Shop Time w/T.W. Friends

You have nice handwriting.

 

I'd settle for legible

 

My kids tell me I need to work on mine, it's true

 

In elementary school I had to do writing excercises -- pages and pages.

I showed so little improvement the teacher assumed I was just being difficult and I had to turn them in directly to the Principal. Didn't help.

In fifth grade I found a 1920s typewriter, my grades improved.

 

Damn... that 12" Starrett is nice. I've got a 12-incher too, but yours is way nicer!

 

Spoiler

Wish I had a 12-incher...could of had an entirely different career.

 

You have a brown nose.

 

Blue Angels are out raising a ruckus.

 

Good afternoon Creed and company.

A question for the machinists in here, how hard would it be for a very soon to be retired guy, mechanically inclined and ok with math, to learn how to use a bench top milling machine to do small projects? Stuff like milling off revolver sights, fabricating new bases and machining them into the barrel? I’m trying to decide on my new side gig as a gunsmith.

 

Do it

 

Wouldn't be to bad, especially if you know someone who could show you. We can tell you what we know and help with any questions.

I don't know about you but you can tell me how to do something 30 times and I may or may not learn it, you show me and it's game on.

 

Doing them? Easy. Doing them well? Not so easy. I'm a shade-tree machinist; I can put a piece of stock in the lathe and make it smaller, or slot some stock in the mill; that's easy. Getting tolerances within spec and a quality finish? THAT takes a lot of time and practice. I would suggest though, if you're going to do this, DO NOT buy some PoS chinesium unit; rather, look around for a used, good quality machine with a reputable name. I would rather have a 50s-era Bridgeport (as long as it's not worn AF) then a brand-new product from People's Machine Tool Factory #5, Beijing.

 

Well said creed, and other comments are great too.
It might be possible to look around your area for a small mom and pop shop, ask for a few part time hours and be straight up honest with them you want to learn some basic machining skills. Heck even show up a hour before closing time to sweep the floor in exchange for some education. If I were a shop owner I'd do it.
Another option would be some basic classes at a community college.
But, sure we would help too.
Not rocket science. It's the bigger jobs that get challenging and many times a guy could spend a week tooling up and fixtures for 8 hours actually making chips.

 

I don't work for him, so no gain.
Seriously, my writing looks like no matter how hard I try. Like embarrassing bad.

 

If you have an interest go for it!

Better to try something you want to do and enjoy even if you are bad at it than wish you did later.

Older high quality used machines are out there, put the word out and see what turns up.

 

I'll play.

 

Top one, I tried. Bottom one, normal for me. Not much difference

 

One cataract surgery done, one to go next month.