price of just one of the pricier versions. This will of course depend on your personal needs and preferences.
It also helps filter out things you actually need from things that are just nice to have. No point spending a bunch of money on a tool just to find out you only really need it for the one project.
Excellent video Chris, some useful information, even if you are not into metal working the same principles can apply for woodworking or turning as well. Thanks for sharing.
Some people dream about owning a Ferrari, others dream of flying F16s or playing for Manchester United. I dream about owning a lathe. I'm not sure if that's indicative of how sad I am as a human being, or how much I love being a maker. It's mute either way. I still don't own a lathe. Thankfully I can live my turning dreams vicariously through Chris. Thanks Chris.
What I miss most is personal protection equipment. A good pair of safety glasses to protect your eyes. Hearing protection. Etc. To me those should be BEFORE any other equipment someone wants to buy. Yes, it's boring, but we all wants to live a long, healthy, happy life.
I would be amazed if someone hasn't said as much already, but I find a porta-band with a stand does most everything I need in a lot smaller package than a horizontal band saw. I built a little stand (the Porta-Band Grandstand) which mounts in my vice.
you can find old manual, magazines, references in google books... and you can always print them out, or expand the font for when your eyes get older... or you projects get smaller each year. =D
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
Great video. If you're in a location that has a local model engineering club, or anything of that sort, check into it. I agree that the TH-cam videos are a tremendous resource, but being able to visit an experienced individuals shop is also worth a lot. I recently made a connection with a more experienced local amateur machinist through one of the hobby machinist websites. He's helping me begin to rehab my -- very -- vintage M head Bridgeport. Also, I think it's important to seek out opportunities to get young people into one's shop. A lot of the activities we're doing in our home shops are no longer taught in the public schools (I'm commenting from the central US). Thanks again for the video.
I couldn't convince my spouse that the guest bedroom really needed to be a machine shop, and at that same time my High-School son got involved with FIRST Robotics at his school. All the "Technology Education" in school was so general that things like "machining" were magical processes students watch on How It's Made videos. I started to mentor the robotics group, and decided they needed a mill and lathe to make robot parts. Sure, the mentors had to pay for it, but the school gladly provided space and the students had a hands-on experience with manual machining. Over the years, I've shown a hundred kids that they can make something from a bar of aluminum of steel and enjoyed a place outside my house for my machining hobby.
Along those lines, also consider a makerspace or hackerspace. They are akin to a gym membership with access to tools and (in my experience) community/knowledge/training that goes far beyond the tools themselves. Where I live, we run a shop that for $55/month you can use a metal shop, wood shop, cnc (large and small), fabric/textile/soft goods, computer lab, storage, electronics, 3d printing, and business incubator space. That 55 would take a long time to buy your first lathe even, let alone the extras. I live in a bigger city, but there is a makerspace in almost every population center in the developed world. Some are more expensive, some lean more on a commercial bent while others like ours are community/member driven nonprofits where we strive to keep the cost accessible to anyone.
@@rsaunders57I used to (2016-19) volunteer with a FIRST team. If we had had access to even a basic lathe-only space, it could have made a HUGE difference in build quality and interest.
TH-cam/Google has an enormous amount of information on it. I would also venture that it has the answer to every question that an amateur or even professional has. However, the biggest benefit to talking to an experienced machinist (or any profession for that matter) is that most of the time people don't know what the question is to begin with. They might think they know but there are so many nuances that only someone with experience can answer. Most of the time the amateur will ask what they think is the right question and then proceed to mess up and only to later realize their mistake. Whereas a Pro will know the issue before the project has even begun.
I have learned so much from others willing to mentor my interest. Being older now, I feel beholden to that spirit to share my own and the ones before myself, to give that knowledge to anyone interested.
the thing that consistently explodes my brain with your videos is how, on top of your machining skills, your shooting and editing style makes your shop seem like it's 10 times that size.
Chris is CLEARLY an old hand at shooting instructional videos. I think it might have been his profession. If it wasn't, the human race has suffered as a result. I had to watch a LOT of bad instructional videos during my TWO stints at T.A.F.E., and if they had been produced to the quality that Chris makes these videos, I'm pretty sure that today I would be the world's greatest Licensed Aircraft Mechanical Engineer.
I agree
right?!
@@mickeyfilmer5551I KNEW IT!!
