machine shop?

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My childhood friend got into machining pretty early and worked at a machine shop for about 10 years. After gaining a good reputation at this shop he started small bought a mill and a lathe and kept them in his garage at home. After awhile he started his own machine and welding business very small, it’s grown pretty good since them with CNC lathes and mills and what not. He mostly does wood industry repairs and Tig welding, he’s 36 years old. My advice would be try and learn what you can at any machine shop. That’s what I did he taught me the basics of mill and lathe work. Now the place I work for pays me side work to run the mill at about 100$ per hour. Its not a ton of side work but it’s better than nothing.
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The parallels are many between you and I... lol.
Don’t give up totally. Teenagers are gone in a few years and if the house is paid for your 18 years ahead of me. Take a night class or two. Get ready, and then make a change.
 
My dad was a machinist and taught me to run a 9" South Bend lathe when I was 12. I've been dabbling since. I've got a small vertical mill and a couple small lathes. I taught myself to scrape the ways and bearing surfaces and rebuilt small lathes and mills for fun and to earn a few bucks. Made and sold various parts for target rifles and provide a service to repair specific BMW oil pans. I hope to find a machine shop or fabricator locally that will need extra help when I retire, in order to keep me a little busy. I agree that a motivated person can just about write their own ticket as a machinist or fabricator. I started with a two year associate degree in Industrial Electronics and then went into engineering, but it was the IE degree that helped me the most in the early years. Classically trained engineers don't know how to use their hands. I know the integrators and machine builders that use my company's products are always looking for talent. Like many small businesses the biggest problem is probably dealing with certain difficult customers, be they individuals or companies.
 
My childhood friend got into machining pretty early and worked at a machine shop for about 10 years. After gaining a good reputation at this shop he started small bought a mill and a lathe and kept them in his garage at home. After awhile he started his own machine and welding business very small, it’s grown pretty good since them with CNC lathes and mills and what not. He mostly does wood industry repairs and Tig welding, he’s 36 years old. My advice would be try and learn what you can at any machine shop. That’s what I did he taught me the basics of mill and lathe work. Now the place I work for pays me side work to run the mill at about 100$ per hour. Its not a ton of side work but it’s better than nothing.
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Is that your mill or does it belong to the company??? If it’s yours you can buy a really nice fixture and start doing head work on it. Seats, guides, valve jobs and surfacing.

I’m looking for a mill for my shop but I’m out of room. I could make some room if I found a decent mill. Most of what I’m finding is worn out junk and I’m not interested in rebuilding a mill.

There is money to be made here if I get one set up. I couldn’t even get an intake manifold surfaced here. Had to to take it to the last shop I worked at in Vancouver to get it done.
 
Is that your mill or does it belong to the company??? If it’s yours you can buy a really nice fixture and start doing head work on it. Seats, guides, valve jobs and surfacing.

I’m looking for a mill for my shop but I’m out of room. I could make some room if I found a decent mill. Most of what I’m finding is worn out junk and I’m not interested in rebuilding a mill.

There is money to be made here if I get one set up. I couldn’t even get an intake manifold surfaced here. Had to to take it to the last shop I worked at in Vancouver to get it done.
Don't discount the Taiwanese manufactured milling machines like Webb, they made/make quality iron. Surprised that you're not finding anything up in that neck of the woods with all the aerospace supporting companies in the NW.
 
Is that your mill or does it belong to the company??? If it’s yours you can buy a really nice fixture and start doing head work on it. Seats, guides, valve jobs and surfacing.

I’m looking for a mill for my shop but I’m out of room. I could make some room if I found a decent mill. Most of what I’m finding is worn out junk and I’m not interested in rebuilding a mill.

There is money to be made here if I get one set up. I couldn’t even get an intake manifold surfaced here. Had to to take it to the last shop I worked at in Vancouver to get it done.
It’s the company mill, it’s set up to just run one part. I’m the only one here that knows how to run it. I learned in my free time, small business just me and owner and a brother.
 
Is that your mill or does it belong to the company??? If it’s yours you can buy a really nice fixture and start doing head work on it. Seats, guides, valve jobs and surfacing.

