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Offshoring has another affect many may not have realized... It has driven the quality of USA made products down as they try to compete. In more ways than one. Local manufacturers, in order to compete and be profitable, are cutting corners, trying to find cheaper ways of doing things. Most...

I sure would. I've got kids and I'd consider walking away from the shop and losing everything. Nothing is worth that kind of risk to your and/or your family. Mad props to Enfield for sticking it out to make sure his guys were ok. Enfield, I read about that little girl. That's messed up. There...

Here's a list of different materials and their CETs. Coefficients of Linear Thermal Expansion Wikipedia has one with volumentric but it doesn't have bronze. You should be able to extrapolate it using a formula (provided). Thermal expansion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I'm curious how...

I'm not sure why you chose to pick a fight with me about my opinion. Are you just trying to be combative? Show me where the round column mill has the same "mill" features as an X2 and, as promised, I will admit I'm wrong. Otherwise, you can go ahead and stop talking to me, mkay? Thx. But to be...

I see. My apologies. I inadvertently added "the" when it should have just read the first part of your name, canadian. I did not mean to insult you, I'm part Canadian. As a point of contrast, notice I didn't get upset when you were being sarcastic to me in each of your posts. I won't come out...

LoL. Take a deep breath, canadianhorsepoower. Not sure what was nasty in my reply but lets move beyond that. I have never looked into tramming a head on the mill pictured or the one I helped a friend with. Looks like the base and head are connected with no pivot points. Perhaps you would be so...

I don't mean it's more mill because it's more rigid. I said that earlier. It's more mill because it has more features that are millish. You know, the little things that make it easier for you to set up??? For example, the ability to tram the head is a biggie. I see nothing on that round column...

I can compare them because, well... they're two entirely different beasts. A couple months ago I traded a rotary phase converter from a friend to help him get his so-called "mill" set up and running. It's not much more than a drill press with a decent XY table on it. Nothing like the X2 mill I...

I've had an X2 (Harbor Freight) for over a decade. I cant compare it to a round column because I've never owned one but IMO having an X2 and a drill press is much better than having a drill press with an XY table, which is how I view the round column "mill". Even if it's more "rigid". I don't...

Great build Stew! I've been watching just haven't spoken up. This thread is inspiring me for sure, keep posting progress and I hope to see video when it's running.

Hi Mitch, I'm a new member here at HMEM but a long time machinist. I just started reading your build thread today and it's been awesome. I'm currently designing my second motor (first was a finger motor I did without a lathe) and some of the things I've learned in this thread about engines are...

Thanks for the welcome and invite Mike. Looks like you meet the first Sat of the month. If I'm in the neighborhood on one of those days I will absolutely stop by.

A fairly complete, accurate set of drawings for a beginner to build a treadle motor (yep, finger powered!). This is a more heavy duty version of the popular finger motor that you'll find here or other places. It is re- designed to accommodate a heavy 5-inch dia brass hand-wheel I had on-hand to...

I'm also a huge fan of DRO's but if you really want to "learn" to use these tools you should go with dials or at least not use the DRO until you've learned to work from dials. It's kind of antiquated (like using a vernier caliper, which I do) but it's good knowledge that will serve you more than...

Excellent advice Phil. One thing I've been wanting for a while is a small lathe. Don't think I'll be making one any time soon but I have managed to talk the missus into signing off on getting one. I hit her up while we were going over the new bumper she got for her jeep and she almost couldn't...

New member from So Cal here. I'm a machinist by trade, mostly programming CNCs. I started in high school back in the 80's cranking handles part-time on plastic and have been doing this ever since. It's a fun job and, like my pops always said, it pays decent and I've never wanted for work. I've...