Metal Working

[Rhizomorph13]

Good to know but again it comes down to welding frequency. We just don't do enough to worry about it. From the videos I've seen that makes sense the process just looks a lot cleaner.

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Boru,

What would you hope to be the output of your metalworking? Like whatcha buildin'?

Doodads and whatnots, basically. I don't really have a goal or a project in mind, other than to learn something new.

Boru

Hmm, in that case one thing you might want to check out is Fusion 360 it is a free CAD tool (mostly) that I've used for visualizing and then dimensioning a workpiece. I did this with my son's welding bench then took the measurements to Forest Grove Iron Works and they helped me pick out bar stock, then cut them to the lengths that I wanted, then we welded that stuff up.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Doodads and whatnots, basically. I don't really have a goal or a project in mind, other than to learn something new.

Boru

Hmm, in that case one thing you might want to check out is Fusion 360 it is a free CAD tool (mostly) that I've used for visualizing and then dimensioning a workpiece. I did this with my son's welding bench then took the measurements to Forest Grove Iron Works and they helped me pick out bar stock, then cut them to the lengths that I wanted, then we welded that stuff up.

Yeah, not really the direction I’m wanting to go. Thinking more traditional tools and methods.

Boru

[ignoramus]

Boru. If you just want to pass some time as a hobby, doing up or restoring an old car involves so many skills, you'll learn stuff and never be bored.
eg, any old car, doesn't have to be fancy, an old mini, or an austin, etc. It covers, painting, welding, electricals, stitching? You can do as little or as much as you want...
(ps, I enjoy working on the old horse more than I do driving it) ...

(as many here will tell you, it's not just for grease monkeys. There's actually a lot of theory involved in doing things like degreeing a camshaft or setting up proper rocker arm geometry...)

[onlinebiker]

For a novice who wants to knock some steel into something useful - or just fun - you will get the most bang for your buck with a mig welder, a side grinder with some cutoff blades and some sanding discs and a bench mounted drill press.

You can get all new - easily - for under $1000 USD....

Or hit some garage sales. You would be AMAZED at some of the good quality tools you can find at such sales....

I got both bandsaws (vert and horz) for $50 each. My floor mount Packard drill press for $40. I got a new Ryobi sawzall for $2. It's well worth a bit of driving about on a Saturday morning with the SO....


He who dies with the most TOOLS wins...

[Fireball]

For a novice who wants to knock some steel into something useful - or just fun - you will get the most bang for your buck with a mig welder, a side grinder with some cutoff blades and some sanding discs and a bench mounted drill press.

You can get all new - easily - for under $1000 USD....

Or hit some garage sales. You would be AMAZED at some of the good quality tools you can find at such sales....

I got both bandsaws (vert and horz) for $50 each. My floor mount Packard drill press for $40. I got a new Ryobi sawzall for $2. It's well worth a bit of driving about on a Saturday morning with the SO....


He who dies with the most TOOLS wins...

DOGDAMMIT, I need more floor space. 

[popeyespappy]

a toolroom surface grinder

I'd like to have a surface grinder. My next knife project is going to include a tapered tang and blade. I'm going to try using a 12" disk sander.

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For a novice who wants to knock some steel into something useful - or just fun - you will get the most bang for your buck with a mig welder, a side grinder with some cutoff blades and some sanding discs and a bench mounted drill press.

You can get all new - easily - for under $1000 USD....

Or hit some garage sales. You would be AMAZED at some of the good quality tools you can find at such sales....

I got both bandsaws (vert and horz) for $50 each. My floor mount Packard drill press for $40. I got a new Ryobi sawzall for $2. It's well worth a bit of driving about on a Saturday morning with the SO....


He who dies with the most TOOLS wins...

DOGDAMMIT, I need more floor space. 

Me too!

[onlinebiker]

For a novice who wants to knock some steel into something useful - or just fun - you will get the most bang for your buck with a mig welder, a side grinder with some cutoff blades and some sanding discs and a bench mounted drill press.

You can get all new - easily - for under $1000 USD....

Or hit some garage sales. You would be AMAZED at some of the good quality tools you can find at such sales....

I got both bandsaws (vert and horz) for $50 each. My floor mount Packard drill press for $40. I got a new Ryobi sawzall for $2. It's well worth a bit of driving about on a Saturday morning with the SO....


He who dies with the most TOOLS wins...

DOGDAMMIT, I need more floor space. 

Two things to make the best use of available space.

A flat, level floor.

Wheels on everything (where practical).

About the only things in my shop not on wheels are the lathe, mill.and surface grinder..

If you aren't using something - move it off to the side...

[popeyespappy]

I know that popeyespappy has been making knives. Shoot him a PM.

My latest.







Sheaths too.



I've got a little bit of money in it though. Mostly in the grinder.



I smoked the cheap Chinese VFD in the pic above though. Replaced it with a KBAC-27D which is what I should have bought in the first place.

[brewer]

Oh fuck, Boru's gonna poke his eye out.

[Fireball]

DOGDAMMIT, I need more floor space. 

Two things to make the best use of available space.

A flat, level floor.

Wheels on everything (where practical).

About the only things in my shop not on wheels are the lathe, mill.and surface grinder..

If you aren't using something - move it off to the side...

I have no power tools bolted down. I have a lunch box planer, 10" drum sander and a benchtop drill press in a vertical stack. Almost everything is on wheels- with locking casters, even the table saw (which is actually a portable job site saw that I built a cabinet for). The only device that I have no wheels on is the carving bench, and I made it out of a birch top, maple framing and birch plywood. That bitch is just plain heavy on purpose, and that thing I have no intention of putting on wheels. My scroll saw and small band saw are on drawer slides which extend out of a shelving unit I built, so that when they are not in use they are stowed in that thing. I have plywood in the rafters with wood piled on it so that it's out of the way. I'd show pictures but it's pretty damned embarrassing for people to look at. Anything I want to use, I have to move something else to do it. Frustrating doesn't describe it.