Misplaced Dreams

[Industrial Toys]

Aint that the truth!

 

[metalbender]

Having the right tools as in machining tools makes projects fairly easy to build as you do some seat of the pants engineering. Spending an hour doing a quick job for someone in need as a freebie is priceless. Being a hobby, in this case, time is not money.

 

[Doofy]

Having the right tools as in machining tools makes projects fairly easy to build as you do some seat of the pants engineering. Spending an hour doing a quick job for someone in need as a freebie is priceless. Being a hobby, in this case, time is not money.

Agreed. Happy to donate my time to friends or anyone else that may need help. I enjoy puttering and helping others if able. Hobbies are a good excuse to buy tools and learn new things.

 

[Jim Nelson]

About a year ago My dentist said I needed crowns on the only 2 teeth I have left which anchor my lower partial. I want to save them as long as possible so set up the appointment.He and an assistant used a laser device hooked to a computer to do an outline of the teeth and he did a little grinding on them to get everything where he wanted. He then said it will be about 1/2 hour to get them ready.While I was waiting he came by and asked if I wanted to see the process since he knew I was interested in mechanical stuff, of course I said sure. He took me into the next room and there was this glass walled tank with a water jet set up forming the crown out of a solid block of acrylic. He said that it was a 6 axis machine that worked from the computer images that he made earlier and compared it to a C.N.C. milling machine. It was really fascinating to see and made the wait time go by real fast.


He is a different kind of dentist than I went to back in the old days where it took weeks to do a single crown. I was in and out with in 1/2 a day and they also re lined my partial plate so that everything fit. Just amazing to an old guy like me.

 

[rScotty]

I'd be lost without having a workshop handy, so we designed our house to make a shop on one wing of the living room. Mostly hand tools & a library along with tools and tables. I don't do any heavy metal fabrication there, or power sawing. There's a limit to what sort dust seems reasonable in in the house.

But there is a layout and sketching table, an oxy/acet torch for light welding & brazing, as well as a flex-shaft machine and a small drill press. Plus various electronics test equipment. It all seems real normal to us; it must seem that way to visitors too. Nobody seems to comment on it.
rScotty

 

[Doofy]

I'd be lost without having a workshop handy, so we designed our house to make a shop on one wing of the living room. Mostly hand tools & a library along with tools and tables. I don't do any heavy metal fabrication there, or power sawing. There's a limit to what sort dust seems reasonable in in the house.

But there is a layout and sketching table, an oxy/acet torch for light welding & brazing, as well as a flex-shaft machine and a small drill press. Plus various electronics test equipment. It all seems real normal to us; it must seem that way to visitors too. Nobody seems to comment on it.
rScotty

Sounds reasonable to me. A garage or shop has saved many a marriage. Also, there are times when that garage or shop may be needed for your doghouse.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My friend delights in showing me his latest specialty tools and acquisitions. Always neatly put away and stored and always hellishly expensive at normal prices.

His collection of tools is simply astounding and a little sad, as to what is invested and what can be charged. I feel ashamed at my hourly rate, showing up at a customers with a bunch of tech tools in a Platt Case.

 

[ultrarunner]

So many small shops are history here... in another life I worked in a Tool and Machine shop under contract for NASA space shuttle... also became a certified welder...

Great skills that have come in handy in hospital engineering... sadly I have not turned on my tape Bridgeport in 5 years...

Always thought the model steam railroaders fascinating... Working scale steam locomotives...

 

[Doofy]

I would thoroughly enjoy shadowing a decent Machinist / Welder for a couple of months just to see what they do and how. Sadly, no real opportunities to do that locally.

 

[ultrarunner]

Fortunate to be around some real craftsmen... several learned the trade in Germany but also Swiss and even Japan and Hong Kong...

Lawrence Livermore often got the best of the best too...

Sadly, it is passing like much these days...