This ONE-MAN SHOP has quite a collection of VINTAGE MACHINES! | Hiltz Machine Works Shop Tour

A 1955 Logan 6560 lathe. A 1985 Series 1 Bridgeport milling machine. And a versatile SIPP drill press that came from a paper mill... Hiltz Machine Works has quite an impressive collection of vintage machines.
In this shop tour, Jeremy Hiltz, Owner and Operator of Hiltz Machine Works, takes us through his manual machine shop to showcase his vintage machines and explain how he uses them in his shop.
Located in Cary, Maine, Hiltz Machine Works is a one-man, fully equipped manual machine shop focused on repair work, Powersports applications, short-run production and niche machining.
To learn more about Hiltz Machine Works, follow them on Facebook ( / hiltzmachine , Instagram ( / hiltz_machine_works ) or KZbin ( / mainemachinist ) to stay up-to-date with Jeremy's latest projects.
Do you want to take Practical Machinist for a tour around your shop? Drop a comment below or contact us via email at info@practicalmachinist, and we will arrange it!
Stay tuned for more machining videos!
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[@larry3064]

Love the Sipp drill press. Sipp is a legendary name in machine tools.

[@MaineMachinist]

It is a fantastic machine for sure

[@robertfontaine3650]

Need a machine to machine the machine is always a challenge for the hobby shop.

[@MaineMachinist]

Sure is. Always a challenge. Would have been easier to open a Hot Dog stand haha

[@mariusj8542]

Been there, and what is important is to be open and ethical instead of thinking of the bottom line. It will be the best in the long run. As I see it: 1. Review the specifics of the NDA. Generally, NDAs restrict sharing information about the project details, methodologies, or any sensitive data you receive from the client. They typically don't restrict you from mentioning that you are working on a similar project for another client, as long as you don't disclose any confidential details. 2. You generally are not required to inform either client that you are doing similar work for someone else unless your contract specifically requires such disclosures. However, this can vary based on the legal jurisdiction and specific contract terms. In our case we informed the nda customer that we were working on very similar designs already. That worked for us because the “ end customer with the nda” immediately understood what had happened, and we ended up in a joint conf. call and delivered the product through the first quote.

[@jheurtin1120]

Awesome shop. That is pure unadulterated awesomeness.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@funone8716]

Reminds me of when I was getting going in the early 1980's, best of luck. Don't put to much time into each machine (looks wise) as newer and/or better machines (and machine deals) WILL come along in the future.

[@MaineMachinist]

Good advice! I appreciate it!

[@chrisjarvis4449]

love them logan lathes good ol american iron

[@MaineMachinist]

They’re Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@scottwhite2379]

I have used Jeromy in the past. His shop is this clean on any given day. Thanks for the in depth tour.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks Scott! I appreciate it!

[@JRiddlebarger45]

In a world surrounded by CNC machines, it’s nice to see a shop that is thriving with manual machines. It definitely gives me inspiration to get out and do more hobby work and paying work with my manual machines.

[@MaineMachinist]

I know several shop owners in Maine with 100% manual shops who are all as busy as can be

[@QuebecoisSti]

Conventionnal are fine but if you want to go hard in thr market and make thr big buck you must go towards CNC and latest machining technologies. You won't be able to quote good on large series if you don't go the modern route. However, if you stay within custom and low quantity parts, it can be quite enough

[@MaineMachinist]

@@QuebecoisSti I don’t quote for production runs. All of my work is one off or very limited quantity. It’s usually repair work oriented or engine machining. I have CNC shops who sub me out work because they can’t make a profit doing it whereas I can.

[@QuebecoisSti]

@@MaineMachinist series vs small qty/custom is so different. Big shops want large series, it's much profitable for them on volume and having start/stop operator. I am pretty sure you will always have job in your branch

[@michaelhenry4405]

We to a massive CNC shop at GE in the UK. literally dozens of machines. not a single person working in the company. Nobody there knows how to operate the machines.

