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Forum for home machinists?

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Boyd

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Forney, TX
A buddy of mine recently scored a package deal on a late 50's Bridgeport mill and an early 60's Clausing lathe. He's pretty handy, but very new to machining. I know there are several members here with some nice "hobby" set ups...which forum would you guys recommend?

BTW - he got both machines (from the original owner) along with the original receipts, paperwork, manuals, and a few boxes of tooling, for $2k.
 
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Bull

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Isn't "Practical Machinist" the largest one?

That being said, I created an account and started a thread looking for help identifying a large tumbler/polisher, and there was no activity in the thread. Nothing. Unless you cal crickets and tumbleweeds something.
 
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Trucky

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CNCzone and practical machinist are where I go from time to time. First websites more for CNC (obviously) but it still has some good information. PM has tons of good info for even a hobby level guy.

Full size mill and lathe (I assume working) for $2k is a pretty good deal. I'm going to save up around 4-5k in a while (read: years) so i can buy a newer BP with X/Z feeds, DRO if I can afford it. Usually anything bridgeport is good no matter the age. Clausing is a great name as well. I'm more familiar with Colchester, Nardini, etc. but I've done more than a few threads on the Clausing back at tech. Was one of the only machines that you could turn a thread on with great accuracy (other than the Haas and the Nardini in the back).
 
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John in OH

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SE Ohio & Eastern Virginia
larry_g said:
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/

For the home guys the above is a good site. The practical machinest is more geared to the pro type guys. Good place to read and learn, not good to ask beginner questions.
Click to expand...

+1 Larry_g is right on with his observations regarding the Home Shop Machinist board vs. Practical Machinist. Lots of good info on the Practical Machinist board, but they aren't too warm to newbee questions.
 
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Falcon67

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Merkel, TX
Chaski is the better for HSM IMHO. homeshopmachinest also has some good people. Practical is decent and they will talk to him because he has American made equipment. But don't piss off the mod or he may get kicked pretty quick. That would be stuff like asking a Q that could be found with a search and talking about anything made in China.

>BTW - he got both machines (from the original owner) along with the
>original receipts, paperwork, manuals, and a few boxes of tooling, for $2k.
That earns a giant "he *****" award!
 
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lilredex

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Toronto
You'll get better results over at the SB forum on Prac. Machinist board.

South Bend Lathes

Discuss the most popular American lathe ! >> moderators texasgeartrain and bradjacob
www.practicalmachinist.com
 
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Recoveryman

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The recomendation by Larry_g is the best one. I have been on both for years and agree that PracticalMachinist is a good one to peruse, but like someone else mentioned, not too warm to beginner questions.
Recoveryman
 
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RoninB4

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Boyd said:
I know there are several members here with some nice "hobby" set ups...which forum would you guys recommend?
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-Other websites have already been mentioned and I agree with what's been posted. Also agree that there are several members here that have very nice equipment in a home shop. Your buddy should also join GJ to ask questions and/or seek advice IMO. There are several members that have been machining at the professional level for decades and their opinion/experience is valid. There's even a sub-forum for fabrication here. I don't think anybody here objects to beginner questions if they've tried to answer their own questions by prior research. We all started at square one with every subject/topic.
 
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PopcornSutton

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I follow Home Shop Machinist every day, and have for many years. Used to visit Practical Machinist, but just the mere mention of a foreign machine and all hell would break loose. They may have changed, but that was enough for me, but there are talented people there. Home Shop has a following of people with diverse backgrounds, and never has a question been asked that a reliable solution isn't given.

I personally own Asian machines, instead of buying worn American, and limited only by myself. No failures.
 
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karoc

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Practical machinist is mainly for trade, not hobbyist or serious hobbyist. I was kickoff by Malcom(?) cause I forgot to list town I lived in. But you can still read post and read answers. Don’t try participate, site good site for us learning
 
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Whitworth

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karoc said:
Practical machinist is mainly for trade, not hobbyist or serious hobbyist. I was kickoff by Malcom(?) cause I forgot to list town I lived in. But you can still read post and read answers. Don’t try participate, site good site for us learning
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True, they don't like newcomers. But they've got more back and forth on business related topics, machine specific and CNC centric forums.
But when you dig down deeper on Practical Machinist, it's alot of the same old same old. Grumpy geezers arguing over nonsense like 29.5 degrees versus 30, or Vactra 2 versus bacon grease.
 
