The Home Machinist!

Welcome Seadawg! :D I haven't been around the forum for a while, but here's my 2 cents worth - I found the books mentioned by oscer great when I first started (Machine Shop Practice Vol. 1&2) but after you get a little practice in you'll find a copy of Machinery's Handbook an invaluable resource...

I know it sounds counter intuitive, but call a couple of your insulation contractors and get bids. When I looked at having the crawlspace under our house insulated I checked insulation prices at the box stores and then got bids from local contractors - for what I would have had to pay for just the i...

Sometimes it takes a day or two for the group moderator
to see your membership request. (I believe they are unpaid volunteers
that also have real jobs in many cases.)

Yea, I had to become a Yahoo member to join the group(s).
I forgot about the email account, I just never used it, even though it's there.
Once you join, you can list an alternate and primary email address, You don't
have to use Yahoo's.

You might try joining the rockwell Lathe group at Yahoo.
they may have a manual in PDF in their files section.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RockwellLathe/

When your gone from your shop for too long,
the gremlins get in

Most auto parts stores in my neck of the woods carry at least a few now.

I don't really see a problem with it - Assuming it's a vise you don't mind altering to fit your needs. I don't think I would do that to a good Kurt or similar. Why not just drill and tap to what ever size your clamp set is? that would give you more versatility with clamping and fixturing. As far as ...

I think they are referring to general usages including sand paper
and sanding disks. Most dry use sandpaper is ao and wet/dry is silicon carbide.
but I have used my 6" AO grinding wheel to shape replacement hammer & shovel handles.

It just so happens that I have large outer bearing race in my stash of goodies.
Is it possible to anneal this thing to the point that I can cut it with a carbide
tool on my lathe? Or am I just dreaming?
I just have a run of the mill home shop, nothing fancy.

Yep, I had to cut down some screws for drawer handles on a bathroom vanity,
instead of using a hacksaw, I used the lathe - they're all +0, - .002 instead of
+ 0, - 1/16". talk about overkill??

edit: they were very consistant when you tightened them up though.

I've done that before (and will probably do it again).
but, like you I manage to catch myself and say "what the h#$% am I doing?"
and move it to the bench. It's usually my back that reminds me.