[@ramblerssafarnaama4181]

The shop tour was very well curated, giving an initial background and then walking through each machine with more details. I am very impressed this workshop has all been developed as a one man operation, Awesome!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@mathewmolk2089]

I am amazed at the people that can't believe you can get the job done without CNC machinery. We are industrial electrical/millwright contractors and like most other industrial contractors we have our own Weld/Fab/Machine shop. And like all the Industrial contractors I know we may move/set repair/ CNC machines, but we do not have any CNC Machine tools in our shops. CNC is OK or a lot of things but for repair and custom one off they are basically useless. - Say a customer needs a shaft for an overhead crane that has a 4 week lead time from the manufacturer. We can stick a piece o 1045 off the stock rack in the Monarch and in 15 minutes we can then throw it to our "totally obsolete" Cinci Horizontal to put the keyways in it and be in the office typing the invoice before a CNC shop can get it out of his "Turning Center" and start programming their mill. Different capabilities for different shops. Again, CNC has it's place (We use the hell out of our CNC Plasma burning table) but 100% manual shops have their place too. ,,,,,, BTW, The CNC Machine operators I see at the bar think sharpening a drill by hand is pure Alchemy. I even had a guy tell me you cannot grind a plug tap into a bottoming tap on a pedestal grinder. (What are the schools teaching these kids these days?)

[@MaineMachinist]

I’ve done my fair amount of CNC work and I completely agree. Each has their place. A friend of mine has an all CNC shop and he has subbed me out repair work because it’s just much easier and faster for me to do it than him.

[@MaineMachinist]

Now I certainly wouldn’t want to make a parts run of 700 or 5,000 or 20,000 of a single part on my Bridgeport lol

[@skipgoryews1356]

Hello for such a young man I am very impressed for your older tools and knowing how to use them . I am 74 and handicapped so I have my limits. Am proud for you and wish you the very best .

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you! I am very privileged to have had an old time Machinist show me most of what I know. I learned more working under him than I did in trade school, for sure.

[@ipsofaxmachine4716]

I sure wish I could buy that DoAll Grinder off you. A few months back I went into the shop and saw our Reid grinder bring carried away on a forklift, the shop owner had sold it off without telling me. I went to him and asked "How am I going to grind my flats now?" He just looked at me and said "you won't"... Man that really ground my gears (pun intended haha). Anyway looks you've got a beautiful shop! I hope your spindles keep turning for many many years.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you for watching! Last week the old DoAll went away.

[@carternewman3360]

When those machines were made you were the guard me

[@chriswhitley3283]

Oh yeah I was a supervisor of a punch press shop among other jobs I have had such as a machine operator and die setter.

[@unclebuck5051]

Very nice shop and nicely laid out. I have that same Bridgeport, same DRO, same year too, and I'm here to tell you that a power drawbar would be a game changer and money well spent. I installed a Maxi Torque-rite on mine. I also put a Servo power feed on the knee. Another game changer. I'd love to have that Dake. Take care.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks for the comment! I’d like to have a power draw bar for sure!

[@colvinator1611]

Thanks very much for the tour. Although my working life was electrical / electronics, I have always enjoyed mechanical engineering as part of my hobbies. Colin ( UK 🇬🇧 )

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@ernestwilliams3112]

Shapers are relaxing to use

[@navaho5430]

Some nice old machines their cheers from OZ

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@timvandenbrink4461]

Awesome, very clean and professional. Thanks for the tour!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks for watching!

[@Ron_EZ]

Very cool shop tour, after military retirement I'm in night school, I just finished all the welding classes for two certificates (Inert Gas Welder & Structural/Pipe Welder) Now I've moved over to machine shop, & I'm looking forward to delving into the machine world!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you for your service! It’s exciting to be starting out! I’m sure you’ll find it a very rewarding career, whatever direction you choose to take it. This trade has never ever let me down. With a positive attitude and the ability to encourage yourself, you’ll go far.

[@FlatThunder]

Hi Jeremy! The speed selector mechanism on the flat belt driven drill press awesome! I am happy to see a small machine shop thriving. Cheers, 👍😁

[@MaineMachinist]

Very cool design, isn’t it!

[@Carnold_YT]

What a nice and impressive shop, thanks for the tour!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@thecainer64]

Great shop tour Jeremy. I look forward to seeing it in person sometime.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@lowellhouser7731]

I just got that exact same toolbox from my grandfather along with a Logan Model 200 lathe. Cleaning it up because grandpa neglected it quite badly, but honestly that's a positive because I'm learning it just by taking everything apart. Eventually I will be buying that ABEC7 bearing set from Logan Actuator and stripping the whole thing down to have the bed re-ground and new paint, but that's a someday project.

