Getting Started In Machining - Absolute Beginners Click Here!

This episode on Blondihacks, I'm showing you how to get started in machining as hobby from nothing! Exclusive videos, drawings, models & plans available on Patreon!
/ quinndunki
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Your Day 1 Shopping List:
- Safety glasses : amzn.to/2SO99AY
- Ear plugs : amzn.to/3ca1Bzg
- Pre-ground tool bits : amzn.to/2H4yr5z
- Quick Change Tool Post set : amzn.to/310mshq
- Full drill index : littlemachineshop.com/product...
- Center drills : amzn.to/34CItFP
- Reamers : amzn.to/3fIlPT0
- Lathe drive dogs : amzn.to/34AgDKf
- Live center : amzn.to/3ca1Vhf
- Drill chuck with JT33/MT2 arbor : littlemachineshop.com/product...
- Mitutoyo dial indicator : amzn.to/2H09gBr
- Mitutoyo dial test indicator (optional for beginners) : amzn.to/3yUbHhr
- NOGA arm with magnetic base : amzn.to/2U2bGTI
- Mitutoyo dial caliper : amzn.to/2IMIxJE
- Mitutoyo micrometer with tenths scale : amzn.to/2RhNO2s
- Tap Magic cutting oil : amzn.to/37uYzRS
- Way Oil (no whales involved) : amzn.to/3yPlJAx
Import Lathe Buying Guide : • Import Lathe Buying Guide
How To Buy Metal : • Metal Lathe Tutorial 1...
Old catalogues courtesy of:
Vintage Machinery : www.vintagemachinery.org
Here are links for many of the tools that you see me using:
(I earn small commissions on these links)
• Mill clamping set : amzn.to/2xc9vqr
• Zero Flute Chamfering Tool : amzn.to/3bmPLPe
• NOGA Deburring set : amzn.to/2Jv3RlW
• NOGA Reversible Deburring Tool : amzn.to/2X07WX1
• Chucking Reamer set : amzn.to/3odnVvh
• Nicholson files : amzn.to/2VcHkls
• Nicholson needle files : amzn.to/2BDt7ph
• 1-2-3 Blocks : amzn.to/2EvAsGq
• Dormer center drills : amzn.to/2X7U6ij
• NOGA arm with magnetic base : amzn.to/2U2bGTI
• Collet Block set : amzn.to/2UkF1vZ
• DeWalt portable band saw : amzn.to/2U4Mhsw
• High Speed Steel parting blade : amzn.to/2YcdYBv
• High Speed Steel blade holder : amzn.to/2JgO0IK
• High Speed Steel tool blanks : amzn.to/2H1qoqr
• Grizzly Pre-ground tool bits : amzn.to/2H4yr5z
• AXA tool holders : amzn.to/2V1gOHl
• Quick Change Toolpost : amzn.to/310mshq
• Norton oil stone kit : amzn.to/2EbLEH3
• Norton small sharpening stone: amzn.to/2PQwex9
• End mills : amzn.to/2U76Vsf
• Milling machine starter pack : amzn.to/2tA2M4e
• Forceps : amzn.to/2Ww5dFT
• Mill Parallels : amzn.to/2lfW82i
• Starrett automatic center punch : amzn.to/2DCI7C9
• Budget transfer punch set : amzn.to/2yfDgHi
• Precision shim stock : amzn.to/34lJlME
• Jet 2-ton press : amzn.to/2SLas1s
• Starrett tap wrenches : amzn.to/35jxM9e
• Goldenrod oiler : amzn.to/2TTS0En
• Acid brushes : amzn.to/36qWCo5
• Scotchbrite deburring wheel : amzn.to/3ks0P2V
• Fein Turbo I shop vac : amzn.to/2vXpech
• Machinist’s scale : amzn.to/2Zk6oVj
• Mixed metric/imperial dial caliper : amzn.to/2KKARYY
• Mitutoyo dial caliper : amzn.to/2IMIxJE
• Mitutoyo micrometer set : amzn.to/2GtICPx
• Mitutoyo depth micrometer : amzn.to/33M8aSH
• Mitutoyo edge finder : amzn.to/2G36omq
• Mitutoyo dial indicator : amzn.to/2H09gBr
• Mitutoyo dial test indicator : amzn.to/2E5lRQw
• Coaxial indicator : amzn.to/3bbBEwE
• Mitutoyo telescoping gauge set : amzn.to/2Z6houn
• Starrett 98-6 Level : amzn.to/38K7lMD
• Grizzly Height Gage : amzn.to/2PDTr7i
• Thread Checker : amzn.to/2CpvAUU
• The Amateur’s Lathe book : amzn.to/3jIYlwe
• Anchor Lube : amzn.to/2H9X6oQ
• Boeshield T-9 : amzn.to/2TCE0wB
• Brownell’s Oxpho Blue : amzn.to/2YhZTmR
• Dykem layout fluid : amzn.to/2U7KQts
• Dykem dauber : amzn.to/2uoXtbm
• Tap Magic cutting oil : amzn.to/37uYzRS
• WD-40 : amzn.to/2GYV8rY
• Super 77 Spray Glue : amzn.to/2YScxZl
• Loctite 603 : amzn.to/2EYsPbi
• Loctite 242 : amzn.to/2RIt3sQ
• Way oil : amzn.to/38Gl9qW
• High pressure grease : amzn.to/2GloHTd
• CMD Extreme Pressure lube : amzn.to/36JPNy9
• Dry graphite lube : amzn.to/2U0YEZH
• 3-in-1 oil : amzn.to/36in43e
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[@chriskazaglis]

"Maybe you're metal curious?" I got that reference and fell out my chair laughing

[@mattagnew206]

I identify as bi-hobbial.

