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Thread: Calling all new blokes
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14th April 2013, 06:27 PM #16
Metalwork
My first attempts at making anything from metal , were at high school in 1968-70 . The same teacher each year - this guy didn't give a toss what you did, as long as you didn't hurt yourself . He would show us the basics , then leave us alone. He would talk about football all day , he just wasn't motivated to teach us anything at all about metalwork . In my 3rd year, I was making a set of salt/pepper shakers from copper sheet , I never finished those , I worked the whole year on them , that lazy sod of a teacher took nil interest in any of us kids . All he had was trade certificates , he'd never been to teachers college . One of my fellow students tried to help me out a bit .... but using the metal lathe was scary , we tried to set up my workpiece in the lathe to polish it , using wooden mandrels at each end . One day , a kid was dragged into the buffer , his apron got caught in the wheel .
In mechanical drawing, ( same teacher ) he was just as slack - this guy would not work in an iron lung.
My first year science teacher nearly burnt us all one time,, she was about 19 . The school employed her as a lab assistant , and as they were short of qualified teachers , they put her on teaching science . She had been a student at the same school . She partly filled a 4 gallon tin with water , screwed the lid on and put a gas burner underneath it . It was just about to explode with hot water and steam when a kid alerted her to the danger
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14th April 2013, 07:02 PM #17Product designer retired
- Join Date
- Nov 2006
- Location
- Heidelberg, Victoria
- Age
- 80
- Posts
- 2,237
A new oldie
G'day Gra, me old northern mate, good thread.
I can't remember how I found the WW Forums. Reckon it was when I was about to restore my old Hercus, and Googled Hercus, and this Forum came up.
Bloody glad I did, I have learn't so much from yous members, and met some great blokes. Where's all the single sheilas? Never mind!
This is the most informative Forum I've found, and check in many times a day. We have the wit of Greg Q, the high quality photos of AB, and all about everything else from Steam wisperer just to mention a few. Spell check didn't like Steam wisperer and offered Stripteaser, mmmm, interesting.
That's all from this oldie.
Ken
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14th April 2013, 08:25 PM #18Senior Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 249
The local (Australian) angle.
I admire the American and English metal working forums.
However;
I get jealous how well serviced they are by businesses that supply reasonably priced equipment and consumables...
and
The yankee obsession with guns and militarisation annoys me..
Roll on 'Woodwork Forums Metalwork Forum' Australia(? mouthfull?) !
AndrewOC'Waratah' spring hammer by Hands & Scott c.1911- 20, 'Duffy, Todd & Williams' spring hammer c.1920, Premo lathe- 1953, Premo filing machine.
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14th April 2013, 09:19 PM #19Awaiting Email Confirmation
- Join Date
- May 2012
- Location
- Lismore
- Posts
- 26
New to forums
Hi all, I am a fitter/machinist/welder, who enjoys tinkering with all things mechanical in my spare time. I joined this forum in 2012 out of frustration, that my family and friends do not share my complete obsession with all things mechanical. They are very understanding, but I needed someone else to appreciate my work. I visited US based forums but always felt that there was a great difference between us. And there is. I understand geographical differences. I lived and worked in the UK for two years and learned that, although we speak the same english language, there is different ways of interpreting the same words, (eg. thong). So I have finally settled, and been able to build a workspace at home with machines I have longed for. I have a lathe, mill, drill presses!, grinders!, Repco tool & cutter grinder(which I am restoring), DC Tig (which I love). (more workspace needed) Bugger the cars, they can stay outside! I hope to soon start constructing an open wheel racecar for hillclimb competition. I find this forum fantastic for connecting like-minded individuals to share the hobby they enjoy.
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14th April 2013, 10:04 PM #20.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 24,746
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14th April 2013, 10:13 PM #21
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14th April 2013, 10:36 PM #22
Thanks Graeme, interesting thread, I migrated over from woodwork and main interest in metal work was (is) making hand tools, mostly saws, chisels, planes.
With the combined move to CNC, and the decline of manufacturing in Australia, there is a wealth of quality manual machinery going begging at bargain prices, if you have the inclination to look for it, the trick is acquiring the skills and knowledge to rebuild and restore older machines where needed. The scraping courses run by Phil (Machtool) are a great example of the benefits of this forum.
This forum has a enormous depth of machine knowledge, and a willingness to freely share the knowledge, over the years Josh and I have met many people via this forum, and without exception, you would not meet a more interesting and friendly and knowledgeable group.
The example recently of .RC.'s great epic bandsaw clamp give away, is a perfect example of how helping one person flows on to helping others. That's the sign of a good community.
Regards
Ray
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14th April 2013, 10:42 PM #23Senior Member
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Castlemaine
- Posts
- 144
I originally joined the forum to contact Bigshed who has the same brand of mill I was looking at. I have only started recently to regularly read the posts and to post. The things that attract me to this forum is the very knowledgable members, the lack of BS and the way people help each other out. Things that stand out are people picking up gear for others from auctions, guys letting others know about good gear that they are not interested, people giving other members bits and pieces they do not have a need for etc etc.