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mikegt4

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sw ohio
karoc said:
Practical machinist is mainly for trade, not hobbyist or serious hobbyist. I was kickoff by Malcom(?) cause I forgot to list town I lived in. But you can still read post and read answers. Don’t try participate, site good site for us learning
Click to expand...
Practical Machinist was established as a professional (or machining business owner) only forum. That was years ago, I don't know their current policy but I would guess it's softened to some extent, they let me in as I did some machining at work before retiring 13 years ago. I have a Weiler lathe, a German toolroom level machine so maybe that got me into their club. When I do go there I usually only look at the sub-forum that includes the Weiler brand.

Home Machinist, Home Shop Machinist and Hobby Machinist usually covers my needs. Home Model Engine Machinist and MadModder forums are fun to lurk in for scale model content.
 
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Recoveryman

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PopcornSutton said:
I follow Home Shop Machinist every day, and have for many years. Used to visit Practical Machinist, but just the mere mention of a foreign machine and all hell would break loose. They may have changed, but that was enough for me, but there are talented people there. Home Shop has a following of people with diverse backgrounds, and never has a question been asked that a reliable solution isn't given.

I personally own Asian machines, instead of buying worn American, and limited only by myself. No failures.
Click to expand...
I agree with you, I have posted on PracticalMachinist for years, but will agree that some there just lie in wait for a chance to bust your chops. Home Shop much friendlier for everyone.
Recoveryman
 
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gearhead1

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If he’s pretty handy / mechanical / gearhead type, he won’t have a difficult time picking it up. Basic information can be obtained in other ways, some would argue more efficiently. I know you did not ask for a book, however, I would say this book would be an excellent resource as well. I have this book and would say it is worth every penny.

1766426908330.jpeg

I would also recommend YouTube channel mrpete222. Between the book and that channel, the basics are covered well.

Sometimes people in forums are not the friendliest.
 
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LopezBart

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Lopez Island, WA
Whitworth said:
The few remaining home shop machinists forums left are nothing more than a handful of septuagenarians complaining about their enlarged prostates.

You'll do just as good if not better asking on GJ.
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A piss-poor recommendation :) ?

Grumpy old guys are an ever-present hazard and can require a thick skin; I've found that forums focusing on getting things made with tools are usually less likely to get dragged into purity arguments than those focusing on the tools themselves.
 
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karoc

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Good one gearhead1, I watch lot of Mr Pete222 or tubal cane channel. He talks clear has good voice, explains to where I can understand. Milling to turning👍
 
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Ultradog MN

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Twin Cities
I belong to both Hobby Machinist and Practical Machinist boards.
Here's some plusses and minuses on both sites.

PM
Go there
If you are working in microns.
Own a 5 million parts or 5 million dollar a year shop.
Need to reprogram complicated 3D software
Don't like safety nannies.
Have worthy older machinery.
Can cut a set of internal Acme threads.
Dislike CCC (Cheap Chinesium ****)
Don't need to ask what a Morse Taper is.
Can accept blunt suggestions.
Have enough hair on your *** to talk back to a bunch of marvelously skilled old fellows who think they own the place and will test you but are great, helpful guys after all.

HM
If you:
like small projects.
Like tools made by Vevor
Own a mini lathe or mill.
Like safety nannies
Don't know much about machining but are wanting to learn.
Need a little patience and encouragement sometimes.
Appreciate a bunch of guys with a Lot of marvelous talent and are willing to share it.
Can recommend good youtube videos.
You don't need to gird your loins when you log in.
 
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gregs

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Mar 16, 2007
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^^ Your pretty spot on with PM.... If your into old cars and visit Ryans other site HAMB it follows a similar clientele. If your looking for someone to basically hold your hand and tell you exactly what to do, step by step then its not the site for you. But if your looking to learn something from the school of hard knocks that will probably stay with you the rest of your life then its a good choice.
 
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OccupantRJ

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Messages
11,257
Location
Eastern North Carolina
gearhead1 said:
If he’s pretty handy / mechanical / gearhead type, he won’t have a difficult time picking it up. Basic information can be obtained in other ways, some would argue more efficiently. I know you did not ask for a book, however, I would say this book would be an excellent resource as well. I have this book and would say it is worth every penny.

1766426908330.jpeg

I would also recommend YouTube channel mrpete222. Between the book and that channel, the basics are covered well.

Sometimes people in forums are not the friendliest.
Click to expand...
@gearhead1, this might do it.

 
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