Hi, kids -
Heard about you guys from a fellow member of a local machinist club I belong to -
the Southern California Home Shop Machinist <
[email protected]>. We meet
once a month at El Camino Community College in Torrance, Calif. - that's between Los
Angeles and Long Beach and towards the beach. I personally live in Pomona, Cal. -
about half way between L. A. and San Bernardino, Cal. I retired a few months ago
from 12 years as a toolmaker. Did my 4 year apprenticeship through the L. A. chapter
of the National Tool and Machining Ass. Although most of my work was with the con-
ventional machines, the last two jobs required me to learn CNC - mostly vertical and
horizontal mills. That last job even had me repairing them! That I enjoyed im-
mensely (replaced the headstock bearings in a vertical mill that had a 3 1/2 foot by 8
foot table, repaired and made functional it's tool magazine, ect.). Then, when I started
digging into the control box for his wire EDM, the boss was right there with me - and why
not, a specialist that did the same thing would cost him $125/hr and he was paying me a
whole lot less. Of course, it didn't hurt to have 14 years experience as an Electronic
Tech in the Manned Space Flight Program! I didn't mind it too much - I was glad to get
my hands back into the stuff.
My dad retired as an automotive machinist so he was glad to see me change careers.
Even though I'm into large scale model ships and garden railroading, because I grew up
around engines, I've had an idea for a straight 6 cylinder flat head engine using Briggs
and Stratton innards. The smallest Briggs engine uses 2 3/8 in. Dia. pistons thus
making the engine's length about 20 in. long. I found through a local auto machine
shop that steel sleeves with that I.D. are readily available. Now I realize most of you
guys (and possibly gals - o o yah) are into small and miniature engines and that's good.
I just don't see why they should be constrained to some shelf or niche and only brought
out for display purposes. I want to see them do some work. Now, if I were to
attach a large (relatively so) alternator to the back end of this engine, I think it would
have great possibilities as a prime mover in a 1/8th scale (1 1/2 in. to the foot) diesel
outline locomotive. What say yee??
Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Hope this is O.K. here. I tend to get
talkative from time to time. It's a problem I have in other forums, too.
Phil Potter.
