n_maher

Basically be a lot more precise and accurate with any type of machining that I've been doing on my drill press or by hand. It'll also be nice to be able to provide ventilation other than hundreds of holes in panels that didn't come that way (say, from Context or Lansing) and also do more in the way of custom chassis fab from the ground up simply by buying the raw materials and making it soup to nuts. The mill coupled with the lathe should also open up a world of potential with knobs, shaft couplers, tube rings, etc. I don't expect to be using this stuff all the time or even a ton but what I wanted was stuff that when I went to use it wasn't fighting me half the time. The huge lathe that I have now (Craftsman 48") is just way bigger than I need and not at all suited for the type of small scale work (grado cups) that I've used it for 90% of the time. And the drill press is great for hole, but hard to hold work pieces in place with and not particularly good at working with metal in general. So the mill, for me, will most often just be a fancy drill press with a huge x-y table. Oh and I figure from time to time I can bang out a few custom parts for you yahoos around here too.

The wait is going to be brutal but I chose to get it from a reliable source rather than risk ordering direct and maybe getting it a bit sooner but with no support. I would have loved to go with an older, full sized mill but everything available locally was enormous or prohibitively expensive. This mill should be capable of everything that I should think about making in my shop, larger more complex things can still be farmed out.

Decided it was time to be able to cut something other than a round hole... Should be here in 8 weeks or so which gives me enough time to deal with how I'm going to fit it in my shop along with the new lathe.

Yup, my co-worker who's been fighting this for years finally decided that after this storm he's raising his basement floor 9". I saw the high-water sings were back up on my way to work this morning, should be a fun commute for the next couple days.

The versions that I have, which are whatever Marc sent me, are able to be tapped quite easily for a 4-40 screw. 6-32 would require redrilling, which seems like a waste of time.

Happy Birthday, Gary!

Happy Birthday, Al! I hope the secret jaunt goes well and I'll raise a glass in your honor tonight.

I have a couple at home, I'll try 4-40 and 6-32 and report back.

How's the eye?

In a word, yes.

Jesus F, Mark.

I'm just getting warmed up.

Sally. I will probably be picking up a band saw on the way home tomorrow.

I checked out BoC yesterday, being mostly ignorant of this genre, I liked it. I'll sample more of their work but would love to hear other recommendations in the same vein.

Come on, you don't want custom shaft extension kits, knobs, tube rings...

Southpark S14E01

You sure you want to go through the hassle of driving? I'm sure it'll be a fun road trip but really, it won't save much cash. I'm currently looking at ~$250 round trip all in for flights and I'd rather chill and watch a movie for an hour and a half but that's just me. My current plan, pending spousal approval, is to fly out early/mid-day Friday and back as late as I can Sunday.

We will have to find some appropriately wicked things to make with it. The more I search around the more cool things I find to try...

Haj, if it was storm damage check with your home owner's insurance. It may be covered and even if the physical damage seems minor make them check for mold/mildew issues.

I look forward to toasting your safe return Naaman. As Steve said, godspeed.

I think a pair of custom aluminum Grado cups may be in order to celebrate.

Wooden bar stool. My worktable is from the 50's too, old drafting table that I saved from the dumpster back when I was in college. But sadly another drill press is not in my future and I already made one big tool purchase today.

Taig Micro Lathe II with a whole host of options and accessories.

Knuckles made me do it. Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase

I want it so badly, for no reason other than I love old, badass tools like that.