The last machinist

A video on machine technique

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Machining
• Lathework
• Milling

[LongIslandEddie]

What's the compressed air comment all about? I don't remember asking about compressed air, do you?

[hildebrandt1977]

For Gods sake use a hook to remove the swarfs, not your bare hands. especially when using a lathe

[LongIslandEddie]

@hildebrandt1977

My second job is Gynocology and where in hell would I be without my fingers? What would ever make ANYONE believe that I'm looking to lose my fingers?

If I were a sword-swallower, would you ask me if I wanted to cut my throat by doing what I have practiced doing for so many years?

You'd be surprised by the many injuries that have come from using swarf hooks, needle nose pliers and other articles as tools to "safely" remove the swarf!

But, I thank you for viewing

[AunShovah]

why do you call yourself "the last machinist"?

[LongIslandEddie]

@AunShovah

Why the last ???

Well, my father's grandfather's father was a machinist and he came from a family of ship builders. My own father was a machinist too, he worked on military aircraft during the 2nd world war. I (as you can see) am also a machinist! The problem is this, my son who is around thirty now, decided to be a landscaper rather than be a machinist like his pop, has left ME, to be the last machinist!

Maybe my grandson will be a machinist, who knows?

[MVFRNinja]

Nice vid. Kind of relaxing to watch. I found it interesting that you choose to tilt the head on your mill rather than place the small square tube on angle blocks. Personally, I would rather spend the time doing a repeatable setup with angle blocks or a sine bar than spend the time re-tramming the head LOL. But that is one of the things I love about manual toolroom work -- ask 10 machinists of this type how to do a job and you will get 10 different answers and none of them will be "wrong."

[LongIslandEddie]

@MVFRNinja

Thanks for taking time out of your life to watch my video. By setting the milling head at the 30 deg. angle, I was able to use the top edge of the vise to align each piece of 1/2" sq. S.S. tubing while end-stopping the piece without support from a floating jig that would require resetting each time that I performed the same operation.

Your most thoughtful observation was that you have a good attitude about there being many ways to successfully get the job done. thanks again...

[TheRyanFamily1]

Great video...I enjoyed the craftmanship. Although I cringed when you removed the chips with your fingers, it's no different than the carpenter that cuts a 2x while balanced on his foot, the carver that cuts towards himself or the iron worker who doesn't clip off while on a beam. It's all a matter of experience.

[coriander2]

Man and machines in harmonic motion. Yes, it's old school manufacturing, but great to observe. have you ever been to a trade show and seen a crowd engrossed for 10 minutes by the activities of a cnc machine? No, nor me.

[tenkikun]

Companys need to have more apprentice positions to learn from the Best, the old foxes.

They have worked for over 40years and knowledge will be lost if we don't listen to them.

[bigbattenberg]

Amazingly stupid to remove the swarf with your fingers... even with the machine not turning you will not want to do that because you may cut yourself. With the machine turning it is a matter of time before something really bad happens.

[TheUncleBastard]

@LongIslandEddie that why we have compressed air

[Adolf0580]

a.. nice video

[Adolf0580]

Hi I am German , but in Germany we take our Hands not on the driving "Drehfutter"

keep care or something

[hildebrandt1977]

I really like the video and what you are doing, I just wanted to point out the danger. Alu is a bit less criticall possibly. I have mainly worked with austenitic steel and other materials that produce razorsharp long swarf. I have experienced them cutting even through thick leather gloves with ease. Of course I did not wear the gloves when turning - i need my fingers too. thanks for the great Video

[hildebrandt1977]

I have had quite some training on machinery as well during my education as well as some of my summer jobs. I know there are a loot of swarf-hooks around, that are more dangerous than some swarf, especially, if someone did not mount a proper handle, but rather bent the hook, so you can grip through it - that can cost you an Arm if you are unlucky. but I have also seen a number of quiteexperienced machinists cutting their fingers on swarf - even when the machine was not turning.