I am a retired maintenance superintendent working on my 16th year of being happily unemployed. Prior to retirement I always had access to several fully equipped machine shops as well as electrical/electronic test and repair facilities. Once retired I missed the tools so I set out to accumulate my own. I currently have a 12 X 36 Chinese lathe, an X2 mill, two drill presses and a bench grinder/polisher. I also have a table saw, miter saw , router and a bandsaw on the wood side of my shop. I also have a well equipped electronics bench.
I have had a series of hobbies including building and hunting with black powder firearms, repairing and restoring antique clocks, amateur radio and home gunsmithing and reloading.
I designed and build a tool for use in servicing the mainsprings in antique clocks. Along with supplying complete units I also furnish, free, complete drawings for those who wish to make their own. The tool is mostly wood with a few metal components. I furnish the metal parts for those who do not have metal working capabilities.
My grandson sent me a web page of aftermarket shifter knobs for his car and asked if I could make one. So far I have made three with more planned. Needless to say he is the envy of his group. The shifter knobs are what brought to this forum. I was looking for a ball turner, which I found and built. I am currently attempting to adapt it to the mill. I think working in close proximity to the spindle is safer than working close to a lathe chuck.
My latest project is machining stainless steel base plates for the magazines of stainless pistols made by CZ. The OEM magazines are blued steel. I think stainless looks better.
I am looking forward to learning much from this site and hope to be able to contribute.
I am looking forward to my 76th winter thus my screen name.
Joe