[@DavidLindes]

@@mattagnew206 why stop at two? The pan-hobbyists are out there too. ;)

[@rpavlik1]

There's almost nobody who is a 1 or a 10 on the Makey scale, they say, most are somewhere in between. And that's not even considering outside the tool binary.

[@mckannix5055]

I'm researching new bandsaw blades and at this late life stage find myself bimetal-curious; I guess tool love has no age limits...

[@jasonrichards9330]

@@mckannix5055 One thing I learned early on. Learn to weld your own and it will make life a lot easier.

[@mrimmortal1579]

You forgot to mention the importance of a good, high quality shop cat. A premium shop cat will not only poop both standard and metric threaded bolts (when fed the right amount of metal shavings), but will also catch bugs, mice, and small math errors (up to about .125 in., or about 3mm).

[@tfogelson3139]

They also are a great "self cleaning shop rag".

[@UncleKennysPlace]

My cats have cast-iron dust on their feet, after we hunkered in the shop during a tornado warning. So ... they'll lick it off.

[@steveskouson9620]

This Old Tony, is that you? steve

[@Reach41]

They add to the fun in the shop by leaving gifts for you in the Quiksorb.

[@danielabbey7726]

But buy a quality North American-made shop cat over the Asian imports! 😁

[@machinistpro140]

i've retired after 45 years, tool & die maker. i am SO impressed by how accurate your info is. knowing WHERE to spend your money (quality vs. dollar spent) is a make or break thing... early on in my career i bought into " ya gotta spend it to get it" and shelled out 50$ back in 1976 for 1-2-3 blocks when a korean 4$ import would have been just as fine.... and i wouldn't have been so neurotic when i drilled into them that's just one example. keep up the fine service, one of your vids are worth at least 3 college level classes. i've made parts that are on mars, and prototypes for a bay area national laboratory while employed there. i can only conclude with the wish that you had been there in 1967 to learn from when i got my start.. you are a great mentor to what i hope is a rebirth of american manufacturing and skill

[@B_COOPER]

I want to apologize that some of your work has been stolen by the Martians.

[@creesenebeker5686]

I, for one, would like to welcome our Martian pilferers...

[@MurrayC]

"a whole load of precision below a 1/16" - excellent!

[@orangetruckman]

Hitting below the belt for some on that one 😂

[@nefariousyawn]

I'm not sure any of my woodworking projects ever hit 1/16 tolerances, but I appreciate the flattering assumption.

[@robert_g_fbg]

The converse is also true. I keep designing wood joints to 1/64” precision, and end up shaving with a chisel to account for material twist and bend.

[@robertpearson8798]

There’s woodworking and then there’s woodworking. The old pattern maker that I worked with could use hand tools and a disc sander to produce tolerances that many machinists find hard to hit.

[@bwyseymail]

Yeah, about 62 or 63 levels.

[@LaddGardner4]

Great teachers are so rare, Quinn. You have a gift.

[@Fenderak]

Yeah, it has nothing to do with research, experience, patience and endless work that went into this. It must be an innate gift.. smh..

[@smashyrashy]

​@Fenderak a "gift" isn't innate, they can be earned/gained from experience. What an ignorant comment

[@StanErvin-yo9vl]

@@smashyrashy So most of your comment rebuttals are aimed to intimidate mentally handicapped people?

[@janporkpie]

Final comment about saving money was interesting. A couple of weeks after buying my lathe I needed swinging arm bushes for a 1980 Kawasaki. I was horrified to learn I was expected to pay £68 for the bushes. I set to with 50 pence worth of black nylon (carbon impregnated) and made a pair. Those bushes are still going strong 14,000 miles later. I've done a lot of similar jobs on bits of old motorcycle since. Of course, the way to really save money would be not to buy old motorbikes in the first place.

[@MattOGormanSmith]

It's still cheaper than new motorcycles.

[@gerrydrummond3287]

😂

[@calebkemplay6040]

Not buy old bikes? That statement doesn't compute😂

[@klpittman1]

Blasphemy! ALWAYS buy old motorcycles. If there is one thing on this planet a guy can’t have too many of its old motorcycles…oh, and tools. ALWAYS buy tools. And land, you need room for all the old stuff you buy.

[@LordPhobos6502]

Protip: most of my murder machines (bandsaw, grinding wheel, etc) have at least one piece of PPE actively blocking the use of the tool. You can not access them and get them work ready without touching goggles, earmuffs, etc. This helps me break the mindset of 'oh it's just one quick cut'. No, it's just one small chunk of debris flying at my head, and I like having both eyes working 👍 And yea, I got some fairly cheap goggles as spares to do this to every big tool ❤

[@mariellecb1]

Smart woman....