[@MaineMachinist]

Nice!

[@Amaysing79]

Great video thanks. Nice to see a young man headed to becoming successful in this day.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks for watching

[@deanmoser5907]

Absolutely excellent.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you so much. I appreciate the comment!

[@rossilake218]

I started Hobby machining about 10 years ago. My first and only machine is a Logan 200 with change gears. I tried to "Ridged" it up as much as i can. Cuts well to this day. Now i have a 13" Cholchester lathe, 2 Bridgeports and a surface grinder. All in a 2.5 car garage. For big jobs i pull them out. I'm almost retired and will be building a shop like yours, i'm out of room with all the tooling. I learned maching by all the YT greats, Abom, both Keiths, Randy, Stan, Robin, Mr Pete and the welder: Jody C. There is so much information, use it!

[@skibee50]

Thank you so much for the tour . Very informative.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you for watching!

[@RossTFarnsworth]

My wife is a county girl from Eagle Lake, and we visit every year to visit family. I am not a machinest, but I come from a long line of machinest and Hill farmer from Windsor VT. I love old wrenches and tools and often look for old equipment. Will have to check your shop out next time I'm in the county. watch out for my in-laws.

[@MaineMachinist]

You are more than welcome to stop on by!

[@timothykeith1367]

I like the incandescent lighting

[@MaineMachinist]

They are, in fact, LED lights. They are made to look like the old school incandescent light bulbs, though. I felt it had the correct “look” to match the feel of the shop. They are very bright and allow for good lighting throughout the shop. Thanks!

[@timothykeith1367]

@@halcyonoutlander2105 At least not fluorescent

[@scottmorgan5370]

You have yourself set up rather well. Be sure and thank God every day for all of your blessings.

[@MaineMachinist]

Absolutely! I thank God every day for the chance to be alive, work from home and raise my family.

[@natelockley5466]

You didn’t say um or uh once. I guess your work is as good as your presentation. Impressive. Nice job

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@gearhead3922]

Very nice video and awesome shop. Thanks for sharing.

[@murrayedington]

Many thanks for this. Always love seeing workshop tours!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@bobjimenez4464]

Nice, clean and versatile shop. Be proud of it!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks a lot!

[@waynepennington2769]

You have accomplished a lot an have done well for yourself. Always thank God young man. Cause without him there would be no you.

[@MaineMachinist]

I’m saved and serving!

[@scrapperstacker8629]

Great shop set up!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@rodneykiemele4721]

Great shop tour,excellent shop. Thanks so much for showing it.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks for the shop tour.

[@MaineMachinist]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@TrPrecisionMachining]

very good video and love vintage machines..love old school

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@eegaugh]

Inspiring - thank you. I liked the antique anvil and felt it deserved a more in-keeping stand; perhaps a tree stump with the anvil secured by dogs?

[@MaineMachinist]

I agree! The stand it is on is the one that came with it. I should make a better one for sure!

[@prodesign8189]

Well done. I am currently at the 2 cncs in my garage stage myself. Doing well enough to build a new bigger shop soon. I could hang and drink coffee and move chips with this guy anyday.

[@MaineMachinist]

Keep moving forward you’ll have that bigger shop soon!

[@TheAyrCaveShop]

Thanks for the tour, very nice shop 👍👍

[@chriswhitley3283]

Having your own Bridgeport is awesome. Having a lathe is cool but it ain’t a Bridgeport. You. have awesome collection of tools. I only worked closely with the machine shop. I’ve done a little stuff along the way.

[@MaineMachinist]

The Bridgeport is a very versatile tool!

[@imonlyhalfnutsreally2113]

Just awesome sir.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks for watching! I appreciate it

[@Reljic414]

Back in 1996 we had that shaper in High School shop and when teacher wasn't there we rode it like horse😂.

[@MaineMachinist]

I’ve heard more than one person say this!!!!

[@rogerbodette6337]

Good Shop and you can make money with it. I just play in mine.

[@jeffkelley3351]

Was really impressed with your shop and your video was top notch

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks Jeff! We put a lot of time into it

[@gexas38]

man great tour and u have some really nice stuff. i love also that your shop is organized and well kept....truly a reflection of the stellar work im sure that u do.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!