My background is industrial engineering with a love of cars inherited from my father. Now my 3 kids are school age I am getting a bit of time to work on cars again. I am in the process of building a tubular space frame rally car from scratch so I am slowly building up my workshop with tools as I need them for my build or when I can pick them up cheaply(or make them)
Cheers
Piers
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14th April 2013, 11:41 PM #24
An old new bloke
G'day all
I have been “lurking” on the forum for a while now and I must say I have learnt a lot and often find myself laughing at the dry humour.
My mum used to say “don't blow your trumpet unless you know what your talking about”
I have been a bit shy of offering my opinions when I know that I am in the company of some very knowledgeable metal men. In fact this is my first post here.
I have the usual stuff hand tools and electric tools a couple of pedestal drills, stick welder, a bit of spray painting gear and am into a bit of aluminium metal casting with my home built furnace and all the bits and pieces that go with that.
I recently replaced my toy 3 in one lathe with a “Mc Millan Tiawanese lathe built 1973 which is currently undergoing a clean up and a new coat of paint, new motor and a quick change tool post addition.
I am 65 retired.
Started my working life in a very dirty factory assembling hydraulic cylinders but spent the last 20 years of it on the drawing board and later CAD doing layout planning for a commercial furniture company.
Bill.
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15th April 2013, 02:39 AM #25Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Location
- San Diego
- Posts
- 31
Gentlemen. I'll never understand how such talented and articulate members cannot or will not in many threads, be capable of composing a title that accurately describe the gist of what is within the body of their posting. Obviously this is my pet peeve on any forum that I frequent.
Gene
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15th April 2013, 08:55 AM #26SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2011
- Location
- Australia east coast
- Age
- 71
- Posts
- 1,468
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15th April 2013, 09:51 AM #27
Have to remember this was the period of Vietnam and the Teacher shortage tradies were basically those who were not conscripted or unfit and often scorned on because of it. Brought into schools and thrown in the deep end. I had such a woodwork teacher although he was great taught us heaps.
Metalwork teach was educated teacher and although he was good in teaching he had issues as he was ex-WWII and wanted to rejoin but was told to old mid 40's.
We had a Canadian who was seconded during the same period started to bring Grid Iron into the all boys school at first he had a team then all of a sudden nothing. he kept putting Aussie sports down.
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15th April 2013, 10:00 AM #28
I wasn't sure where this thread was heading but here goes. First contact with metal was my stroller/pram I guess. From there on wheels became a part of my life hence the handle. School metalworking i still have and use my tool scribbing post, engineers clamp, various odd bod tools made during TAFE a Cold Chisel needs edge re-worked, and work life as Mechanic and Motor Vehicle Builder.
Started Ass Mech Engineer dip with TAFE external but suffered chronic fatiuge and had to let it go after 4 years of study and only some exams that was about 1995. Many years spent driving buses & coaches whilst also workshop repairs etc prior that. Injury and CFS took it toll and forced retirement if you can call it that so now woodwork and metal work s my way of keeping active. There is some deeper history on the blog.
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15th April 2013, 10:17 AM #29.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 24,746
My WW teacher (I had the same one for 3 years) was an old tradie. He was a good teacher in terms of WW and I learned a lot from him, especially patience, but he thought nothing of wandering around the class with a T-square in hand looking for an excuse to belt any recalcitrants on the back of the legs. He had some reason for this as I think I was the only one in my class that liked woodwork and the rest of the class seemed to spend their time farting around or breaking something. Our class was one of the so called "professional streams" ie expected to go onto upper secondary etc. I still have and use the marking gauge I made in year 9.
My MW teachers were also quite good as teachers but one was a bit on dodgy side.He ran a small trailer making business from the school metal workshop and had teams of his favourite boys building the trailers during classes and after school. While there was a certain attraction in doing this, as you got to to use the big (well we thought it was big) welder for long periods, I avoided become a favourite as I was more interested in using the lathes. I still remember the heat treatment of metal classes and making punches, scribes and a cold chisel. It all came flooding back several weekends ago when I attended a blacksmithing class and we made a cold chisel.
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15th April 2013, 11:23 AM #30Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Location
- Tas
- Age
- 66
- Posts
- 38
I joined in 2009 with very few posts and have to agree. I actually came across the site while searching for model engineering information. Now in my mid-fifties and having worked since age 15, I am starting to think about getting some long lost hobbies and interests of mine underway again.
I have found the information and spirit of the forum absolutely outstanding. Although I started primarily for the metalwork, it wasn’t long before the welding and woodwork sections started being visited.
My problem is that rarely do I have anything useful to contribute, but I have learnt a lot. My perception is that it is a bit clicky, which I do prefer not to intrude but rather absorb the information.
My only concern is the proliferation of sub forums lately. Personally I find it distracting and concerned these sub forums may not be sustainable long term.
In summary, love the site, visit at least every one or two days, contribute when I have something useful which isn’t often and have learnt a lot.