Taiwanese lathe

[Slugz]

Couldn't agree more with trevj. And if it didn't cost a lot of money I'd tell anyone interested in machining to go to college and take a two year course. The info you learn just about simple things like cutting pressure and surface finish etc.. Or GD&T if working for anyone or making parts for anyone other than yourself etc.. Or calculating speeds and feeds are invaluable. Sure you can buy a book and read it and make your way, but if you really want to limit accidents and have decent parts more often taking a course is key. Now I know people who work for a living can't really do this, so sometimes people figuring things out for themselves is just the way it is. I watch a guy on youtube called nyccnc that literally taught himself pretty much how to machine and has a shop now lol.

To bearhunter; I live and work in Northern Ontario, where 80% of the time I make mining parts, some with loose tolerances that allow 0.003, some with tighter tolerances like bearings, or shafts that have bearings go on them and are only a 0.0002 tolerance. I don't claim and never will to be perfect, even with the CNC machines and experience running mine (because many run different.. There are a few of the same make and year in my shop that will move in different directions as they warm up, but you get to know them) they aren't perfect. Regardless of what you read and think you know, it's still an art in it's own form to some degree.

I only get to make parts for my company, one day I really hope to make parts for people for myself. I already have one guy in my shop that has been running the mills for 9 years willing to take on jobs for us if I get a machine. Apparently snowmobile engine modifying is a big thing up here and he is really interested... I really just wish I had the balls to go against my wife and make that investment xD. I have also done many one off jobs in the shop that we get rushed to do for a lot of money that a home shop guy could do for a lot less and still be really happy about. Surprisingly there aren't many around here. (I'm only 29 also, and have only been in the industry for a couple years, but I intend to stick with it and hopefully be that home shop guy one day)

 

[bearhunter]

One thing about being that "at home guy" that does one off parts and repair for locals. You have to get out there and make an effort to be known.

I will admit I always had an interest in mechanical workings/machines/robotics. Also, reasonably simple math is one of my mainstays. CNC operators need a few other skills than basic machining but they still need to understand the principles involved. Simple machines each have their own personalities if you want to call it that. This lead to all sorts of related work, including quality control for a glass manufacturer which had little or nothing to do with machining but a lot to do with tolerances. Then to an apprenticeship as a millwright and accompanying courses in machining/welding/electronics/robotics/PLC programming. Basically a jack of all trades and a master of none. Better at some things and only acceptable at others.

Ok, I was lucky enough to get access to quite literally thousands of acres of private ranch property to cull coyotes and if they were a problem bears and ground squirrels. Of course other game animals were allowed to be taken when in season as a bonus. On several occasions I would notice one of the ranch vehicles or harvesters sitting in a bone yard that looked to be in pretty decent shape. Sometimes they were just old and way to slow to keep up. Other times they just needed parts that were no longer available without long delays.

I had recently purchased an old lathe that was sold at a government dispersal sale. It came out of a local high school machine shop. Needed lots of work but it all came together quite well so I offered to help out in return for the favor of being able to have free run of the ranch to pursue my hunting. Understand, I made the offer AFTER they had given me permission of access.

In a few months, I managed to modify several parts on machines so they could be adapted to take off the shelf components that are always in stock and readily available. Word spread and frankly, it spread to far and to fast. There was so much demand for this type of work that I was contemplating doing it as a business. The thing is, it's mostly seasonal. Most farmers/ranchers/contractors don't do any record keeping and heaven forbid they should do any preventive maintenance. Some don't even know where the grease nipples and oil filters are on their equipment. That means just about everything is needed right now, not tomorrow or the next day. Still, once they realized that I would go out of my way to keep them going, more work came my way than I could handle or frankly wanted to handle.

This work is always out there. All you need to do is hang out your shingle, make a few friends, maybe do a few freebies or trades etc. If you expect it to come to you on its own, it likely won't happen. You will need to market yourself.

As for your wife, that is another issue. I got rid of my first wife that insisted she control all aspects of our life. Life was much better after that and so was my bank balance.