MODEL MAKERS MACHINE TOOLS
MACHINE TOOLS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND THE GENERAL RULE FOR PURCHASING A MACHINE IS TO SIT DOWN AND DECIDE WHAT ONE WANTS TO MACHINE NOW, AS WELL AS KEEPING FUTURE PROJECTS IN MIND.
NOT ALL PEOPLE THAT BUY SMALL MACHINERY ARE MODEL ENGINEERS THEY MAY HAVE OTHER USES FOR THE MACHINES THAT THEY BUY.
LIFE IS ALL ABOUT COMPROMISE, THOSE THAT WOULD BUY A LARGER MACHINE TO ENABLE THEM TO CREATE THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT, MAY NOT HAVE A WORKSHOP TO KEEP THEM IN OR ABLE TO AFFORD THE PRICE. IF YOU HAVE TO BUY A SMALLER MACHINE THAN THE ONE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE, JUST REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE ENGINEERING COMPANIES THAT WILL MAKE PARTS FOR YOU OR CARRY OUT WORK ON AN ITEM THAT YOU HAVE PARTLY MADE, SUCH AS CYLINDRICAL GRINDING. IT`S NOT COST EFFECTIVE OR A USEFUL USE OF VALUABLE SPACE TO BUY A MACHINE THAT WILL BE USED ONCE A YEAR BUT IF YOU ARE LIKE ME YOU WILL BUY ONE ANYWAY, THEY ARE GOOD TO LOOK AT!
SMALL MACHINES
THESE CAN BE FASCINATING CREATURES! A LOT OF INGENUITY OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE DESIGN OF THESE MACHINES TO MAKE THEM ALL SINGING AND DANCING. BUYING ONE CAN BE VERY CHEAP BUT AFTER BUYING ALL THE ACCESSORIES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO CREATE YOUR PROJECTS, IT WON`T BE SO CHEAP!
SMALL MACHINES SUCH AS THE EW LATHE OR THE DORE WESTBURY MILLING MACHINE CAN BE TUCKED AWAY IN THE BACK OF A GARAGE, OR IF YOU ARE NOT MARRIED, IN THE KITCHEN OR A BEDROOM. THOSE OF US THAT ARE MARRIED AND LIVE IN A HOUSE WILL HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH A GARDEN SHED IF THE GARAGE IS OCCUPIED BY ONE OF THOSE MODERN GIGANTIC TONKA TOY TYPE CARS. HOWEVER, JUST THINK ABOUT WORKING IN A SHED DURING THOSE LONG COLD NORWEGIAN WINTERS! BRRRR.
OBVIOUSLY YOU WILL NEED TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO KEEP YOUR MACHINES, THAT IS YOUR FIRST PROBLEM!
THESE CAN BE FASCINATING CREATURES! A LOT OF INGENUITY OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE DESIGN OF THESE MACHINES TO MAKE THEM ALL SINGING AND DANCING. BUYING ONE CAN BE VERY CHEAP BUT AFTER BUYING ALL THE ACCESSORIES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO CREATE YOUR PROJECTS, IT WON`T BE SO CHEAP!
SMALL MACHINES SUCH AS THE EW LATHE OR THE DORE WESTBURY MILLING MACHINE CAN BE TUCKED AWAY IN THE BACK OF A GARAGE, OR IF YOU ARE NOT MARRIED, IN THE KITCHEN OR A BEDROOM. THOSE OF US THAT ARE MARRIED AND LIVE IN A HOUSE WILL HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH A GARDEN SHED IF THE GARAGE IS OCCUPIED BY ONE OF THOSE MODERN GIGANTIC TONKA TOY TYPE CARS. HOWEVER, JUST THINK ABOUT WORKING IN A SHED DURING THOSE LONG COLD NORWEGIAN WINTERS! BRRRR.
OBVIOUSLY YOU WILL NEED TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO KEEP YOUR MACHINES, THAT IS YOUR FIRST PROBLEM!