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Safety-always excellent advice. "Murder Machines" I died.😂😁 I'm gonna use that if ya don't mind lol

[@mattsadventureswithart5764]

Bravo!

[@VictorHernandez-GAVAIA]

That's excellent, I keep reprehending/training/suppressing my "not-so-responsible-self" by doing something like that too. Leaving obstacles and or reminders for my futures self in front of equipment or spaces where risky stuff goes on.

[@loganthesaint]

Bout the only time I use PPE is when I’m dealing with molten metal or it’s above 400V

[@RonCovell]

Quinn - Highly informative, and a delight to watch! I love the way you can reel off dense technical information in a way that most anyone can understand, and always keep it upbeat and interesting!

[@samcoote9653]

Great to see you Ron, and congratulations on the Hall of Fame, very well deserved!!! Excellent teacher and amazing craftsman, artistry!

[@richardhead8264]

Ron, were you at The Bash? Seems like I heard Stan mention your name once.

[@RonCovell]

@@richardhead8264 No, I didn't make it to the Bash this year. I wanted to go, we had some family medical issues. Hope I can make it next year!

[@williammundy2704]

40 years as an Aviation machinist, and am a big fan of this young woman. Not only do I delight watching her processes, as it truly is the journey that spurs us on, but the dry sense of humor sprinkled throughout keeps me chuckling. Jigs & fixtures are our lot in life! My first instructors mantra in a thick German accent still rings true “perpendicular und square!”. Was also wondering if the rumor is true that each time a cat image randomly appears that a sip of an adult beverage is called for? And is the beverage quantity in ounces or milliliters?

[@richharr]

What people often fail to realize about the lathe is it really teaches you about cutting tool geometry, chip load, feeds and speeds. Small lathes don’t give a lot of leeway when it comes to those topics so you learn to get those right which translates well to all other operations

[@nefariousyawn]

With the workpiece spinning instead of the tool, you can really see the consequences of those factors in real time.

[@MF175mp]

And first things first if you want to grind tools also. If your HSS jumps on the stone, you will not grind good tools. The wheel dressing and balancing needs to be taken care of, which it isn't if you buy a used grinder or a chinese one out of the box.

[@danielabbey7726]

Absolutely! The chatter on my old Taig 4" Micro-Lathe definitely tought me how to grind HSS tool bits to proper angles! 😬

[@ellieprice363]

Old machine shop wisdom says, “New machinists often run lathes too slow and milling machines too fast”. In my experience I’ve found this to be true.

[@larryschweitzer4904]

@@MF175mp I bought an 8" Chinese "Bear" model, don't do that! Absolutely horrible.

[@Reach41]

Don’t forget Dykem. Life without having spilled a whole container of it isn’t worth living!

[@mattagnew206]

Vivid/Sharpie markers are good for the hobbiest. I use them at work 95% of the time because there's always one in my pocket.

[@Reach41]

@@mattagnew206 True, but you can’t spill those. 🤪

[@kelvin0mql]

@@Reach41 Oh, you can if you try. I have the shirt to prove it.

[@Tinker001]

@@Reach41 Leave your sharpie on the bench while swapping out the mill vise... You'll spill the sharpie.

[@blackhd92]

Dykem.....If your only measuring tool is a tape measure.Been a tool maker for 30+ years and a shop supervisor for over 10 of that.Get a fine line marker such as Penmark ect.A regulay marker works well for most jobs.Dykem is very foul smelling and most types are known to cause cancer and the "remover" is worse.My 2 cents.

[@mastermoarman]

Get the noga with the fine adjust on the base and save yourself a lot of fiddling

[@AlRoderick]

Measure twice, fiddle once, cut over the course of like 16 passes because your machine does not have a lot of horsepower.

[@bobaloo2012]

For metal, don't forget to look for a good local scrapyard that sells retail. I have one, steel is $.40 per pound, aluminum and stainless $2 per pound, any size or shape you can find. Beats the heck out of online metal prices and lets me afford to kee a few hundred pounds of assorted "bits" around for when I need them.

[@jasonrichards9330]

Depends on where you are and where you look. Here aluminum is $3 a pound to buy but I've run into a few deals on cutoffs on Ebay for $2.50 a lb with free shipping.

[@VoidedWarranty]

Moving my 200lb lathe is an all day project because I have to clean a path between target and destination ;)

[@Tinker001]

You have an available destination???

[@VoidedWarranty]

@@Tinker001 it's like, the opposite side of the same workbench :)

[@mpikas]

@@VoidedWarranty doesn't that include cleaning the destination and all the space in between?

[@VoidedWarranty]

@@mpikas yup and the path for the hoist and where did I even put that thing and ugh the lathe is so dirty back there and crap now I've got a sliver so I've gotta dig out the microscope... Reorganizing my shop is very much yak shaving

[@randomentity6553]

Path? clean? these words I do not recognize...

[@d00dEEE]

I started using center drills as spotting drills over 50 years ago. I ain't gonna change now...

[@onestopfabshop3224]

Same here, well except for the 50 years part. LOL!!

[@TheMarmax13]

So nice to see a non man doing this, I have so many questions! I am also a lady machinist (apprentice for now) and it's inspiring to see you, not only succeeding, but instructing. I'm definitely gonna go through all your content. Thanks for the class.

