The Home Machinist!

Thanks. I would not be able to get to all of the weld in the inside of the U channel where it butts up against the solid side of the other piece, but the grinder would work well enough everywhere else I think to weaken the structure enough to bend it as needed. Seems like a good tool to have anyway....

That's a heck of a generous offer Bob ! In the short period of time that I've been associated with this forum, I've been constantly impressed with the offers of free help and advice from guys that have been doing this for a lifetime, just to help a newbie get aboard. Randy C I just joined here and ...

Well, I would be willing to try that, but I wonder what part of the assembly "gives". If you turn the table over, the welded joint is slightly off the ground, because the structure sits on its far right and left edges, rather like a very shallow tent. Ideally, the center peak would be mash...

Thanks. I got the impression a metal lathe table is preferred over a wood one, and managed to do that. Seems like I jumped out of one frying pan into another. - Phil

A friend briefly introduced me to MIG welding today. Material was 12" wide x 3" x 3/8" thick U-channel. It looks like this. http://imgs.tootoo.com/01/4e/014e9e6cf1425c9868b6341e94f97977.jpg I had two pieces of this material. One 14" long and the other 60" long. My friend tac...

I do not have a lot of space to play with in my garage, but if I had to, could get a Bridgeport to fit. My question is, just what does a 2000+ lb. machine get me vs something that weighs 1/3 of that? I am new to machining, hence the naive question. I understand speed, improved accuracy, increased ta...

After reading some more, seeing some responses, it seemed to me that a metal bench would be best, although a wood one could be made to work. Still interested in welding, and lots of good information in the few responses. Thank you all. I have no problem starting with O/A and frankly, it would appear...

Hi, I am brand new to machining and have quickly found out that in some instances, will need to weld things. That along with my COMPLETE and utter lack of knowledge about the topic is what brings me here. I have a Southbend 9" sitting on my garage floor. I need a bench, and a metal bench is fro...

Hi, I am brand new to machining, just recently acquired a late 1946 Southbend 9" Model "A" 4-1/2 foot long bed lathe. It is sitting on the floor and need to find (or build) a suitable bench or table for it. This is a horizontal type drive, with the motor sitting behind the headstock, ...

Phil3, Welcome to the forum. If you are looking at mills in the SF Bay area, I might be able to find a B'Port size. I have a machinery repair guy not far away, he does nice work. I haven't been there in over a year, so I don't know what he has on the floor. Dave J. Dave, Pretty close to you (10 min...

I am VERY new to these things, so take my review with a few grains of salt. It may be better (or worse) than I reported. In the bay area with millions of people and lots of industry, there is precious little for sale. And what there is, is often costly compared to elsewhere.

- Phil

So a freind still wants to get a Mill What do you all think about this Rockford ? It would cost $200 to get it home http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/tls/1976852767.html Hi, brand new here, but wanted to say I looked at this very machine. It is a Rockford MV100, no doubt about that, but I can find ne...