Its all foakes fault!!!!

[STRIPER LOU]

Fred, seriously, just joking. I was really impressed with your shop setup. I do just a fair job of organizing at best, so last week I thought, got to do something and went to work using some of your ideas. Going vertical and trying to keep the things I use the most at hands reach.
I spend a great deal of my time on the Precision Mathews lathe. Secured some shelving boards to the wall and mounted all the tools I use the most frequently. Best part, cheap and easy. Put some shelving up to the right and made a collet holder for the lathe and did some general all around cleaning and organizing. Made a rail from emt tubing and put up a curtain to cover the wife goodies, ...... got to try to keep her happy. I had also bought several of HF universal stands a while ago (95128) about $25. with coupon and the other stand (69805) is more on the square side then rectangle and is about $35.  While I was putting the first one together I thought this isn't gonna be very strong but they really are great. Plenty sturdy and cheap. Once you add a top and a shelf its like a rock.
Looking into some locking wheels to make them mobile. Matter of fact I just picked up some 3/8" x 3 angle iron and going to make up a similar stand in anticipation of getting my mill.
The other thing that helped is I threw out a ton of junk! My trash man comes about 4:30 to 5 in the morning. I don't usually hear the truck until his machine picks up my receptacle and dumps it and that's when all hell breaks loose and I hear all kinds of noise and crashing. He's never complained but must wonder what in the heck is this guy dumping?
Anyways Fred, Its done and I'm going to do my best to keep it that way! Thanks for the insight!!!!!!!
........................Lou

[handi2]

Very nice!

What do you mainly do with your machinery?

Keith

[foakes]

Extremely well done, and professinal, Lou --

For me, the real key is kind of corny -- but it actually works very effectively...

That is to have a dedicated space for each item or tool -- and to clean up any mess at the end of the day -- no matter how tired I am.

Then get rid of anything you haven't used in the last year, or so.

If you did not use it last year -- probably not a priority this next year.  Just a dust collector.

These are habits that take a month or so of using before they become second nature.  But your production, professionalism, and safety will increase dramatically.

Neatness = effectiveness.

Great shop, Lou.  And like you say, it doesn't need to cost much to do these simple things.

Best,

Fred

[STRIPER LOU]

Hey Keith, I originally bought it with plug and reel work in mind. I've also been doing some prototype work for a local job shop and that has turned out very well for me. The nice part is it gives me a little spending money and I still have time to play with the machinery! Been making some nice reel knob's and handles lately. Keeps me out of the bars too. lol

Fred, I appreciate your comments. You were the inspiration. I'm always amazed when I see pictures of your place. I know I will never be as organized as you but at least I'm heading in the right direction.
Yesterday I turned up a bunch of Acrylic. Big mess, lots of dust, but spent and hour and a half cleaning up and all looked good again. That acrylic dust gets into the ways and leadscrew of the lathe and it a was all washed down with denatured alcohol and oiled.

Now if I could only organize my plug and fly tying stuff!!!!!!
.....................Lou

[Cortez_Conversions]

Lou, make sure you tuck in your tie and turn the spindle off on that sweet little lathe before you reach for one of those files on the wall!
Nice shop!
Tom

[Fish-aholic]

Please stop with all these fantastic work shop images. My face turns a little more green with envy with every thread I open. 

[Reel 224]

Please stop with all these fantastic work shop images. My face turns a little more green with envy with every thread I open. 

Mine too!!

Joe

[exp2000]

Can you please post your address. I will backup the truck tonight
~

[Big Tim]

NICE!! This makes me want to get a motor for my Grizzly mini lathe/mill setup I have

BT

[STRIPER LOU]

Hey 2000, you can back up the truck but I hope your really good with very with BIG dogs!!!!!!!!! lol
....................lou

[Reel 224]

Hey 2000, you can back up the truck but I hope your very good with BIG dogs!!!!!!!!! lol
....................lou

Lou: Have you done any metal work on that lathe?

Joe

[STRIPER LOU]

Joe, I've done quite a bit of metal work on it. With a good carbide tool I'm surprised how well it handles Stainless steel. Been making my own spacer bars for the reels and reel handle shafts.
I 'm also doing some outside work making SS bushings and shafts. Can hold within a thou with no problem.
My only complaint is at very low speeds 50/100 rpm its a bit noisy.
A good general range from 550 to 850 rpm's seems to work well for all I do except for drilling SS. For that its got to be slower!
Have a great day!!!!!      lou

[Reel 224]

Joe, I've done quite a bit of metal work on it. With a good carbide tool I'm surprised how well it handles Stainless steel. Been making my own spacer bars for the reels and reel handle shafts.
I 'm also doing some outside work making SS bushings and shafts. Can hold within a thou with no problem.
My only complaint is at very low speeds 50/100 rpm its a bit noisy.
A good general range from 550 to 850 rpm's seems to work well for all I do except for drilling SS. For that its got to be slower!
Have a great day!!!!!      lou

I have a small lathe it's a EMCO-Unimat that doubles as a milling machine I have used that to repair small parts for some gun repair, but it is to small for big work. When I needed lager work done I would go to the gun smith I worked under for years. Unfortunately he has passed away some years ago. I don't know what his son did with equipment his interest wasn't in guns. I couldn't buy the lathe and milling machine because it was to heavy to move without a moving company that set up this kind of machinery and I couldn't afford it at the time anyway.

Joe   

[Reel 224]

That's a nice lathe Lou. You are very fortunate to have had the background of machinist, I have to fly by the seat of my pants and some help from others in the past. My work station is coming along slowly but surly.

Joe   

[David Hall]

I need to see what you've turned out with the acrylic?
I see a rough blank chucked up but really want to see the finished product.