[@sten1939]

Thank you for another great video. The hours you put in on the backside in production is greatly appreciated.

[@nbolin2879]

One of your best “how to” videos yet. I’m so glad I found your channel when I did. It’s been like a fun climb up the learning curve with a comedic shop teacher. Thanks for sharing.

[@Gjed16]

My pick for video of the week! Clear and concise as always. So many creators fall into the trap of repetition, circling around the same bush. Your efforts in planning and prep are much appreciated.

[@phillipgodwin6639]

25 years as a machinist. So much good information! Took me years to acquire the knowledge you passed on in less than 30 minutes. So right about good tools like taps and drills. Buy what you need for a job and soon you will need a big roll around chest! Keep up the good Videos!! "Mac" the machinist

[@Christoph1888]

Literaly just came across your channel while finishing of DIPA brew day. Using a diy arduino temp control in between working on my latest welding project. Was researching 3d printing wishing I had a lathe in between hop additions. Your channel description is basically everything I'm into. Add firearms and it would be a one stop shop. Awesome channel with great tutorials!

[@clydedecker765]

Quinn. I always enjoy every single video you make because they are so informative and NO ONE has talked down to me or force fed me anything. I learn from every video and I never intend to get into machining. Thank you so much for making all of the videos and please don't stop. The world needs you. Oh, I DO have my own murder machines to flog me occasionally too. In the garage ..waiting ....

[@358trucking]

I am a new lathe operator for a year now! I have learned so much from your videos. Thank you for making them. You gave me the gift of your expertise. Thank you.

[@roberttaylor2328]

First time viewer, new subscriber. You have me hooked. 30 years in Aerospace / Defense, precision hand finisher, machinist, tool & cutter grinder, problem solver. Was a thrill amongst several, when you recommended the Noga magbase for beginners, Spot On!!! All of my other magbases were immediately relegated to high-risk jobs, such as loaning to other Operators ;-). It would be a pleasure to work with someone of your calibre... Thanks for the content, and if my circumstances improve, I will definitely become a patron.

[@jongrimm7767]

My first month after starting full time in our family shop, I made a tap guide block. It was an old 1-1/4" square shaft key. I drilled a row of holes thru at thread nominal diameters from number 10 thru 1/2". I still have it and use it regularly, 38 years later. Quinn, thanks for the quality content. There's lots of good advice in this video.

[@mmfc6]

I really liked this video. Good sensible information shot in a "This Old Tony"/ AvE format but much more down to earth and practical. Still, nice bits of humor sprinkled throughout. My son and I started watching this channel for the steam engine build, he is fascinated with steam.

[@prodoverjeff2876]

Newbies, listen closely to Quinn. She has done this long enough to get it right, but has never forgotten what it was for her to be the newbie. She bridges that gap between not knowing, then knowing what to do.

[@jeffking4287]

Hello Quinn! I don’t know if I’ll ever pull the trigger on a lathe or mill ( too many hobbies, never enough time), but the information you provide (and the way you present it) has been invaluable and extremely entertaining. I teach motorcycle repair / modification for a living (another intimidating undertaking for a beginner… won’t save you much $ in the beginning… like you said.. it’s about the journey!), and you do a fantastic job of providing us with just enough information to not scare us off from giving it a try. Detailed enough when we need it, and basic enough when to make us think… yeah, I can probably do that! Keep up the good work.

[@Blondihacks]

Thank you for the generous donation!

[@shitposter4688]

Ok, Ima be the machinist equivalent to the woodworking purist guy: "Just get a good file and a good vise and start filing some dovetail ways or something. Once you get good at filing you can build up your workshop with other tools."

[@angelusmaker]

Fun fact, to become a machinist in Germany, you spend the first three to six months of your apprenticeship just filing and sawing by hand. Maybe a little chiseling. (The apprenticeship - usually - takes between three and three-and-a-half years).

[@mathewmolk2089]

Back in the days when there WERE tool and die apprentices for the first year a file was just about the only tool they let you use.

[@rallen7660]

Last startup I went to work for, I was in R&D doing electronics and building jigs and fixtures for the Production group. I had a steel table with a vise, a hacksaw, some files, and a Sears benchtop drillpress. After 2 years they had just got me a benchtop mill from Grizzly, and then decided that maybe we need a CNC and a real machinist. I made a lot of stuff for them before 'ol Mike took over for me.

[@BruceBoschek]

@@angelusmaker Been there, done that. I was doing my PhD work at a Max Planck Institute and thought it would be a good opportunity to learn machine work. I did a "mini-apprenticeship" and spent the first 3 months filing cubes and hand sawing stock. I learned to file aluminium, soft steel, stainless, Perspex, etc. It wasn't always fun (!!), but it taught me so much about accuracy, patience and not accepting compromises. I never used these skills, outside of my own home shop, but I value them to this day (I'm almost 80 now).

[@kevinomalley8975]

"Rigidity is the ballgame in machining." This is such a great, succinct axiom of the machining world. I appreciate that you give very clear rationale to support your suggestions!

