Getting started

I suggest that a beginner not old enough to have experienced metalwork lessons at school and no engineering work experience, possibly low budget/retiree, could try dipping a toe in the water as follows.

1. Join local model engineering club with library and workshop facilities.

2. Look up LBSC`s Maid of Kent design and find mechanical lubricator design. Vol.99 No. 2465 Page 189. 19 Aug. 1948. Try making this. Involves marking out sheet metal tank, turning, drilling, threading, milling. Not a lot of anything really but just enough for a newbie to assess his/her metal-bashing skills before splashing the cash on a shed, lathe mill, drill and umpteen small tools and finding out too late that its not for them and having to sell items.

3

Hi all. DMB is quite correct.....

better yet find somebody who's got the stuff and willing to help / use / train the newbie in all things oily ......

I have had a few thru my place in the past.....it only takes an hour - day for them 2 find out if it's for them......and I only have just a few skill's......

I usually have something that's not so important to make.....and they can always bring a bit of scrap for a job they want for themselves.....

I quite like giving something back.....WE all needed some help in the past.....

we must b pro-active in pointing them into joining up forum's like this....

besides it's a two way street, especially when we need a new machine moved for example....always good to have somebody out there...

where I live locally (200 kilometer radious)....there's nobody I know with anything but the odd drill press......

there's always time for a chat and a coffee......

for example, when I lived in the States about 20 blokes turned up to help a guy put up a small barn...took most of the day......the women turned up for lunch bringing all kinds of good food......then at the end of the day a damm great Bar B Q....brilliant day for everybody......I made a friend for life.....who sadly has just passed on....

it's always good to help others......and to pass on the skills we have learned....this old world will b a sad place in 50 /100 years......dread to think of it.....

so to finish, the more of us out there the better it'll b for all thing's oily.....we must all stick together....

Frank in France

I agree of course, I'm always willing to let people use my equipment within reason, and will gladly show people how I go about what I do, in addition if someone is thinking of getting into CNC I will let them have a go with supervision, just to let them see if its the way they perhaps want to go themselves, or even help if they've taken the CNC plunge and are struggling to make chips out of there investment.

I agree its good to help others..............

Shaun in Durham

Edited By Involute Curve on 24/09/2014 18:04:25

"not old enough to have experienced metalwork lessons at school "

My school didn't start such bluecollar lessons until 20 years after I left when CDT was invented. I am entirely self taught by reading ME and a few of the standard books. Nowadays topping it up with some of the excellent websites like of HH and GH. So my advice is to sit in front of the tv with 20 years of back issues.