[@rhokdatroll]

Thanks for the tour 👍🏻

[@MaineMachinist]

You’re welcome! Thank you!

[@KISSMYACE3203]

I like the good housekeeping sign. While you work for yourself and it all falls down to you, I could put 8 of those signs everywhere people I work with and they still wouldn't do any housekeeping. Old shop I worked at with 30+ employees was honestly way cleaner than one with 4. Edit: one with 4 is current

[@MaineMachinist]

I’ve always thought a precision shop is a clean and organized shop. I am into vintage BMW Motorcycles and I saw a video recently of the BMW factory in Germany. It was so organized and clean you could probably eat off the floors. I couldn’t believe it.

[@mathewmolk2089]

@@MaineMachinist Cleaning defiantly has it's place but so does production. I had to let a very good grinder hand go because he spent more time making his area look like an operating room then he did making sparks. We take the last half of the day on Fridays to sweep and clean,,,,if and only if, there are no hot jobs that have to go. Then you just have to live with it. - The work comes first guys. House keeping, like meetings are for people with nothing important to do.

[@barryweissburg6384]

Awesome shop!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks for watching!

[@billmontgomery8900]

I too share your interest in shapers. I also have a stienel sh4. I am just in the process of finishing my complete refurbishment of it. What happened with your drum switch? I had a VFD that I am using to power mine and am curious on how you wired yours?

[@ozyrob1]

Beautiful shop

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@evanwinship7326]

Doing great Jeremy

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks Evan!

[@oceanpout5232]

Thanks for sharing

[@MaineMachinist]

You’re welcome. Thank you for watching!

[@jonasowens27]

very nice.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@steran50]

Great shop Jeremy and thanks for the tour. That Sipp Drill Press is fantastic, so versatile.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks for watching! I really love that machine. Very unique.

[@brianpittman9460]

The only drawback I could see with the Sipp DP is the relatively shallow throat depth. That being said, I agree with you that it is probably one of the finest machines this side of a radial drill press! I do love that speed changer as well as the adjustable knee and the adjustable height and the adjustable depth stop! Wonderful machine, I just love it. What an amazing deal, especially considering the condition is virtually flawless. BP-USA

[@MaineMachinist]

@@brianpittman9460 there is a LOT of this kind of old American Iron sitting in warehouses throughout Maine and New England. All of these old Forest Products mills had not only Millwrights with Maintenance Shops, but each place also had a small Tool & Die area. I recently found out about some Cincinnati Shapers that were crushed out of a storage facility... 18-24” stroke machines that were in good shape. Someone should be buying this stuff up below pennies on the dollar before it all gets scrapped.

[@mabmachine]

Great tour of an awesome repair machine shop.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@tonygombas491]

Well done I loved every minute of your presentation you explained in detail congratulations on your achievements and many success in the future 👍

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you so much!

[@Indiana_John]

Oh my goodness man, I love your shop! I've got a manual shop right over in Thornton NH! It's super encouraging to see another one man manual shop. People keep telling me to get into CNC cause it's supposedly impossible to survive as a one man shop without it

[@MaineMachinist]

We should absolutely stay in contact!

[@MaineMachinist]

@@Indiana_John I just followed you on Instagram. I’m just learning how to use that particular social media site. We have other things in common as well from what I see on your feed there.

[@paulcotesr5623]

wow very cool machines I was the one that sold that horz buke mill cool to see that :)

[@MaineMachinist]

Hi Paul! It came to a good home! Thank you for watching and I’ll try to reach out once I go over that machine a little bit and start using it!

[@BD-qq4fn]

Very cool! Great shop.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you

[@stevegraham7974]

Hey mate, love your shop, I’m trying to set up my own in Healesville Victoria Australia. Have a mill and a lathe along with mig and tig welders. And hope to get into the repair and rework side of the industry. Keep up the good work mate.

[@MaineMachinist]

That is great! Keep working toward your goal. You will get there!

[@HuskyMachining]

badass shop! Your shop is so clean and organized. Thanks for the tour

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you! I’ve tried to keep things very clean. I actually tried a strategy from another shop tour I saw on Practical Machinist where they clean in the mornings instead of the end of the day. I find it does work better!