[@Drew-de7ey]

Just came across this Blondiehacks series. I'm a hobby woodworker and have been "metal curious". I've watched This Old Tony, etc, for entertainment and always felt machining was too far outside my wheelhouse. Now, not so much. Thanks for the uploads and information. Instant subscriber here.

[@sneakersot00l77]

I'm learning how to use Lathes where I work. I've worked in a steel mill most of my life.. I recently started working at a small machine shop, and I absolutely love it! I have so much to learn, and finding your channel really is helping me out! I need to really learn the right way to grind the tools. I really appreciate your content!

[@afivey]

25:40 This bit about steady stream of projects is verbal gold. Thank you!

[@mariellecb1]

Thank you for this excellent treatise, Quinn. Delivered with your usual delightful flair. I always learn something new from your videos. I loved seeing you and your steam engine on the Livestream of the Bar Z Bash 2021 raffle. Hope you are having a great time!

[@hamish7759]

With my limited time learning, 1 year , I found that the pre ground sets of tool bits are good, but you will need to sharpen and regrind them pretty soon but the good thing is, they work as a good template

[@Moehre040]

If you want you could even note down the angles from the pre-ground stuff to serve as a template (since often some of the angles dont stay intact or measurable, especially when something breaks off, wich is not unlikely for beginners), while you have no understanding of what the different angles actually do, until you find the time to actually learn, what the angles do and fit them to your actual needs.

[@Warped65er]

Quinn has a video on that very task. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIDdg6ePbbiJma8

[@MyTubeSVp]

I started with insert tooling from day one, and that works for me.

[@AdrianPardini]

@@MyTubeSVp If you can afford them and your machine is up to it, that is a good option.

[@philpatrick4519]

The value proposition analysis was an excellent addition to the video. As usual many thanks!

[@gsuberland]

A thing to consider on the PPE front: if you wear a wedding ring, buy something dedicated to store it in, and TAKE IT OFF BEFORE YOU WORK. Lots of people don't count it as jewellery. Yes, it sucks to take it off, but degloving is no joke, and it'll suck a lot more if your wedding ring gets damaged. Same goes for any electrical work above 48V or with high-current supplies.

[@scottsammons7747]

My interest in machining goes back to Lindsay Publishing catalogs and particularly Dave Gingery's machine shop plans. Since then I spent significant time helping in machine shops, playing as a blacksmith, working in a couple foundries, and currently working sheet metal on the Trans Alaska Pipeline. All of that to say, I am a serious fan. Keep up the great work!

[@JoshuaRusso]

Glad I started here. With info this good I already know that I'm a few years out from having the cash and time to invest in this hobby interest mainly based on a significant backlog of home improvement and mechanical projects. Heck, I want to tool and skill up on metal fab first, for that matter, which is a natural extension of some of the car/bike projects! Thanks for making it so approachable and deflating totalizers!

[@DAKOTANSHELBY]

Quinn, thank you for the video content. No one on KZbin, that I can find, has offered a extremely helpful video on getting started in machining for beginners. That's me! Watching too much KZbin machinists (Quinn, Keith, the other Keith, Steve, Adam and Mr. Pete) and not practicing the craft. Gotta buy my equipment and get started! Thanks again for thinking of viewers like me.

[@johanschoeman869]

Hi Quinn, At the tenderage of 65 i have, out of the blue developed this absolute obsession about restoring old and rusted metal objects. I just love making old and well made objects as good as new again. Replacing screws and other parts has pointed me to your site for information and some know how. I love your way of presenting as well as your down to earth manner. Thank you for an excellent site, i am subscribed and will undoubtedly enjoy many more of your videos. Thank you, Johan

[@patwicker1358]

I would have added a good 6" machinist rule. Otherwise after 10 years as a hobbyist machinist I agree with everything your said and wish you had said it 10 years ago.

[@Reach41]

Agree with the need for a 6” scale, but I’ve found just one isn’t adequate. I have around 10; one for every place I might conceivably lay one down, and one more for my apron pocket.

[@danielabbey7726]

The 6" inch and metric combo rules are incredibly useful. And have several, if your shop is messy like mine! 😂

[@mattagnew206]

@@Reach41 One in the apron, one stuck to each machine with a magnet.

[@ZPositive]

Bravo Quinn! This is a spectacularly info-packed video. Thanks!

[@timoneal9654]

Super helpful! You are spot-on with addressing the hobbyist perspective (of which I am one). Great advice. Thank you.

[@joemccarthywascorrect6240]

Bought my first lathe four days ago - 1949 South Bend 9A. Two days of assembly and my first project is replacing the missing dauber on the tail stock. I need more has cutters - it only came with two! But it has the taper attachment, quick change gearbox, power cross feed, steady rest, dogs, faceplate, Chuck, collets 3C and virtually zero wear on the ways or tail stock base. And it is a collectible since it is stamped “US ARMY” in several places. And it is VERY quiet.

[@AnttiNannimus1]

You REALLY know your subject, tools, and materials, very well, especially for your relatively young age. As far as I can tell, your advice is almost always "spot on". You have a particular personal perspective, as is inevitable for everybody, but most people would be very well advised to listen to you. [I'm very old, with a background in industrial arts, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing, so I know whereof I speak.]

