Learning To Machine

This is a catch--all page for one-off machining projects. In general, projects I undertake to try to get better at some aspect of machining will live here until I make a second attempt, at which point I usually spin the project off to its own page. As a side note, all of the projects on this page are ones I have attempted to get better, so if you're looking for intro machining projects this is a good place to start. (Shoot me an email if you have any questions or want clarification on the process I used.)

Metal SCRIBEr

A simple metal scriber made out of brass with a replaceable sewing needle for a point.  I based this project off of the Clickspring metal scriber project (linked in post) and it was a great way to get familiar with the eccentricities of a bench top lathe.  Plus, when a project's last step involves polishing brass with fine grit sandpaper there really aren't too many ways to avoid a nice end product.

Machinist's Hammer

My first machinist's hammer. It is the first in a three-part series in which I explore the design process and learn more about what makes a good hammer. This project is an old classic as far as learner projects go. It's a great way to learn more about threading on a lathe, and provides ample opportunities to practice turning between centers and is a nice way to try out knurling if you choose to go that route for the grip.

Copper Rose

This is a copper rose I made in the spirit of valentines (bitterness) day. It took me a few weeks working on it for 10 minutes at a time, but it'd also make a pretty good half-day (or less) project. This is a bit different from my other metalworking projects in that it's mostly pliers/chisel work, but it's also a great chance to practice threading/file work on the metal lathe. 

Bearing Tower

This was actually my second successful machining project. It's a flat (turned) disk with semi-circular holes milled in the top to capture the lowest layer of the bearing pyramid. This was a very "educational" (read: error filled) project, and I would deffinitly recomend it if you are looking to get more comfortable using mill handwheels with no DRO.