Hi all. Newbie here.

[Dickie AllenParticipant @dickieallen92567]

Hi all

I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself.

Just starting the hobby although I've been messing around with woodwork for a while.

I'm an ex RAF techie and now an Aerospace engineer.

[Dickie AllenParticipant @dickieallen92567]

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi Dickie,

Welcome to the forum. Lots of info to be found on this forum, what do you want to make?

Thor

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Welcome to the party Dickie, just ask and someone will have an answer. Best wishes Noel.

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Welcome to the forum. Where are you located. What are your interests. Many interesting threads to peruse on the forum.

regards

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Welcome to the forum

H

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Welcome!

Now a load of questions

Where are you?

Can you find a local Model Engineering Club and join? Lots of help, face to face should you need it.

What machines do you have?

What are you planning to make?

Of you haven't decided yet, my advice would be to choose s a machine a little larger than you think, for mwhen your horizons and ambitions expand.

Youn can do small work on a big machine. the converse is more difficult!

(If a total newbie, make youn r mistakes and learn on inexpensive material Mild steel is cheaper than a casting from a kit0 Try making a few tools, tap Wrench, Centre Height Gauge, mandrel handle etc, they will all come in handy in time to come, and you gain experience and confidence while you make them.

Once you have a lathe, all sorts of things that seemed impossible become possible!

If you haven't already, buy and read some books on lathework, by folk such as L H Sparey, Ian Bradley, Stan Bray, David Clark, Dave Fenner, Harold Hall or Neill Wyatt.

You will often use a set of Zeus Charts, and Tubal Cain's "Model Engineer's handbook" is a very usewful reference to have to hand.

You have years of enjoyment ahead of you!

Howard

[Dickie AllenParticipant @dickieallen92567]

Hey all

Thank you for the lovely warm welcome.

I'm Chichester based (Westergate) and, after moving house a year ago, am just starting to organise and set up my workshop (garage) again. Also a nanobrewery in the shed, too 😀

My main area of interest, to date, has been largely woodwork. I have a lathe, router table, bench saw, mitre saw, fret saw and bandsaw amongst many other power tools and hand tools. Call me boring but there's few things I find more enjoyable than renovating Stanley hand planes, ready to add to my collection or sanding an end grain chopping board I've made up to a 5000 grit, almost mirror finish.

I'd really like to get into machining and was hoping to start by getting a metal lathe and mill. At first it'd be good to get my eye in by making simple things of a utilitarian nature, like woodtool collars (brass) and an upgrade of many of my workshop's handles, levers and knobs etc (aluminium).

3 items that have been on my bucket list for a while now are:

Forging – maybe start with a simple marking knife.

Casting – brass lost wax or sand casting of all the aircraft I've been involved with, over my career so far (to be used in a presentation frame along with my beret and medals etc. A self praising indulgence, no less!

Machining – Hugely ambitious, I know, but I've always wanted to work towards making a miniature working V8. The challenge of the tiny, varied and high tolerance elements really appeals to me and should provide me with years of toil to get it 'just right'

So, this is where I currently see my journey pointing. I've no doubt it will meander and veer far from the above as soon as I start to learn and get some experience under my belt.

Above all though, my aim is to enjoy it and have fun!

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi Dickie,

A metal turning lathe can be used to make many kinds of tools in addition to model engines. A friend of mine built his own forge and is making knifes, I have one of them. I haven't done much casting (only ally), so good luck with your projects.

Thor

[Clive SteerParticipant @clivesteer55943]

Hi Dickie

Welcome to the forum and the mass of knowledge and experience it provides access to.

I think the Museum at Amberley, which is close to you, may do a course in blacksmithing. My son did a days introduction course there where he made a fire poker.

CS

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Hi Dickie, I can help you with brass casting, I'm up on the N Norfolk coast. Noel.

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