I’m looking for a mill for my shop but I’m out of room. I could make some room if I found a decent mill. Most of what I’m finding is worn out junk and I’m not interested in rebuilding a mill.

There is money to be made here if I get one set up. I couldn’t even get an intake manifold surfaced here. Had to to take it to the last shop I worked at in Vancouver to get it done.
So I asked my friend who runs his own machine shop about finding a mill. Seems like there isn’t any decent ones around the northwest at all, he’s always on the lookout.
 
So I asked my friend who runs his own machine shop about finding a mill. Seems like there isn’t any decent ones around the northwest at all, he’s always on the lookout.


Yeah, that’s what I’ve found. Sucks. If I buy a mill I want to put my hands on it. I guess driving as far as Southern California or Utah wouldn’t be that bad, but I’ll have to convince my doctor to get me extra pain dope for a trip like that, and he’s not an easy sell.

After the first of the year I’m going to start looking again.
 
Usually, the cheapest way to get everything you need is to buy out an existing shop where the owner is retiring and motivated to sell.

Then the price will vary(greatly) depending on how recent the machines are.

An old school shop with old school equipment can be had for pretty reasonable money........ if you are patient, and are willing to travel to go get the stuff.
This will not be top tier equipment, but can often provide decent results from a skilled operator.
The problem with old equipment is that it's OLD . In today's market you have to be fast accurate and cost effective . $350,000 should do it , not to mention the building
 
The problem with old equipment is that it's OLD . In today's market you have to be fast accurate and cost effective . $350,000 should do it , not to mention the building


True. But some jobs can only be done “so” fast. I’m not sure 350k would do a full shop.

A solid mill with the right fixtures will do a valve job and surface as fast as anything else. And you can use it for jobs a seat and guide machine and surfacer can’t do.
 
If you want to get into the machine business , start with a Haas 3 axis CNC mill . If you want to get into the auto machine go to a 5 axis CNC mill , Serdi head machine , Strom-Vulcan blockmaster , Sunnen CK 101 auto bore & hone , PLaner , drillpress , precision balancer and $50,000 worth of inventory
 
If you want to get into the machine business , start with a Haas 3 axis CNC mill . If you want to get into the auto machine go to a 5 axis CNC mill , Serdi head machine , Strom-Vulcan blockmaster , Sunnen CK 101 auto bore & hone , PLaner , drillpress , precision balancer and $50,000 worth of inventory


That surfacer and hone are long obsolete. I can do in a Bridgeport what can be done with the Serdi and not have to buy the Serdi.
 
True. But some jobs can only be done “so” fast. I’m not sure 350k would do a full shop.

A solid mill with the right fixtures will do a valve job and surface as fast as anything else. And you can use it for jobs a seat and guide machine and surfacer can’t do.
IDK much about milling machines but my google foo is pretty good.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/tls/d/monroe-1999-bridgeport-mill-with-extras/7249954842.html
https://eastidaho.craigslist.org/bfs/d/shelley-bridgeport-r2e4-vertical-cnc/7241555178.html
 
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Vertical mills like a Bridgeport are very versatile and with the right fixtures can do a lot of jobs. But they are usually going to be slower than a dedicated machine. The problem is in a commercial setting you spend as much or more time setting up fixtures as you do running the job. If you are doing it for a living, I think your going to want a dedicated machine for each type of work or several mills each with their own fixtures or you may not eat.
 
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I've been in the trucking deal since 1972. 5,000,000 miles. That's enough that I don't have anything else to prove.

Last fall I was at the shop that was doing my block and head work. I casually mentioned that if I could turn back time I'd trade all those miles for a shot at learning machine work.

The foreman damn near hired me on the spot!

I'd do it in a heart beat but a 72 year old guy with three implants and five herniated discs doesn't have much of a future in a new career.

When I get back to my 60 hour per week part time driving job I have time to decide when I want to retire again.

Maybe when the house is paid off in three years.

I'll sell my two race cars and buy a two door post B body.

To the OP... Go ask one of those shops for a job. Every machine shop I know of is willing to train the right guy and you are still a young guy.