[@seismometer]

So, I just pulled the trigger on the Precision Matthews 1022V because of you. I really enjoy your videos. I have learned a ton from you and you are appreciated.

[@jimbo2629]

Best video I’ve watched for a while. It makes me feel good that you recommend so much equipment when I did the same. I am a woodworker having a go at metal machining. I like machining brass and aluminium, but not at all keen on steel. You say Use good materials for learning. The same applies to woodworking.These days I use my machines more for wood! , but I’m glad I invested. No pockets in shrouds.

[@mythai9593]

Best start out video I have seen 👍. I started my toolmaker apprenticeship in 1982 and our 1st year was making all the tools we might need.

[@NicholasMarshall]

Thanks for validating all that time spent tweaking my Linux setup.

[@tomwagemans1872]

Just bought my first small lathe/mill combo. This will be so interesting.

[@ProfRonconi]

Happy chip making! May you stay metal-curious forever.

[@ralfzaeper2035]

Love your channel. Very detailed and in reasonably depth.

[@martinpanev6651]

This video is very helpful! I have been slowly gathering tools and machines for the past few months and this video might just be the best there is on youtube!

[@jymjohnson2069]

One of the most informative videos I’ve seen, wish you’d have done this 16 years ago!

[@bhart89]

Just found this channel. Thanks for what you do. You answered many questions I didn’t even know I should have had.

[@NomadMakes]

Great video! The advice you gave on drills and reamers is the same I give on router bits and drills to wood workers. Now I am hopping over to that lathe playlist you mentioned. Cheers and thanks for sharing.

[@wgheidri]

Another consideration for selecting lathes and mills is not just the space but also the power supply. For 2 HP and up you'll probably need three phase power, which may be unavailable or prohibitively expensive.

[@betaich]

Depends also on your location I know people in the US don't have 3 phase power as standard in their homes, where as in my home country if you have a house you have at least 1 if not multiple 3 phase outlets.

[@andrewsamarakone6001]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world.

[@philthompson3415]

Thanks for taking the time and effort in sharing your experience and usable information. Very well done!

[@larrykent196]

On track, good job explaining this. Love your videos.

[@mikebashford8198]

14:17 'Metric folks can get by with fewer drills' - no we can't! we have to have the imperial, number and letter drills as well 'just in case we might need them, even if we never use them'

[@LordPhobos6502]

Can vouch for this, but we can get away with crappy imperial drills if we don't use em heaps.

[@mpikas]

Have to or want to? 😉

[@Immolate62]

@@bastelwastel8551 shots fired.

[@markusfischhaber8178]

I petered rebel drills over imperial ones

[@ProfRonconi]

Things I like about the Imperial system: first, it's called "Imperial", which has a much better ring to it than "metric" (though "Avoirdupois" is still the prestige favourite). Second, dividing by two in order to get the next smaller unit is very intuitive (just compare 1/32" to 0.79375 mm). Third, British engineers were able to attain enormous feats with what the rest of the world now considers an unwieldy, even silly system. Nowadays, American engineers reach similar heights using the Imperial system (there's a moral there, to be sure). In short, there's no reason for the decimal system to be preferred; in fact, we'd be much better off if we chose a duodecimal system, because 12 can be exactly divided by 2, 3 and4, whrereas 10 can only be exactly divided by 2 and 5. Fourth, Blondihacks uses it; need I say more?

[@texasermd1]

You described my recent thoughts in the first 30 seconds... nice!

[@rexmyers991]

A great dissertation. Excellent, clear concise. Thanks, Quinn

[@luvstruck2733]

You've done a lot of work on the video, and I truly appreciate it.

[@douglascampbell9809]

Blondie is right about woodworking tools. I worked in a furniture manufacturing plant for years. Cellulose necromancy machines have a tendency to cut all your fingers the same length, or rip off most of your arm along with 3 of your fingers. (not kidding here) I saw the aftermath of people cutting corners that were there for safety. Thank the crafting gods our owner was smart enough to fun a baseball field next to the plant for life flight to land at to fly people to the best local trauma center.

[@Just1GuyMetalworks]

I made so many of those mistakes when I started out... pretty much all of them 🤣. Some very good advice, Quinn. Thanks! 👍😊👍

[@joell439]

Very nice summary. It was so great to see you at the Bash. You and James make a great collaborative team. 👍👍😎👍👍

[@jontnoneya3404]

LOVE your approach and your realistic knowledge. It's so funny to me how many "experts" there are here on YT and it makes the whole thing seem unapproachable. But you make it seem totally possible to have a hobby machine shop. That's really cool and I love it! And you're so right about tools - buy cheap and replace/upgrade what breaks or when you feel like you want something a little nicer. That's outstanding advice and sometimes it gets lost in the "only use these tools" crowd. Well done.

[@BrianFullerton]

"Cheap taps are a nightmare. Don't buy them." Something the science units folks and freedom units folks can agree upon. World peace will surely follow.

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Add: drills, center drills, dies, endmills, chucks....

[@carlwilson1772]

What are freedom units?

[@Jacksparrow4986]

@@carlwilson1772 metric. The freedom of not having to use fractions all the time :-)

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Lol love it.

[@carlwilson1772]

@@Jacksparrow4986 Understood.