TBF it's probably also because of the white lighting used which makes it seem like the shop has some large windows that let in daylight.
I was instantly blown away by the fact that the lathe and the mill was actually in the very same space. I've always thought due to the camera techniques used that the workshop is much larger.
This guy is making this amazing stuff in a broom closet. His shop is the size of my workbench. I have a whole newfound respect for this guy. Great work man.
The most important investments, in my view:
Eye protection
Ear protection
Breathing protection
Good lighting
I admit it comes as a complete shock to me even considering the idea that Chris watches TH-cam videos to learn things he isn't already a master of.
The list of people I learn from every day is endless, but Mr Pete will always be a standout for me. My journey started with him: www.youtube.com/@mrpete222
@@Clickspring Ooh another great resource! A couple of others that I enjoy for precision metal work are www.youtube.com/@spahlow and www.youtube.com/@joepie221 with Steffen specializing in watch making and Joe being a veteran machinist that loves to make tiny tools. Had to edit to correct: www.youtube.com/@StefanGotteswinter is another machinist I confused with Steffen. Both are great resources!
He's a fantastic resource same for this old Tony and oxtools
@@Clickspring Mr. Pete is the ONLY reason I had the courage to begin machining at all. Then you came along a blew my mind with the Antikythera series!!
One top tip that applies to most hobbies is to find others in your area with the same interests, be that via clubs or by asking around. Not only will you possibly find new friends but you will get access to a wealth of local knowledge about where you can get small amounts of materials, others that are selling tooling or machinery, advice on how to solve problems you are having etc. Talking to a retired person who has been working in the field their whole life can be fascinating and really informative.
Also if you can join a club, a maker space or just find like minded friends then possibly you can get access to machines you do not have. In the past many school districts and tech schools ran night classes. But sadly many if not all of these have eliminated any machinery they had. Often for insurance reasons.
When that turned brass screw takes shape 😍
One of the cheaper tools I would add is a ShopVac. I made mine from a broken household vacuum(for the motor, power cord, hose, and filters), 2 five gallon buckets (one with a lid, the other for the motor cover), and a switch I pulled from a broken lamp. It took less than an hour to make and I got all the materials for free. I just grabbed what I needed on garbage day. It's been working for 5ish years now.
Absolutely agree! Cutting chips are sorta easy enough to handle with a hand broom but filing and sanding dust is just a pain in the rear without a vacuum device of some description.
another good one for the shop, or even the deck is a power washer... but if you are working with small items... look toward dental equipment... you can do alot of cleaning on small parts with a waterpick and a toothbrush... just saying. =D
And I would add that if you have a wood shop as well. Get two vacs! One for wood, one for metal.
Agree. Finally freed up the wet and dry for the garage and it's so nice to see a clean lathe when you've tidied up at the end of the day.
Adjunct to this: you can use flex tubing like locline or even just some corrugated plastic tube with a heavy steel wire down the middle of it, to make an adjustable vacuum chip removal setup you can bend to be close enough to the cutting point on the mill and catch at least half the chips. The long stringy stuff off the lathe seldom goes far, but the mill makes a huge mess. Same goes for the grinding wheel: a box behind it with a shopvac helps contain the grinding grit. Jewelers set their buffing wheels up with a loose cloth bag behind the wheel to catch jewelry that snags in the wheel and gets thrown, but generally we use tool rests so we don't have to worry about that.
One piece of advice I received early on was to remember that hand tools (especially files) can do everything that a machine can do, often with similar precision and accuracy. So, before buying a specialty machine I consider whether I actually just need to get out the files so that I can use the money and workshop space for another project.
In addition, I've found that sometimes it's both faster and more fun to lay out and file a feature than to set up a complex fixture and dial in a tool.
I find that if you’re patient, a lot of retiring machinists are parting out their collections of metrology and tooling. In the last three months I found a machinist-made height gauge, surface plate, and Interapid tenths and half-thou indicators at very good prices. A lot of these guys are glad to be able to pass them onto another generation of makers.
10:00. That "Build Your Own Jet Engine" ad ran for years. I always wondered who ordered the plans, built one, and was stupid enough to attach it to a bicycle.
"The JET Bicycle - The most dangerous unsafe bike EVER"
colinfurze
Colin Furze, that's who.
And others. I've seen one in New Zealand, down in Invercargill at a Burt Munro motorcycle rally, and a guy I work with now helped build one many years ago in Dunedin.
