The Home Machinist!

I am considering buying a small lathe for home use. This thought came after reading this article . Of course, I'm not sure if the article is perfect, but the idea is not bad! After all, you can do so much work on a lathe! And it's better than scratching by hand with a file or sandpaper. And then als...

Congratulations on a wonderful purchase! The tools were definitely worth the money you paid. I have come across vernier calipers on which the marks were applied to the metal with paint. Needless to say, the markings were erased very quickly and the caliper became rubbish? And one ordered from Aliexp...

The work was done really well. At first glance, everything looks perfectly flat. This is not your first job of this type? I don't think a person preparing cylinders for the first time will be able to do it so perfectly the first time.

Depends on the part: if its not to critical or some material that isn't very flat to start with like Cold Rolled flat bar, then plywood or whatever sacrificial material I can find. Semi critical or heavy machine cuts will be required: I will use some pieces of alum bar stock Very critical: 123 bloc...

Of course one could use the old stand-by material, O-1 or W-1 tool steel, which should be easy to obtain in the required diameter. File ends to a point, then heat treat by heating the pointed end with a propane torch. Play the torch over the steel to prevent local overheating. Stop heating when a m...

I will add that it is better to fill the cavities with a thin tool so that there are no air bubbles left at the bottom. Metal hardens quickly in cold material.

Progress Report #10: I made the rods for the displacer pistons and pressed them all together a couple of days ago. As far as I can tell, that all worked okay. I did put a bit of JB-Weld on the parts before pressing them together, just for insurance against leaks. With the rods held in a collet in t...

And what is the best way to heat the metal? A gas burner provides heating in one zone, and yet, at the place of heating, the properties of the metal can change. Very often, the metal becomes more brittle after heating. Although, a lot still depends on the quality of the metal. But I prefer to think ...

Yes, any technical vapors are harmful and it is best to work in a respirator if you do not work outdoors. In the room, a respirator is required, and until you ventilate the room, it is better not to take off the respirator.

I just ordered one from Amazon. There are several available in the same configuration, but I chose one with the flexible gooseneck covered with silicon tubing, like yours. That and the black colored parts should work better in my shop environment. Costs a bit more, but still a good deal. < $20 (US)...

It’s very interesting if there will be traces of life on Mars? Any bacteria or something. But only if they are discovered, no matter how they become the cause of a new pandemic in the world.

The machine, as I understand it, is not the newest, but it looks quite reliable. Sometimes time-tested devices are really more useful and easier to use than any newfangled things.