[@HuskyMachining]

@@MaineMachinist I need to make it a habit to clean in the morning too. I think I remember the guy from Pierson Workholding saying that and his shop was pretty darn clean too

[@MaineMachinist]

@@HuskyMachining That’s the one. I listened to that and thought “Come on now.. really?” But then I tried it and it really worked for me. Obviously I try to pick up after myself as I go during the day, but I get up and spend 30 minutes or so every morning now while having coffee. I will say I did do extra cleaning for the tour, but it does stay very clean here.

[@dannywilsher4165]

Nice shop. Nice tour!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you so much!

[@dannywilsher4165]

My pleasure!!!@@MaineMachinist

[@Thewatson77]

Very lovely shop 👍🏼👍🏼

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@edsmachine93]

Very nice video. Nice walk through your shop. Just subscribed to your channel. Have a great day.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@akfarmboy49]

Good energy in your shop I’m a machinist in alaska.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you! You’re welcome! I’ve always wanted to visit Alaska!

[@danielelliott3659]

Where at in Alaska. Im in Soldotna .

[@akfarmboy49]

I’m in Fairbanks Ak

[@HVACinthe973]

This guy is cool

[@gkalkowsky]

Flashforge finder is good, but you'll find that it's incredibly slow vs modern machines. You'd be well served to get something faster, there are machines doing 200-300 mm/s now that are reasonably priced and can cut your prototype turnaround to one sixth the time. Useful for mocking up product prototypes without the time and expense of doing it in metal. Might be good to get one of the boys on it. Thanks for the tour, wishing you lots of luck in the new year

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks for watching!

[@StuartsShed]

Fantastic shop - thanks for showing us around. Unusual to see a shaper these days - but so very pleasing! Well done for building a business around manual machining - it's just so inspiring.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you so much. I appreciate it!

[@evengineering7136]

Awesome! I am a manual machine shop too! I love looking at other peoples set ups. Really nicely looked after and good machines.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@rustycrustymakesstuff6528]

Nice shop!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@chuckotto7021]

Great shop! And the Beemer is pretty nice too!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you! It’s a 1980 R80/7 and I really enjoy riding it!

[@tonyking9235]

LOVE THE SHAFER. NOT MUCH YOU CANT MAKE ON IT . GOOD LUCK YOUNG MAN.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@mathewmolk2089]

Just like the old goof goes, You can make anything on a sharper but a profit. - All kidding aside we have a Cinci slotting attachment we adapted to our horizontal mill we cut ID keyways with ,,,,,Many times I have thought how nice it would be to have a real shaper, instead though. (if we only had the room) If you look at how the prices of only what they weighed a few years back are now increasing in price every day. - Looks like shapers are making a comeback, doesn't it?

[@TBJK07Jeep]

Thanks for the video. You have a pretty nice shop setup. Didn’t even occur to me to use a shaper for gear work.

[@MaineMachinist]

I collect very old Machinist books and publications. It’s amazing to see the setups that were used long ago with Shapers. I actually stole the setup idea for one of my gear repairs from a book series called Tips and Tricks of Old Time Machinists.

[@MaineMachinist]

They showed a way to index a gear using only an angle plate - no dividing head used.

[@georgedreisch2662]

Interesting. Wish I’d known you were there, as I left Sherman in 2017, and had a good amount of equipment, that was in need of re-homing. Good luck, as I believe you’ve found a important niche, problem being, too many in that region simply do not want to pay for quality work. I might suggest looking into knife sharpening for planer knives etc.. I had made some fixtureing, for a surface grinder and a Bridgeport, that kept reasonably busy. I ended up doing a good amount of business with the local Amish, that are continually in need of fabrication and repair.

[@MaineMachinist]

Wow! I wish we could have met up for sure. I definitely need to move into planar knives. It’s something I’ve been thinking about lately.

[@zachjonas4231]

Very nice shop Jeremy! Interesting story with the hot, gear job on the shaper!

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@tannerbean3801]

Looks like a good time! I don't suppose you'll be getting into cnc machining in the near future...

[@MaineMachinist]

I don’t think so

[@georgespangler1517]

I have 7 vintage lathes I've restored and 2 horizontal mills, prices are going up all the time,, I'll sell them soon,, all but my Logan 11 inch and my Sheldon horizontal mill.