ABSOLUTELY worth it to spend the money on quality cutting tools, this is even more important on small machines!
George Daniels's Watchmaking cover far more than I expected. There is a section on shop layout even!
Was a really good book to get an idea of everything.
One of the best tools you have got is your excellent cameras and lighting so that we can so clearly see the techniques, joy and satisfaction in making the parts.
Terrific to have you watching Peter :)
Wish I could've seen this video 20ish years ago.....but this is pretty much how I got going. Lathe, bandsaw, grinder and torch; and then added accessories/welder/mill/surface grinder as I was able. It's been a long road, but can do a lot with what I have. Pretty sure that the list never ends- Great video Chris!
While i haven't set up a machine shop, I did set up a woodshop 20 years ago. A great way to learn how to use your tools is to make more tools. In woodworking, I made shop "furniture". A router table here, outfeed table, workbench, simple cabinets and drawers to hold stuff. It's great because you can use lower quality material, and if you make a mistake, who cares, it's workshop stuff.
Use a new technique or two each time you make something. That's how you learn what works and what doesn't. And have fun, because that's what it's all about!
One tip is to find a local volunteer organization which will allow you to join and learn from their masters. My own machining journey began at the Dixie Wing of the CAF where I learned the basics from a retired professional tool maker and machinist. Many of these organizations will, with a sideways nod, allow you to do your own "Government Jobs" which is code word for doing your own personal projects on their equipment - obviously this is allowed only as long as their own jobs take priority. Use good judgement and you'll be fine, and they'll probably have a level of shop equipment available for your use which would be next to impossible to acquire for home shop usage.
For the milling machine, DRO is a must have. Not so expensive today, but sometimes difficult to fit on small benchtop machine.
And never forget, always buy the biggest machine that fit both the kind of work you do and the machine shop you own.
TouchDRO has quite a few good reviews by TH-cam machinist and is affordable.Search TH-cam for TouchDRO
Absolutely!
A lathe can be worked on without a DRO to a very reasonable extent. Usually a Dial indicator and calipers are enough and can be added upon with micrometers and telescoping bore gauges. Neither of which are expensive at all. But a mill? Of course there are also dials, but making mistakes is easy. Working to dimensions and drilling Hole patterns is just so much easier with a DRO. And as you said, they are pretty cheap nowadays. I believe I paid maybe 250€ for mine on the mill and that one even has an LCD display with graphical interface. Highly recommend!
Funnily enough, I *did* order a DRO for my lathe just 3 days ago. Well, haha.
I have always used the "buy twice" plan for things like drill bits. Buy a cheapo set first to get a wide selection. Then buy quality replacements when you figure out what you will actually use. My tap set has ~10 harbor freight ones but the 1/4-20 is now actually good.
I never considered the abrasive dust from the grinder being an issue! I’ll have to stop concentrating my power tools around the main power outlet. That will certainly save me some money and heartache when I eventually get a lathe. Love your work mate thank you!
I wish I had something like this guide before we had set up our shop. My father and I have a machine shop similar to yours and we set about doing it much the same way, however we learned some of the lessons the hard way, primarily about avoiding the cheaper sets of milling tooling and files and such. Ours wasn't set up for clock making but for gunsmithing. We built and accurized black powder weapons for competition, but seeing as my father passed away almost 2 years ago, I guess the shop is now mine, I am taking the time now to teach my son's the skills to do what my father and I used to do. I'm betting that our tools end up going to one of them and I hope they can find the same enjoyment teaching their kids like my father and I have. One side note, we had the opportunity to buy a Smithy mill/lathe combo and it has turned out great for us. If anyone follows that route, just save yourself the headache off the bat and the first time the control board burns up, just go ahead and get a VFD for it and not fight the issues with that darned control board, we went through 4 boards before I finally said screw it and taught myself how to wire and program a VFD for it, you lose the factory rpm dial but it's not hard to get around.
Does your VFD not have pins for a speed dial (potentiometer)? Most VFDs do, as well as pins for forward/reverse and start/stop, to allow for external controls.
Those old magazines look fantastic! Great video!
I love clickspring!