Holy crap 5 discs! I've only popped one!
 
Vertical mills like a Bridgeport are very versatile and with the right fixtures can do a lot of jobs. But they are usually going to be slower than a dedicated machine. The problem is in a commercial setting you spend as much or more time setting up fixtures as you do running the job. If you are doing it for a living, I think your going to want a dedicated machine for each type of work or several mills each with their own fixtures or you may not eat.


Yup. I agree. I’m retired so my pace is pretty slooooooooooooooow.
 

One of the issues with auto work and standard machine mills is that the beds don't traverse as far as it looks. You really need something which can allow you to start and end a cut completely off the parts..

I have no idea if either of those machines is too small, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.
 
Holy crap 5 discs! I've only popped one!
Never heard of safe work methods 50 years ago.

The first 30 years I drove 90%of my loads were driver load/unload. 100# boxes of meat, swinging beef, 900 boxes of lettuce, open boxes of semi frozen chicken innards, 140# sacks of coffee beans, dirty cloth diapers, maggot infested cow hides...you name it.

Great way to stay in shape.
 
Never heard of safe work methods 50 years ago.

The first 30 years I drove 90%of my loads were driver load/unload. 100# boxes of meat, swinging beef, 900 boxes of lettuce, open boxes of semi frozen chicken innards, 140# sacks of coffee beans, dirty cloth diapers, maggot infested cow hides...you name it.

Great way to stay in shape.

Damn!
 
Never heard of safe work methods 50 years ago.

The first 30 years I drove 90%of my loads were driver load/unload. 100# boxes of meat, swinging beef, 900 boxes of lettuce, open boxes of semi frozen chicken innards, 140# sacks of coffee beans, dirty cloth diapers, maggot infested cow hides...you name it.

Great way to stay in shape.
that freight list telling your age driiiivaaa! bet ya even know the difference in black or yellow rjs's!! bet ya run the point alot too!
 
that freight list telling your age driiiivaaa! bet ya even know the difference in black or yellow rjs's!! bet ya run the point alot too!
The boss would have a candy jar of West Coast Turnarounds on his desk.

Hunts Point was a regular hangout for years. Rube's Truck Stop in Jersey City, too. We used to get Mob loads from Rube going back to the midwest. Paid better and in cash. We hauled Mob cheese out of WI to the dirty side. I delivered to one Social Club in Brooklyn...treated me good . Then the Capo asked for a " favor" ....needed three pallets moved upstate. I hesitated and he daid " sorry...its already on your truck. Paid me $300.... More than I made in a week back then.

If you watch the movie Bronx Tale it pretty much sums up my first two years running east. We were mobbed up and their hijacked and other dubious freight kept 25 truck running steady.
 
The boss would have a candy jar of West Coast Turnarounds on his desk.

Hunts Point was a regular hangout for years. Rube's Truck Stop in Jersey City, too. We used to get Mob loads from Rube going back to the midwest. Paid better and in cash. We hauled Mob cheese out of WI to the dirty side. I delivered to one Social Club in Brooklyn...treated me good . Then the Capo asked for a " favor" ....needed three pallets moved upstate. I hesitated and he daid " sorry...its already on your truck. Paid me $300.... More than I made in a week back then.

If you watch the movie Bronx Tale it pretty much sums up my first two years running east. We were mobbed up and their hijacked and other dubious freight kept 25 truck running steady.
vince dupont ol broker at duncans t/s up jersey city had some mob loads, cars, boats, all sorts of stuff with no bill of laidin, paid cash go back south! like ya said, bronx tale's!! lernt to tie my shoes at hunts point produce dock at 5 yrs old! grew up 3rd generation! g'pa picked up uniroyal nawgihyde in stoghtin wi every tuesday eve, or wensday mourning from 66 till 88! dad almost moved us to stevens point wi when i was in high school, pulling taters for j.p.mach...its a hard life, but back then felt like it was worth it,..now days its just a headache/backache/assache!
 
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Beautiful images of equipment above !!!!!!
Like condoms and electronics stick with [ NON-china ] made items [ ALLWAYS ] !!!!
 
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