Machining and Metalworking at Home

Table of Contents

Tips for File Use	General Metalworking and Other Useful Files
Metal Lathe Files	News/User Groups
Milling Machine Files	Major Metal Links
Metal Shaper Files	Safety Warning

When looking for information in these subject files, please remember the following:

• You get more complete information if you read more than one subject file. A particular discussion might have expanded to more than one subject. The same discussion was not saved to multiple files; my file choice was purely arbitrary. Similarly if you have say one brand of lathe, you should also look at files for other brands; many Questions and Answers there will be useful/interesting for any lathe owner.
• Text files were used here as they are much more compact than those containing excess formatting overhead. One downside: Web address links in these messages cannot be clicked on to go to the site; simply copy the address link (URL) and paste it into your Internet browser's Address, Site, or File Open ... box.
• Mail addresses within messages are deliberately altered to defeat web-robots from gathering e-mail addresses for spammers. For messages read directly off the Yahoo site, they disabled addresses by erasing after the "@" symbol. But messages received through Digests had complete mail addresses; so I have mass-replaced every "@" symbol with the letters "x~xx" (that ~ is a tilde, not hyphen). In these instances you can figure out the real address, but not robots. Now if someone used the "@" symbol within a message for anything else (rare), it was automatically replaced too. In any case you know the secret and can put the "@" back.
• Clicking on the text files here will open them so they can be read in your browser now. After reading a text file, return to this page by clicking your browser's Back button.
• You can save them onto your computer by mouse-right-clicking the link, and using the "Save Target As" or "Save Linked Content As" or similar menu item, and choosing a destination directory on your machine. It is suggested that you keep them as text files to save space. Individual files average over 100KB. If you save all, you will need about 24MB of storage space. Once the files are on your machine, they can be opened in a word processor or a good text editor and edited to suit you for your own personal use reference; better programs like NoteTab allow word searches across multiple files.
• If you want to print them, you can do so immediately in your browser. But it is more efficient if you first save the file(s) you want to your computer -- you may want to change font sizes, prune unnecessary information, or even combine files before printing. Save some paper and ink and get customized info you need.
• If you have more questions about particular messages or subjects provided in these files, first make a responsible effort by searching appropriate user groups' archives and FAQs. Still no luck? Then post your question to the appropriate News/User Groups for the benefit of everyone. (I cannot answer them here.)

The Yahoo site hosts many metal-oriented user groups. Go to their main site and sign up (free) for the ones you want. I strongly suggest you use the Digest choice to receive e-mail. This way one e-mail digest per group usually arrives daily containing up to 25 compacted messages, but ads and attachments and viruses have been stripped out. Much easier to read. Especially if a group's messages get busy to the point of needing more than one digest per day. When you want to look at a group's files or photos, just sign in to Yahoo, visit the group's individual area, and then browse through group files there. In 2013 Yahoo completely reworked the format of their newsgroups, resulting in a great deal of confusion and difficulty to search the archives. I'm glad I saved stuff I really needed. You should become an information packrat too. (Besides metalworking, there are hundreds of groups dealing with hobbies and subjects the whole family can enjoy.)

Yahoo Groups. You will want to check out: atlas_craftsman, atlas618lathe, Metal_Shapers, myfordlathes, SherlineCNC [which supports manual machines too], taigtools, AA_109Lathe_Users_Group, Atlasshaperandmillingmachineusersgroup, and others such as gingery_machines (where folks have made their own lathes, mills, ...), CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO, beginnerswkshp, and Prints_and_Plans. Find other groups here by a search within the main site for group names involving phrases like "metal lathe".

There is an excellent general metalworking news group at Google called rec.crafts.metalworking

The Metal Shaper FAQ is now on the NEMES (New England Model Engineering Society) site along with many interesting articles including the NEMES Gazette's Metal Shaper Columns.

The OldTools Archive site has information on old hand tools, including repair and restoration, that will be of keen interest to woodworkers and metalworkers alike. (Who here doesn't Luuuv tools???) An e-mail list can be joined, whereupon you gain the honorific title of Galoot. Sure is catchy on a business card.