The great thing about machine tools is they can make parts for themselves. Unless you get a *really* broken one that needs some brazing then you can make parts for your tools on your tools. If you're in an old industrial city then people are just givong this stuff away
Good advice. Too many folks seem to go buy a whole shop full of tools without knowing what they would do for them or if they’ll ever need it. When I was a mechanic I tried not to buy anything I hadn’t already borrowed for a job. (Fortunately I worked with others like myself who would share and take responsibility for caring for other’s tools). Making tools in a pinch is always satisfying to me as well if I’m not on deadline.
A bandsaw is a game changer! Watching Artisan Makes use a hacksaw as much as he does is painful. If he was anywhere near me I would love to gift him one of mine..
I pretty much agree with everything you've said. A lathe and grinder will definitely keep you busy for a while.. Tools like a live center and edge finder are awesome jobs if you're just getting into the hobby. Hemingway kits are also a great place to make tools you'll need while learning as well.
Took me until I retired before I got a lathe and mill. The lathe was an Emco that I had always wanted and bought secondhand, the mill I bought as a retirement present. However I have been collecting hand tools since birth. Now I'm retired I still am buying tools, especially relating to the mill and lathe. The moral of the story is it takes a life time and all the experiences that go along with it to setup your workshop so don't expect to set it up from day one as a boxed set. Even if you had unlimited money you still have to know what you want, why and where you are going to put it to find it when you need it. I would say first up, after you have the basic hand tools you need to decide your primary direction is wood or metal, that will define your first machines. I can assure you its not particularly practical ( or satisfying ) to try mixing both in the same room. And there in is the final point, what ever you do you will not have enough room :)
Since birth?
Your first tool wasn't a pair of forceps , by any chance?
I'm currently building up a machining toolset. These are my early experiences.
A bench grinder is great to create a new cutter, but a small diamond stone is ideal to touch up the edge of a cutter every time before using it. Especially when cutting steel.
You'll also need holders for your indicators : a mag-base holder and perhaps a holder for around the spindle.
These are the tools I created, in order, right after buying my Sherline lathe:
- T-nuts and slotted clamping plates (for a Sherline-size lathe, most of the tools you can buy are too big and buying them from Sherline, too expensive)
- A ball turning tool (because I needed one for an early project)
- Storage! For my situation, wooden boxes are ideal - I like making these myself. Since I don't have a dedicated machining workshop, they allow me to quickly take out and store away my tools.
- A hex collet block for my ER holder. Made out of hex stock. Accurate enough for now. I'll make a square one later. The hex version will also work for square features for now.
- A wide screwdriver for the custom screw that tightens the ER holder in the block.
- A boring head as I need to make wide radii. (Boring head currently in the making - the ones you can buy online are MT2 or higher, while the Sherline needs an MT1 holder)
TODO:
- Pancake V-blocks. I bought small V-blocks but they are still too large for the Sherline vise! Some 120 degree pancake V-blocks (V-plates?) will help me hold round parts in the vise.
- For these V-plates, I'd like to use a fly-cutter...so, I'll be making one of those.
- Bought some saw blades....need to make a holder for this.
- A quick-release holder plate for my mag-base on the cross slide. Sherline's cross slide is aluminium - magnets don't work!
- A sine plate. To set the height, I'll make some rough gauge blocks myself as I need them. They'll be more than precise enough to set an angle.
- Single-point threading. A Sherline can't cut threads out of the box. You can buy a gear set for this and it's actually not that expensive for what you get. Still...I would like to be able to make gears myself, so...more tooling needed.
- Offset center for the tail stock to support taper turning. You can't adjust the Sherline tail stock, so a little offset jig (just a dovetail slide) allows the setup.
I mainly want to use the lathe (and mill) to repair things and to create hardware for furniture or to create parts where wood or 3D printed plastic aren't strong enough.
Notice above how easily you get into side projects, just to make tools and jigs you'll need.
My first big project is a wood+brass lamp, but I can't make it yet because I'm lacking tooling.
So be prepared for quite some journey before you can actually make what you want.
My most frustrating thought as a beginner has repeatedly been "Darn, can't build that yet because I don't have..."
All the youtube projects you see built will typically involve a wide toolset!
So, I do NOT agree with a statement like "With this minimal toolset you can build anything..." Nope. You can't. Trust me.
To prepare you for what you can do when you buy a (bare) lathe, hold this thought:
"A lathe can make cylinders. That's it."
