A Great Machinist

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

This guy in Indonesia really knows how to use a lathe, to do everything with nothing. Refreshing to see, instead of looking for something to buy to solve every problem, he just makes it himself. And very innovative about it too. His channel is well worth subscribing too. Keep an eye out for the details in the background – like his shop made marking/truing gauge made from a cluster gear, couple of bolts and an old coat hanger by the look of it! And his carbide tooling made from rough flame-cut plate with some sliver of carbide that looks like he found it in the street brazed on to it.

Yeah yeah yeah, WHS ain't what it could be. That's how they roll in Indo. Life goes on. Roll with it.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Doing everything with nothing

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

And try this clever trick next time you do some knurling. Never seen anything like it. Brilliant.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Now that's how you screwcut a big square thread up to a shoulder. Joe Pie's running the lathe in reverse and cutting away from the chuck is for fairies. No guts, no glory!

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

And the lowdown on making those delicate carbide cutting tools. Basic technique: flame cut a chunk of plate into a strip. Arc weld on a high tensile bolt to stick out the front. Braze a carbide tip or insert onto the ground down bolt stub. Grind to shape. Ignore aesthetics at all times!

[DiogenesIIParticipant @diogenesii]

..a man who gets sh things done – an awesome reality check, thanks for posting.

[Andy StopfordParticipant @andystopford50521]

Great find, thanks for posting. Funny that despite all the bravura stuff with red hot swarf flying about, he parts the knurled handle off with a hacksaw! I certainly didn't guess what he was going to use it for…

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

I found it interesting that he was using a vernier caliper. With genuinely no offence to those who still prefer them to digital calipers (my brain doesn't work fast enough to use them efficiently and my eyesight doesn't help, so I default to digital for ease if nothing else) it certainly makes sense to use a bit of kit that doesn't require a battery every few months.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Jon Lawes on 09/02/2022 21:20:36:

I found it interesting that he was using a vernier caliper. With genuinely no offence to those who still prefer them to digital calipers (my brain doesn't work fast enough to use them efficiently and my eyesight doesn't help, so I default to digital for ease if nothing else) it certainly makes sense to use a bit of kit that doesn't require a battery every few months.

Yes. And surprisingly it's a very nice large Mitutoyo caliper. Wish I could afford one! But like you, my eyesight prefers the digital option.

[Craig PulleyParticipant @craigpulley36755]

Very interesting

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

I wonder what He would be capable of if He had access to a higher education?

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by mark costello 1 on 17/02/2022 21:33:26:

I wonder what He would be capable of if He had access to a higher education?

The sky would be the limit. Definitely a creative thinker. I have learned a lot of handy little tricks watching him and a couple of similar guys from Vietnam and Pakistan. The Pakistan truck repairs are a real eyeopener! And the Vietnamese Chi Vlogs guy makes his own long-stroke flywheels for motorbikes and all sorts of other wizardry.

Just this morning I was using one of the Indonesian "Masin Mekanik"'s tricks to mill some 7/16" BSW hex nuts in the lathe. Rather than faff about setting up the dividing head I simply clamped the round bar to a T slot in the vertical slide, milled the first flat and then used a set square from an old schoolkid's geometry set to set that flat at 30 degrees from horizontal, then machined the next flat, then repeated the process until all six sides were done. Result was perfect. Ring spanner fits right on. When you look at it, the spec for the flats is .710" AF (bloody Whitworth!!!) and spanners are .720" so there is plenty of room for small error. Save the dividing head for precision gear cutting.

I love those guys. Check out the Pakistani truck repair throwing a whole rear diff and axle housing from a 10 ton truck up into the lathe and welding it back together then turning it back to true. Not for the faint hearted!

 

Edited By Hopper on 18/02/2022 12:02:50

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Gear cutting with an angle grinder????