Rather than try to list the hundreds of ever-changing metal links on the Internet, I'm going to list just a very few key sites including some that maintain big lists of metal links. All the following sites are well worth visiting on their own considerable merits (even if you do not use their particular machinery, yet). And a few helpful sites were added just to show the potential of this hobby. There are some really great people behind these sites working hard to expand the knowledge available to the home machinist as well as professional metalworkers.

Sherline's Lathe and Mill Home Page also has a bonanza of metalworking tips and projects and linked contributors' sites that will keep you printing for a very long time. They are far more than a machine tool sales company. First class help and encouragement for the newcomer.

John Bentley aka The Engineman where another master craftsman has some incredible completed and ongoing projects (not just engines) that should inspire everyone. Many modifications and tips for improving the Taig lathe. Crystal clear photos and machining explanations provide information that will save you lots of time and grief in this hobby no matter what your current skill level or machines available.

Nick Carter's Taig Lathe and Mill site where you will spend hours rummaging through the incredible tips and detailed help and the contributors' linked pages. Buy more printer paper. More first class help for the newcomer.

Tony Jeffree's Model Engineering Pages where you will see how an innovative master craftsman and fine writer has developed some wonderful modifications and projects for the Taig/Peatol machines, elevating them to an ever more capable level. (You could adapt many ideas here to other machines.)

Guy Lautard's home site where this deservedly famous author provides a wealth of information and resources to machinists, gunsmiths, metalworkers, clockmakers, and anyone who loves tools and good stories. His Machinist's Bedside Reader books are immensely entertaining and a how-to treasure.

Peter McBride, Goldsmith / Jeweller, whose site is a goldmine of information on metalworking and fine woodworking and restoring antique tools. Also, you will be amazed by the skills and techniques involved in his truly hand-made custom jewellery. Enjoy.

Pat McGuirk's invaluable (huge!) list of links. Spend a month here. So they run out of trees to make printer paper; they'll grow more :-)

Micro-Machine Shop where you will find incredibly detailed photos and how-to's for modifications to Taig machines -- as well as mill drill and 9 X 20 lathe information, and many extremely useful workshop tips. Wow!

Rick Sparber's Machining is a site with a great many useful projects, as well as tips for improving machines and our machining practices. Very detailed diagrams and clear photos and explanations.

David Triezenberg's North Branch Reels (and Machining Tips) is an incredible resource towards beautiful and functional projects. The tips and machining and finishing procedures are applicable to many other projects. Fascinating site with great pictures.

Dean Williams' Projects site where he provides detailed articles on making accessories for Taig lathes, and has an excellent section on refurbishing a Craftsman 109 (AA109). Now there is a section with help for an Atlas 618 lathe. A very useful site with many projects and techniques adaptable by the owner of any small lathe or mill.

Paul Beebe, Knifesmith, who started as a professional blacksmith and then mastered knifemaking skills, producing carving knives and other tools for Lee Valley Tools; subsequently his custom knifemaking expanded and I can personally attest to the fine design and quality and finish and function of these gems; he also provides online how-to tips and tutorials. Got a dream knife in mind? Talk to Paul.

Jody Collier's Welding Tips And Tricks where you can view over 100 free videos with lessons and projects for tig, mig, and stick welding. An invaluable resource for absolute beginners and even professional welders. Sign up there for his newsletter and be reminded of all new content, typically another video every week. Fascinating stuff. And you will soon realize how welding skills could be useful in your workshop.

Tom Skoropad's Modelling Resources Page which primarily targets aircraft flying models -- but has dozens of links that are interesting and/or useful to woodworkers, metalworkers, and other crafts or hobbies.

Miles Stair's End Times Report has much practical information on self reliant living with subjects like gardening, tool care, alternative energy, and many other topics that may be useful to you today. Nature has frequently devastated large areas where more individual preparedness should have reduced losses.