(ok, that's not entirely true, but still)
Wow. Your shop is a _lot_ smaller than I thought. Props for the good camera work for all these years, disguising the true size of the space. (Or maybe I'm just inattentive lol)
Great video Chris.
You were the first person I asked about setting up a workshop years ago after watching all your videos.
Great to see you back producing videos again. Really missed your productions 😊
You inspired me and I even started my own channel, it's not great but it's doing OK for someone with no budget and mobility issues.
Looking forward to the next upload!
Cheers Neil
The bit on books is awesome👍🏻
In one of those magazines, I saw an ad for making your own Geiger counter. If you're worried about radiation that badly, a Geiger counter is the last thing you should worry about 😆 🤣. Awesome video Chris!
That ad was at a time when going out in the desert and backcountry to look or prospect for uranium was popular, say the late 1940s into early 1960s.
I enjoyed this video - fortunate to have many of the items Chris mentioned including the Daniel’s horology manual! Best book I ever bought - I just wish I had more time to spend in the workshop than I do!
I've been watching your fantastic work for a while, I cannot believe how small your workshop is. I'm even more impressed
Chris - it's lovely to see that you recommend the old British classic books. They seem rather outdated today but they are still as valid as ever. My first lathe was a HobbyMat and I hated it because it was too small. I have since acquired many lathes - I found the bigger ones are much cheaper than the small ones. So I have a Colchester Triumph and a massive Holbrook H20 that weighs nearly 5000kg. Ironically now I have huge lathes thanks to your inspiration I would much rather do small delicate work! My lovely old Triumph is very accurate but a tad too big for clockmaking! I also have a CVA which is much better for smaller work but is still 1400kg.
The Engineering company I worked at for 30 years as a machinist closed its doors in 2022 . Subsequently I found a position as a fitter . But really really missed the lathe , milling and gear cutting . So I bought a Myford super 7 lathe that needed some TLC . But just as you said SIR now I need other machine tools to complement the Myford. But it's like having a new lease on life for me . Thank you Sir for the video. Regards from South Africa
Hey Chris, been following your channel for a good while now, the engineering fascinates me even though i am a `Wood Butcher` Kitchen Fitter lol. Not sure this is your thing but I`de` like to draw your attention to the work of British Aerospace Engineer Christopher Dunn, who with the help of his Son have done the first in depth measurements on an ancient Egyptian Vase. According to the mainstream Egyptological dogma these Rose Granite and Diorite artefacts were all cut, shaped and polished by hand using copper tools, stone pounders and flint. They have used state of the art engineering equipment, laser scanners, CMM`s, Structured Light Scanners etc and found the objects surfaces are to within 1000th of an inch accurate, something that could not be achieved using primitive tools, they had to have been made using Lathe`s, Mills and other lost engineering techniques.Your videos on the Antikythera device amazed me, that over 2000 years ago there was a technology being used that had to have been handed down, you don`t just develop that kind of engineering and technology when you are just crawling out of the stone age. Chris Dunn and Ben over at UnchartedX have asked that anyone with engineering backgrounds look at the data they have collated and give their take on it. There are over 40,000 such objects that were found at a place called Saqqara in Egypt, all of them show this extreme high precision, well worth 30 minutes of your time mate, especially seeing as you already have some knowledge of ancient engineering. I`ll post the link below to Ben`s first video where they scan the vase, there is a part 2 he released a week or so ago. Cheers mate, Glen UK.
th-cam.com/video/WAyQQRNoQaE/w-d-xo.html
I have been watching this with interest, they're doing great work!
@@Clickspring Chris, it`s amazing mate, the thought that 12,000, possibly even 36,000 years ago there was an advanced global technically advanced civilisation that was wiped from time by some cataclysm and all we know of them is the amazing high precision artefacts and monuments. I`m following this with great interest.
@@REKLESSWOLVES1 Polygonal Stonework worldwide. Tin imported from Peru to the middle east 2000+ years ago. Seems to indicated some missing history.
I agree with everything said in this video and in my opinion one must do as he says before you get old.
One of the cheaper tools I like to have is a Dremel. It's usefulness should be evident, but in the right situation you can grind out a broken tap with those little diamond burrs.
"Here is my tiny shop that I do more in than your huge shop."
I got 1400 sq ft shop and never have any room. You're over there doing it in a shed. It's always so crazy to see what you make. It's so awesome.