[@MaineMachinist]

That sounds awesome! I had to sell off some things because I didn’t have room for them. I’d like a much larger shop. Maybe someday!

[@bigfish5474]

Fascinating and envious. Looks a great set up.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@Rustinox]

"On a shaper you can make anything but a profit" is indeed a statement made by people who doesn't know how to operate a shaper...

[@MaineMachinist]

It has become one of my favorite machine tools, for sure.

[@Scummy_shovel]

I bought my lathe from a machine shop. It’s an old one but it works perfectly and came with a ton of stuff. I asked the guy. “Why are yall selling this”. He said. “Well we got it a few years back. But you just can’t make any money with a lathe these days”. 😂. I was like. Oh yea. There basically useless. Would ya take 500$ for this junk? I spent about a month and rebuilt it like in this video. Absolutely love that thing. Cant even keep track of the money it’s made me and I’m not even a machine shop. Or advertise. Just a personal shop and from word of mouth.

[@laurentianvmx1692]

Nice shop ! Score on the Kuhlmann grinder !

[@jeffreybaker1725]

Nice US general tool boxes- best bang for the buck right there- no ego

[@MaineMachinist]

Save money on the tool boxes to put the money toward actual tooling!

[@dermotkelly2971]

You have some really great machines in the shop! I bet you can't get them in shops now.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thanks for the comment!

[@TheJagjr4450]

I love your drill press! Do you or have you considered running a VFD for speed control on any of your lathes, mills, etc? I recently bought a couple which allow single phase input with speed controlled 3 phase output. I lucked into a few pieces of 3ph equip lately and thought about repowering them until doing some research... Easiest thing in the world. Just wire it up and they work with full range of speed control including jog and dynamic braking. My first experience with them was in the pulp and paper industry in the 1990's, however for they were prohibitively expensive for all but the most critical operations, I used it to unwind/provide the correct constant tension to large rolls of foil being laminated to paperboard.

[@MaineMachinist]

I haven’t used VFDs. In my shop I have a single rotary phase converter that feeds a 3 phase panel. Then each machine is wired to that panel on its own breaker.

[@danielelliott3659]

I really would like to have a lapping plate that big

[@MaineMachinist]

It comes in super handy

[@oldschool1993]

Good story, hope you don't catch the Practical Machinist attitude. Years ago starting out I could only afford an imported lathe, and went on their website with some beginner questions. From the responses I got, you would think I had leprosy.

[@ryan11199]

Fellow Mainer

[@MaineMachinist]

Awesome! Thanks for watching! Do you have a shop?

[@ryan11199]

@@MaineMachinist Just a small business making tractor accessories. I moved down to Florida few years back. I lived in Maine up into my 30's.

[@landonhillyard]

Would be interesting to hear what you recommend for a say stage 1,2 and 3 home shop. What should I consider first when getting started?

[@MaineMachinist]

I started with an Atlas 12x36, a Rockwell drill press and a 3 ton Greenerd Arbor press. That’s it. I started making pins and bushings and other small parts. It grew from there.

[@hobonickel840]

​@@MaineMachinistThanks ..I am new to all this but last 6 months have been learning everything I can about the equipment. The step dad has an old Atlas and it vibrates terribly because the countershaft assembly is warped. Are these worth converting to variable speed bypassing the old countershaft assembly? I was considering investing in a Precision Mathews due to my recently discovered obsession with mills and lathes ..Why did you say they are forbidden to be discussed in forum?

[@MaineMachinist]

@@hobonickel840 Atlas are forbidden on the forum because they aren't considered a true industrial machine tool. That being said, I like them. I think they're a good machine for someone starting out. I would fix the original countershaft assembly and get your Atlas functioning as original. I'm not a big fan of VFDs and other variable speed setups.

[@mschmiedbauer3998]

I Have a salvage apron from a Logan 6560. If you are interested, I'll check for reply below.

[@WilliamPayneNZ]

Genuinely curious question. You mention you have found your niche which is great, but my questions is the profitability enough to be able to grow the business in regards to the purchase of brand new machinery and equipment. Also while HSS is still great I use it often, however 90% of the time I use carbide tooling, I even custom grind carbide sometimes, what for you determines your choice of tooling? Great video, Its great that you have grown something that sustains yourself and your family.