WITH MY ENGINEERING BACKGROUND AND ALSO BEING RATHER OLD AND GRUMPY, I CAN STILL REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED MY APPRENTICESHIP, THE BEWILDERING ARRAY OF MACHINE TOOLS THAT WERE IN THE FACTORY AND THE QUALITY AND "FEEL" OF THOSE MACHINES WHEN USING THEM.
NOWADAYS, THE TYPE OF MACHINE THAT IS OFFERED FOR SALE BOTH ON THE PROFESSIONAL AND MODELERS LEVELS ARE MANUFACTURED IN THE FAR EAST DESPITE WHAT IT SAYS ON THE MACHINE LABEL.
EUROPEAN MANUFACTURERS MAY DESIGN THE MACHINES BUT IN ORDER TO BE PRICE COMPETETIVE THE MANUFACTURING IS DONE PROBABLY IN CHINA. THIS CAN BE FINE IF THE PROPER CHECKS ARE CARRIED OUT AT THE FACTORY AND IF SUITABLY SKILLED LABOUR IS USED.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH OUR CHEAP MODELERS TYPE OF MACHINES, THE REALITY IS THAT THE MACHINES ARE SENT OUT TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD BADLY MADE AND SEEMINGLY UNCHECKED.
YOU ONLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FORUMS ON THE NET TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN.
I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT I AM A CHAUVINIST WHERE MACHINERY IS CONCERNED AND CANNOT BEAR TO TOUCH THOSE CHINESE IMPORTS THAT SEEM TO GRATE WHEN TURNING THE HAND WHEELS!
OF COURSE THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE NEVER USED A QUALITY MACHINE TOOL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO NOTICE THE POOR QUALITY AND ASSUME THAT IT IS THE NORM.
NOWADAYS, THE TYPE OF MACHINE THAT IS OFFERED FOR SALE BOTH ON THE PROFESSIONAL AND MODELERS LEVELS ARE MANUFACTURED IN THE FAR EAST DESPITE WHAT IT SAYS ON THE MACHINE LABEL.
EUROPEAN MANUFACTURERS MAY DESIGN THE MACHINES BUT IN ORDER TO BE PRICE COMPETETIVE THE MANUFACTURING IS DONE PROBABLY IN CHINA. THIS CAN BE FINE IF THE PROPER CHECKS ARE CARRIED OUT AT THE FACTORY AND IF SUITABLY SKILLED LABOUR IS USED.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH OUR CHEAP MODELERS TYPE OF MACHINES, THE REALITY IS THAT THE MACHINES ARE SENT OUT TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD BADLY MADE AND SEEMINGLY UNCHECKED.
YOU ONLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FORUMS ON THE NET TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN.
I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT I AM A CHAUVINIST WHERE MACHINERY IS CONCERNED AND CANNOT BEAR TO TOUCH THOSE CHINESE IMPORTS THAT SEEM TO GRATE WHEN TURNING THE HAND WHEELS!
OF COURSE THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE NEVER USED A QUALITY MACHINE TOOL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO NOTICE THE POOR QUALITY AND ASSUME THAT IT IS THE NORM.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS PERHAPS STEER THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE CONTEMPLATING BUYING CHINESE TOOLS AWAY FROM THIS TOWARDS BUYING A GOOD SECOND HAND BRITISH OR OTHER EUROPEAN PRODUCT.
DURING THE GROWTH OF THIS SITE I WILL GRADUALLY ADD INFORMATION ABOUT THE TYPE OF MACHINES THAT I`M TALKING ABOUT AND IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT ME OR MAKE COMMENTS ALL THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO USE THE FORM ON THE CONTACTS PAGE.
DURING THE GROWTH OF THIS SITE I WILL GRADUALLY ADD INFORMATION ABOUT THE TYPE OF MACHINES THAT I`M TALKING ABOUT AND IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT ME OR MAKE COMMENTS ALL THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO USE THE FORM ON THE CONTACTS PAGE.
IN PROGRESS