This video came at the perfect time! I just finished setting up my sherline lathe for my shop yesterday and had just started compiling a list of essential tools that I regularly see you use in your videos 👍Thanks Chris!
I am really impressed with the Sherline Chris has. I just returned from a visit with my son in SOCAL and found out he lives just 1.5 miles from Sherline headquarters! Sadly, we didn't have time for a tour, maybe next time. I did visit the Craftsmanship Museum and highly recommend it for anyone visiting the area.
Your advice is priceless for anyone getting into the hobby.One thing I would add is,a quote from Joe Pie.”Buy nice or,buy twice.
Ya gotta love Joe's channel.
I go by the "Buy once, cry once" motto.
Interesting twist.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Great information - thanks Chris. I got a particular thrill seeing your opening clip that featured the Popular Mechanics magazine. As a hobby machinist I find they are a fascinating glimpse into the past technology. I inherited a few dozen of these from my late father (who was also into making stuff) and I agree that they are full of interesting articles and tips for hobbyists. Love your channel BTW!😊
Hey Chris, I just wanted to say that I have been watching since the beginning and the incredible quality of your work is amazing. You have paid incredible attention to detail. I have also noticed that there has been a change in recent years. I don't know if I will get to see the completion of Antikythera, but if I don't I am glad to have seen all the things you have made. It really is incredible what you have made. I hope you are doing well and I wish you good luck on all of your endeavors.
Ripper, a very efficient introduction to growing a home shop! My tip: ordinary floor or bench drill presses may not do a good job of centering drill bits of 3mm and smaller. Years later I discover this video's collet set and morse taper collet chuck. Thats where I should have started!
I would add storage to the essentials list! Spending some money upfront on machinists chests, or similar quality storage will make your shop time more enjoyable and efficient. It will also help keep your expensive new tools in decent condition and make the most of small spaces.
I do a lot of work with a dremel type rotary tool. There are diamond bits burrs and wheels for them that make them very versatile.
Excellent video Chris, thanks
spring's best tool in the shop is that deliciously crisp camera lens
I love me some glorious tools.
When it comes to the price of machine tools especially now it's almost a plunge you have to take. I financed my machine tools through a personal loan and it amounts to a used car payment. But I was able to get full size machines that have done me quite well. I followed a similar path with getting the machines, some basic tooling and measuring equipment, and it's been a journey over the last few years purchasing all the other things I needed.
If you're in the spot where this is something you really want to do and wondering how to get over the price to play, try thinking beyond liquid cash. This hobby can also be an investment.
Excellent video man. I too am an older hand at this and you're setting up a newbie to succeed. As most of my work is quite small I went with the Sherline lathe and mill. One nice thing about them is that they have such a huge selection of tooling and accessories for their equipment. Their only limitation is the same as all machinery: size constraints.
Sir, your shop never ceases to amaze me. Up until your first video on your shop. I thought you had a pretty large workshop. Now I just realize you put your shop in a Tardus. And your timelord status is pretty credible. :) And I hope all is going well with your research. And building of the Antikethera machine?
You just reminded me I've got the Build Your Own Metal Working Shop From Scrap series by David Gingery. It's on my list of things to do. It's just that running an aluminum-melting forge in an apartment, let alone a lathe, is probably a bad idea. Heck, I probably won't build the Gingery lathe. Just buy a small one and a drill press, then make the rest of the machines and accessories from the books as best as I can.
before you buy any tool. Think about what you actually want to do in your workshop / in the project. Sometimes it's a second or even third thought that leads to the decision in buying or not buying a tool. I'm asking myself permanently the question: "Do I really need the new tool for this specific task?" It's often possible to reach the same goal without spending a lot of money beforehand.
Completely agree about getting a lathe. Very useful thing thing to have, and even those cheaper import ones are a great start to get used to how one operates. Do get one that is a little bigger than what you think you need because there will always be that one project that won't quite fit on it :)
As for single quality tools VS a cheaper set, i respectfully disagree on that one and prefer to get a cheap assortment first. That allows me the freedom to try different things and complete several projects with one set. Then as parts are used up/wear out, i can get quality replacements for just those since at that point i know for sure what is used the most.
Couple of things i won't cheap out on are hand files and drill bits. Quality files cut WAY faster and cobalt drill bits last way longer compared to the cheap versions. As a side note, being able to resharpen drill bits is a really useful skill to have, and it is really easy to do on a bench grinder.