 

A versatile that (toolpost) angle grinder:

Edited By Hopper on 18/02/2022 13:29:19

[Grizzly bearParticipant @grizzlybear]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[alan ord 2Participant @alanord2]

Repair of truck axle. All wearing sandals and bare footed!!! When I weld with shoes on I still get hot sparks into my shoes. Welding the axle in the lathe is hardly good practice!! How the other half function is amazing but it works. Didn't notice any H & S guys around.

Alan.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I was once running a weld vertical up, inexpertly I will add, and a great glob of slag dropped on my boot, managed to work it's way under the tongue. By the time I'd got the boot off it was well embedded. Why do I tell you this? Well I'd have been better wearing sandals, could have got them off more quickly. Now I know why welder's boots have an external tongue.

And I don't seriously recommend sandals, that was most unusual

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by alan ord 2 on 18/02/2022 21:41:30:

Repair of truck axle. All wearing sandals and bare footed!!! When I weld with shoes on I still get hot sparks into my shoes. Welding the axle in the lathe is hardly good practice!! How the other half function is amazing but it works. Didn't notice any H & S guys around.

Alan.

No, not a clip board in sight!

Living in the tropics, I tend to wear thongs (flip flops to you I guess) in the workshop most of the time for light work, eg motorbike repairs and Myfording etc. But hot swarf jammed between the toes does instigate a war dance from time to time. You quicly learn to stand at the tailstock side of the carriage and operate out of the swarf zone in line with the chuck.

But I do wear boots for welding at least! But yes, slag still goes down inside and becomes trapped to burn its way through socks and flesh alike. You can buy elasticised spats to that go over the top of the boots and seal up around your leg but that would take all the fun out of it. And kind of pointless when wearing shorts in the heat anyway.

Edited By Hopper on 19/02/2022 01:18:00

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Speaking of sandals, check out old mate here doing a wonderfully skilled job of casting a replica of a motorbike engine casing, pouring hot metal and all, all in sandals. Note his right foot wrapped in rags, possible sign of a bit of a splash incident?

Looks like they are melting their aluminium in a charcoal fired tandoori oven? Might have application in the home workshop for sure.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Hopper on 19/02/2022 01:14:47:

Posted by alan ord 2 on 18/02/2022 21:41:30:

Repair of truck axle. …

Alan.

…

Living in the tropics, I tend to wear thongs (flip flops to you I guess) in the workshop most of the time…

I love the way English as she is spoke varies around the world. This is a thong:

Not ideal welding gear!

Dave

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

How is it that so many look in wonder at how things were done here before we became 'Educated' and 'Civilised' and had money to burn on gear we don't really need for non mass production jobs.

Wonder why so many big firms used to have the late Sir John on their lists?

Regards Ian.

[MikeKParticipant @mikek40713]

Thanks for posting that, Hopper. I just started watching his videos. Man, he knows how to get it done! While I would never weld work on my lathe, he has plenty of techniques that I hope I remember for future projects. Good stuff!

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

I'm sure none of us would choose to work under these conditions, I'm guessing those featured do not have a choice.

Tony

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 19/02/2022 10:32:04:

Posted by Hopper on 19/02/2022 01:14:47:

Posted by alan ord 2 on 18/02/2022 21:41:30:

Repair of truck axle. …

Alan.

…

Living in the tropics, I tend to wear thongs (flip flops to you I guess) in the workshop most of the time…

I love the way English as she is spoke varies around the world. This is a thong:

Not ideal welding gear!

Dave

Yeah, I have been known to wear one of them too — but not in the workshop.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Tony Pratt 1 on 23/02/2022 15:14:20:

I'm sure none of us would choose to work under these conditions, I'm guessing those featured do not have a choice.

Tony

The universal lack of work benches would do me in. My knees would not make it past morning tea break.

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

Excellent videos Hopper – thanks heaps.

The lack of safety glasses is a bit of a worry.

Such a talented young person should value and take care of his eyesight.

If I had a mailing address I would be tempted to send him a pair as a gesture of Aussie-Indonesian friendship, but then, would he actually wear them or would that cause him to loose 'face'?

Personally, I would prefer to loose 'face' rather than an eye.

* danny *

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