[@SuperHaptics]

Awesome videos Blondy !!! You are helping a lot of us with this series. Thanks

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

*Well done!* Watched some of the videos of interviewing you. I'm impressed with your experience!

[@Clough42]

Excellent summary. Plus the dirty hands and burned spots on your workbench always make me smile. Well done. Also, I feel your pain recording audio in a residential setting. Lawn mowers are the bane of my existence.

[@avoirdupois1]

A great, down to earth guide for those of us that are "metal curious."

[@taranson3057]

Another Great video Quinn! Really enjoyed your time as an MC at the Bash

[@chickenNoodleSuper]

Thanks so much. That’s a fantastic vid and covers everything in the perfect amount of detail. It’s exactly what I need to know to get started!

[@reiniertl]

About the lathe. I went to the store to buy the Craftex (sold in Canada) equivalent of the one you have. They had some "refurbished" (more like returned) machinery for almost half the price. The thing is someone before me bought the lathe I was looking for and what they had left was a CX709. The CX709 has a shorter bed and no speed controller. However, it is a gearhead lathe with more swing over bed, a MT5 and bigger bore on the headstock and MT3 on the tailstock. Honestly, the popularity of the variable speed controller is overrated when you move to a medium size bench machine. I learned the basics on an toolroom lathe and you don't need the "infinite speed variation" within the range, six speeds can do a lot, and if you need more change, the belt and you get another twelve speeds. So if you are considering buying the same (or equivalent) as Quin get the gearhead instead. The price difference is not that big and the CX709 includes the stand (mine came without it because it wasn't brand new). About projects I recommend to get some books from the well known Workshop Practice Series. *Useful Machine Tools To Make [Stan Bray] *Metal Lathe [Harold Hall] *Milling [Harold Hall] These these have enough projects to keep a hobbyist busy for quite a long time and you will probably end up with a lot of useful tools and accessories.

[@danielabbey7726]

Have to agree with you 100% on the Workshop Practice Series books out of the UK; similarly, George H. Thomas' books from TEE Publishing are excellent. Not sure if they're still readily available, but Canadian author Guy Lautard's three Machinist Bedside Readers are also very good.

[@samcoote9653]

Awesome video Quinn, I hate that youtube comments and creators and pro machinists are so anal about correct terms and tools needed that you need to have a disclaimer for every single suggestion. You've made an excellent video on starting in machining, and since I started watching you almost a couple years ago now, since I got my little optimum lathe, I've gotten away with most of these tools no problem, and still come out with decent parts, and that's with only one dial indicator, and one micrometer :O (oh no the machinists will string me up!) Keep at it, very very helpful video, and brought up a couple tools that I keep forgetting to get myself :P dont listen to the hate, you achieve stellar results 9 times out of 10, and you're ballsy enough to show any errors you make. You make real, proper content that a real person can use!!

[@thenetwerx]

This is a great video. The tip on buying a large but inexpensive drill index and selectively spending more on better quality drills used most often is brilliant.

[@ADBBuild]

Great video! You really have a talent for breaking things down into palatable amounts of information anything can understand.

[@nicolasabdelkarim4052]

Thanks Quinn! This was a very useful guide for n00bs like myself wanting to start a homeshop adventure :)

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hello Quinn, You've made a really good video for anyone on page one, chapter one... Well done... Take care. Paul,,

[@onestopfabshop3224]

Hi Paul, good to see you!

[@neygart1929]

You are awesome. You speak clearly and slow enough so I can understand you easily as a non-native speaker. In addition, as I'm no machinist but an interested hobbyist crafter, everything you say makes absolutely sense. Looking forward to watching further videos of yours. Keep up the great work. Greetings from Germany.

[@VehementKnives]

So glad that I discovered your channel! Great info. Thanks for the killer content!

[@MyTubeSVp]

There were a painful amount of extremely recognizable thruths in this video !

[@juanzuluaga3388]

Quinn, another way that amateurs have tried to have a lathe is by making one. The Gingery lathe is a good example. With your analytical mindset, I beg you to consider studying the Gingery lathe, reviewing its (many) weak aspects (metallurgy, rigidity...), and if there could be a Blondi alternative.

[@crichtonbruce4329]

I was very fortunate to have been a friend of Dave Gingery. A wonderful, generous, humble man. I loved his books, but not so much as I wanted to build my own machines from start, but because they were for me an endless source of ideas for fixturing, methods of work, etc.

[@patricksmith4424]

Excellent, logical rundown of getting started in metal work. Of course, where you are poses a completely different set of problems. A ground floor garage or shed is really a must for the big stuff. I have a spare bedroom in a social housing block so am a bit scuppered on the heavy noisy stuff. Above ground floor you can't even hammer on a table it creates so much vibration.

[@howder1951]

Good video Quinn. I must certainly compliment you on the subs you have attained, and from the looks of the comments, everyone had something to say. Bravo, and cheers!

[@the4thj]

Ah ahh! AvE says to buy a mill due to the versatility of the mill. However, when I got my lathe I used it more and the mill became the helper machine.

[@Tinker001]

Buy the lathe first, then give it enough time & it'll give birth to a small mill.

[@guitarchitectural]

What about those units that are a mill with a lathe attached? No one ever talks about those!!