Lastly, regular straight taps are kind of a pain to use (have to back them out completely after just about every turn that you cut, just to clear out chips), spiral taps or so-called "gun taps" (named so because they can be used in a drill, not necessarily because they are meant for firearms) are way more efficient because they form a long chip and direct it out of the hole, somewhat like a drill bit does.
I have many of those same books from that series, great reference material. I always joke and tell people to save as much as the mill costs to buy tooling for it. Man that stuff eats your wallet alive for quality tooling. I tinker making model engines, it's such a relaxing pastime to go in the shop and make one part at a time until it runs. I don't have the patience for watch making but I love watching you work your magic.
Insert nondescript gushing here. Your videos are all so amazing. I don’t even know what to say. It did occur to me that saying nothing because I’m intimidated doesn’t help your numbers so thanks for the video. It’s beautiful.
That Sept 49 PopMech has an article “The Contour Saw”. Maybe why it’s in the spotlight here today.
Good to see you again.
Really loving the more frequent uploads!
Yes, me too. They don't even have to be all that long, just love watching anything Chris does.
Chris, you’re the best. Love you brother
Amazing video, as always. I also love that you suggest starting small and building up from there. I personally find myself wanting to jump in at the very expensive side, though that may be because working as a machinist making aerospace parts, I use the high-end tools and machines every day.
I'd agree with everything Chris has said, especially about the good reference books. In general there properly researched and written with very few mistakes. The same isn't always true on YT and hobby forums where some posts and videos are done by probably well meaning but still those with not quite enough experience and knowledge. And no forum topic or video can ever go into the same technical depth those books can.
Most of the parts I wanted to make were mill parts, not lathe parts, so I bought a little G0704 mill first. I did end up needing to make some turned parts, so I would chuck round stock into the spindle and clamp turning tools and cutoff blades into my vise. It works fine in a pinch. So well in fact, that I ended up upgrading to a large knee mill before I bought a lathe. A lot of people here will tell you to buy the biggest machines you can. This is absolutely correct. You can do a lot of stuff on small equipment and I have tremendous respect for those clever people who do (looking at you Quinn), but everything is just easier on bigger equipment. You don't have to go full Abom79 on it, but one size bigger than what seems right is probably the best move.
You missed one basic and essential tool!
get a good industrial (bucket) vacuum! keeping your shop clean helps immensely with keeping your tools in good shape!
Those perfectionists (Swap Lamp alike) have some magic wands for cleaning and keeping machines clean 😂😂
Very good advice I would say and very nice video!
Essentially my story as well, had a shop all my life and a similar small space in a big closet while I was a student many years ago. It worked really well for what I did then. I now have much a larger area to play in and more and larger machines etc, it has evolved over the years according to my needs and resources.
It is good advice to buy and upgrade the shop as money allows over time. Buying the best quality tools and machines that money allow is a good idea. I use some quality tools inherited from my grandfather. And foremost upgrading the shop as interests change what You want to use it for.
One thing that is not discussed often is that a shop usually has sort of an "optimum size" for what you do in it. Having the stuff You use often within easy reach saves effort and makes it more pleasurable to work. One thing I noticed myself which is actually pretty obvious, is that a larger building and shop requires much more time for upkeep and maintenance...
A separate grinding space is high on my wish list and I kick myself for not considering that when I was planning my present shop.
I keep meaning on learning to replicate that very specific look of technical drawing style often found in old popular mechanics
This is spot on start with a lathe and don't blow your budget, buy things as you go along cheers.
I literally just pressed but on a bench late yesterday, if I’d known you’d have suggestions I would have waited 😭 Thanks as always for the inspirational content
Brilliant Chris. Totally agree with you on this approach. After getting the basics I've let the projects steer the further purchases.
I appreciate having both a drill press and a mill, because a lot of the time my workflow involves putting holes in something else while a workpiece is aligned on the mill. I also prefer wearing out the relatively inexpensive drillpress with repetitive drilling and saving the mill for when I need it. (Same goes for not using the threading attachment on the lathe for mass material removal, because it'll wear out where moving the carriage with the traverse rack, or a separate feed screw, doesn't put the wear on the high precision component.)