[@MaineMachinist]

I don’t know if I’ll ever buy a brand new machine. I prefer finding and restoring vintage American and European Iron over new Asian machinery. There’s a tremendous amount of solid American Iron out there for pennies on the dollar, especially in New England. The 1985 Bridgeport in this video cost me a mere $3,000 and it came fully tooled with a rotary phase converter and the Kurt Vise. The machine looks brand new on the ways... nearly no wear. So I plan to continue growing the way I have been. I doubt I’ll ever get into CNC Machining at my shop. There’s really no need for it with my target markets.

[@MaineMachinist]

I use carbide tooling most of the time, unless its on the Shaper, which really requires a stout HSS tool. Carbide is too brittle for most Shaper operations.

[@WilliamPayneNZ]

@@MaineMachinist Great stuff, I only ask as I have seen shops like yours where they are still mostly using HSS.

[@WilliamPayneNZ]

@@MaineMachinist I do love my old machines haha. Great that you found a good customer base.

[@mathewmolk2089]

@@WilliamPayneNZ Why buy new machines when the ones you got, and are paid for, get the job done, in most cases better, then the Chi Com junk. The castings on every single Asian import I have ever worked on are total scrap when compared to US and old European machines. Something about injection molded plastic gears just don't get it with me either. New is not necessary synonymous with better. In fact the inverse is often true. (We have a #2 Brown and Sharp surface grinder that is older then me that still can carry a half thousandth all day long,,,, And I'll be 76 the day after Christmas. Show me brand new ChiCom grinders that can carry a couple tenths after a year of 40 hour weeks) Don't get me wrong. We are millwright contractors and make money repairing the imported junk. (Like they say, don't buy anything from China that runs on line voltage)

[@user-ll9zd2dh6h]

I thought a shop couldnt survive these days without CNC.Must be little need for it in rural Maine.

[@MaineMachinist]

There are many many independent all manual shops still in business up here

[@jackwt7340]

Hiring Intel electronics engineers to control these old machines would be perfect.

[@alanmiller4012]

Thank you for the tour. You have a very nice shop. But it almost looks too clean.

[@MaineMachinist]

Thank you!

[@MaineMachinist]

I worked in Tool & Die for a while and the Tool Room area was always extremely clean. I also worked in some ISO certified CNC shops where they had to be very clean as well. I picked up on that trend I guess, so I’m always striving to maintain a very “Tool Room” feel to the shop

[@sylvaingervais247]

salut super emplacement du CANADA QC.

[@laurentianvmx1692]

Il est proche des lignes !

[@laurentianvmx1692]

Hi Jeremy, hey quick question what's the advantage with having a variable speed lathe over standard gear head ? You seem to really like your machine so though I'd ask the right guy. We just bought a variable speed 13" Harrison AA over here that uses a similar mechanical cone drive pulley system as with your bigger Logan. It has a huge speed range from 35 to 3000 rpm with a 3 HP 3ph. motor. Cheers from Montreal you're not that far away !

[@MaineMachinist]

I find it convenient to be able to change speeds rapidly if I’m switching operations from drilling to turning etc. There is a weakness to it as well - you don’t get the torque for the heaviest cuts like you do with a geared head, but I find overall that I do enjoy it on this particular machine

[@MaineMachinist]

I’ve been waiting a few years to come back and visit Canada. I have relatives in Nova Scotia. I also love visiting Quebec. Canada is a wonderful place!

[@laurentianvmx1692]

@@MaineMachinist OK great thanks for the info. Ours is going into production in November.

[@genewallace4663]

Where do you get the wheels for the Prosser carbide grinder? I own one but have not been able to locate them. Thanks.

[@MaineMachinist]

I’ve also had a hard time finding them. What I have done instead is bought the correct diameter wheels, then modified the to fit the bolt pattern and arbor shaft diameter of the Prosser. Working good so far.

[@genewallace4663]

@@MaineMachinist Thanks

[@michaelhenry4405]

Does anyone else know that he works at Hiltz machine works?

[@MaineMachinist]

Got to saturate that name for more recognition ;-)

[@josephpowell624]

Make a drum switch.