[@Tinker001]

@@guitarchitectural Probably because nobody wants to admit to having one tucked away behind the real machine(s) in the shop...

[@zachaliles]

@zomgthisisawesomelol he started out with, as he described it, a clapped out Bridgeport.

[@netpackrat]

After using your lathe as a mill a few times, you will realize that it sucks, is a huge pain in the ass, and you will buy a mill.

[@laumuseka]

Couldn’t make it a quarter way in without a solid like on this. The screaming banshees of death got me laughing!

[@toxolite]

Up with the best "metal curious videos" I have seen. Logical well presented advice which will influence my journey. Thank you.

[@GunnerAsch1]

Once again...an EXCELLENT video! Bravo!

[@onestopfabshop3224]

Haha, about 2 years ago I got "sucked in" to all the machining videos. I never ran a metal lathe or a mill in my life but consider myself a pretty sharp person in a body, mechanical, or welding shop I learned 90% of what I know watching these videos. I went out and bought a nice older industrial lathe. Then I bought a decent older Bridgeport. I have been able to make those machines pay for themselves many many times over since I got started. With KZbin, the internet, and some motivation, it can be accomplished, I'm a believer! Through KZbin and the internet, I was able to even build myself from scratch a 3 phase rotary converter for the lathe. I got lucky on my mill in that it's got a single phase motor on it I wired for 220 volts. Thanks for all the lessons and motivation Quinn, and the other KZbin machinists that have unknowingly contributed to my success. 😁😁😁

[@CharlesBallowe]

One question that strikes me for day one is "what to expect for cleanup and maintenance" - with all of the oils, chips, cutting fluids, etc - how does everything not quickly turn into a mess?

[@tobiasripper4124]

the answer is, everything turns quckly into a mess. wd40, shop towels, sand or better suited products to suck spillages, more shop towels and most importantly, shop towels (or old rags for the non important stuff).

[@MyTubeSVp]

Clean up after every process you finish. Sure it’s a lot of work, but a tidy shop is SO nice !

[@Tinker001]

Final half hour of a day in the shop is ALWAYS spent on cleanup.

[@groverw7507]

Lovely introduction to a hobby with a steady delivery of information, options and reasoning. Subscribed after a few minutes.

[@garypeterson3628]

This was an incredibly well done and comprehensive video. Great job.

[@TERRYB0688]

Nicely put together, definitely make you own tools, you learn a lot an nothing better than using a tool you made yourself 👍👴🏻

[@onestopfabshop3224]

I couldn't bring myself to buy a boring head. So, I watched a few videos and made my own. I'm proud of that thing!

[@tom_tom_go]

Great video, I always think I should buy a mill first as I can see that being more useful for me (and it would replace my small drill press) but you make good points for buying a lathe first!

[@martinhansen2315]

When I first entered a workshop in my teens we used a lathe with work piece attached to cross slide to performing milling. Not ideal but it filled the technical gap. Took me 40 years before I realised you could do the opposite and use a mill as a crude lathe, so I always recommended getting a lathe first. Anyway what is mill other than uprated drill press with an added crossslide.

[@ionstorm66]

@@martinhansen2315 A mill is a lathe on its side. Mounting the workpiece on the cross side, with tooling in the spindle is how mills became a thing.

[@tfogelson3139]

Bought a mill first then when I need to turn something I bought a rotary table for the mill, not fast but cheaper than a lathe.

[@sergemalikov6829]

Love the storytelling and attitude more than the actual content! Thanks!

[@francescozambuto1713]

Really nice job of placing everything, where they need to be. What I mean is that you have everything in place, in accord with you do the most, and by doing that you make the most of what you have. One thing you mentioned is very important and that light; people don't realize how important lighting is, it gets rid of shadows which can not only mak your work more difficult, but ruin what ever you're working on. Funny though, shadows are important in art work such as in paintings and all that. Anyway, thank you, I really enjoyed the tour of your shop. If I may, with your permission, I would like to ask everyone out there to please keep the buzz in the bottle, do not drink and drive, it really doesn't mix well at all and it can have devastating results. I wish everyone has a very happy, and safe holiday season.

[@EngineerRaisedInKingston]

I’m a simple man - I see a new blondihacks video, I click like. P.s. as someone who as a machine shop in my spare bedroom on the first floor(2nd floor for some of the world, as 1st floor is ground floor here in England), and has had to carry 3 lathes and a milling machine upstairs, the moving aspect of the machines is extremely important to emphasise, which is something I feel loads of these videos forget to mention. Fantastic video as always, Quinn.

[@Tinker001]

Ever try to move a 9" South Bend lathe into the lower basement of a split-level house? (Never buy a split-level house. EVER!)

[@onestopfabshop3224]

@@Tinker001 I always wanted a split level. There's something I just like about them.

[@greghomestead8366]

@@onestopfabshop3224 When your older your knees may not like them 🤔

[@Tinker001]

@@onestopfabshop3224 Don't do it! 3 sets of stairs in what amounts to a bungalo... Awkward plumbing & wiring... Completely non-functional HVAC due to poor airflow...

[@onestopfabshop3224]

@@greghomestead8366 May have to rethink that!