Man speaks about practics thanks a lot of
Great video. What you need is basically dependant on what you is going to make. In my case, I changed from a machine tool researcher with all machine tools available to getting a small farm. So had to to start from scratch building a work shop. Repairing farm equipment, cars and everything else needed. Over some 40 years got about the same tools as described in this video. Some things I needed is not mentioned. A pillar drill, a sturdy vice and a air compressor was the the first things. Still used daily. Also different welding equipment. Regards an oxy/acetylene torch the most useful one. Though with current price of acetylene MIG, TIG and Plasma cutters make sense. Nowadays working with racing motorcycles, special tooling and parts are made.
I'm currently bbuilding my own machine shop, mostly second hand, a 3/5" Randa lathe, a Rapid lime hand shaper and a bench press, small bandsaw and two grinders. I also bye at shows either second hand, chucks universal rotary table or from retailers offering show discounts. An internet source I recommend is that if Harrrold Hall, a long time contributer and then editor of Practical Machineing Mmagazine. It is a plethera of desing/prodjects for the hobby machinist.
Thanks for a fun visual romp to go along with the advice, Chris! I recognize lots of those bits. 👍
100% agree with everything you said.
Awesome... been trying to build a shop for years thx...
Fantastic video.
Great video full of valuable information. There are alot of great comments also. There is the age old question about buying new or used machinery. You need to do your homework no matter which way you go. I have picked up older machines in great shape that the accessories alone would of cost more than the whole package but I have also bought machines that were more trouble than they were worth. This one depends entirely on your situation.
You are one of a kind! Great video and as always great sharing of your knowledge and craft. We are greatful.
Good video. I use your 4 tools shown in the beginning a lot.
As always .. splendid video, packed with information, thank you Chris ! :) all the best from Norway
I'm not the only person who automatically greets Chris in return when I hear "G'day, Chris here, and welcome back to Clickspring", right?
Another great video Chris.
Highly relevant.
Thanks
Never suffer cheap drill bits.
What? You don't like holes that are consistently 23.6% larger that the labeled drill size?
@@ExtantFrodo2 No, you don't want holes jammed with a broken drill bit...
@@Craftlngo Just drill them out with a bigger drill.🤣
or hacksaw blades.
Chris it would be nice if you did a video on a abrasive stones. I haven’t really found anything on TH-cam that has really helped. I have a bunch of stones and I don’t know what’s what.
When you're learning, buy the cheap tools and instruments so you're not holding back worrying about breaking the expensive tools. Once you're comfortable with how they work and what you can do with them, then look into buying something of higher quality. In some instances, you might not actually ever need the higher priced tools. There are several items that I buy the cheap versions of so I don't have to worry about breaking or losing them. I can buy 10+ of the item for the price of just one of the pricier versions. This will of course depend on your personal needs and preferences.
It also helps filter out things you actually need from things that are just nice to have. No point spending a bunch of money on a tool just to find out you only really need it for the one project.
The most used tool in my workshop is the radio :)
Brilliant video Chris, thank you.
Excellent video Chris, some useful information, even if you are not into metal working the same principles can apply for woodworking or turning as well. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers 🍻
That's great. I wonder where Chris learned to film and edit? Awfully good at both.
Some people dream about owning a Ferrari, others dream of flying F16s or playing for Manchester United. I dream about owning a lathe. I'm not sure if that's indicative of how sad I am as a human being, or how much I love being a maker. It's mute either way. I still don't own a lathe. Thankfully I can live my turning dreams vicariously through Chris. Thanks Chris.
Chris just a thought, for the 5# piece of machinery me the die filer. Remember your clock, imagine doing all the wheels by hand!! 🥵
What I miss most is personal protection equipment. A good pair of safety glasses to protect your eyes. Hearing protection. Etc. To me those should be BEFORE any other equipment someone wants to buy. Yes, it's boring, but we all wants to live a long, healthy, happy life.
I would be amazed if someone hasn't said as much already, but I find a porta-band with a stand does most everything I need in a lot smaller package than a horizontal band saw. I built a little stand (the Porta-Band Grandstand) which mounts in my vice.
I noticed even Adam Savage has done that. Seen it in a few other shops too now.
5:34 well worth watching This Old Tony's video on cheap collets from about a month ago :)
you can find old manual, magazines, references in google books... and you can always print them out, or expand the font for when your eyes get older... or you projects get smaller each year. =D
great advice mate!