Greetings from Detroit

[johnzilla]

Hi everyone -

My name is John. I'm a newbie that has been lurking and reading as much as possible about machining and metalworking for the last several years. I'm fascinated by engines big and small and the craftsmanship everyone is showing on their projects. So impressive!

I'm very DIY and mechanically inclined. I always look for a solution I can build myself if possible but I've never been able to afford any machines nor have the space to put them. However, I recently joined the Detroit TechShop as a member so now I can't wait to start my first project.

John

 

[lazylathe]

Welcome to the forum John!

You are one of the lucky ones that can join a tech shop that is fully equipped!
Are there trainers on hand?
If you have a link to the group you joined that would be interesting to see how they function!

Looking forward to seeing your work!

Andrew

 

[maverick]

Welcome to the group John. The Techshop sounds like a great way to get started, the local equivalent has a good variety of
machines and tooling plus some very helpful members. Let us know what your first project will be.

Regards,
Mike

 

[bvd1940]

Welcome to the forum John, ;D sounds like your ready to have some fun
Dont forget to take pictures, we like pictures :

 

[johnzilla]

Thanks, guys.

I forgot to mention that I took a lathe and mill class at the local community college last year and loved it. Our projects in the class were a dead center, a threaded T-nut, a threaded rod, a 1-2-3 block, and a threaded hex nut. Trivial for the experts I know but I had a lot of fun and did really well in the class and I've been itching to get back to a machine ever since.

The TechShop website is: http://www.techshop.ws

They do have what seems like a pretty good staff. The Detroit version has a relationship with Ford Motor Company...not sure of the exact relationship but I know they are renting the space from Ford and Ford has done some financial sponsorship as well. There are a lot of Ford skilled trades guys around and there's also a lot of folks from the local design college (Center for Creative Studies) so there is a good mix of people with industrial/commercial backgrounds as well as those with art and design backgrounds. Not to mention all the other members there working on their own projects.

Best thing for me is they are 3 minutes from my work and about 15 minutes from home. So I have no excuse not to be there!

I have been "checked out" on all of the equipment there except the lathe and the water jet. Last night I took the "Safety and Basic Usage" class for their Tormach PC1100. What a nice machine! My brain was buzzing with all the ideas I had once I realized what it could do.

 

[crab]

Hi John,glad your here. wEc1
Bill

 

[tel]

Welcome John!

 

[Maryak]

John,

Welcome to our forum. wEc1

Best Regards
Bob

 

[rudydubya]

Welcome John. You are indeed fortunate to have all those resources nearby. Good for you in taking advantage of them. Looking forward to seeing your projects. wEc1

Regards,
Rudy

 

[bigrigbri]

Nothing stopping you from your first occsilating steam engine to get the juices goin.
Eh.
Solid flywheel, one piece stand/cylinder mount, keeping it to the minimum of parts and all in BRASS. Nice n shiny...........!

Good luck, Brian.

 

[G_N_R]

Hi johnzilla
wEc1 to the HMEM forum.