New Member, Piano Restorer

This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 12 August 2026 at 11:06 by noel shelley.

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12 August 2026 at 10:10 #860343
henrypianoman
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@henrypianoman
Hi all,

I have recently acquired a Myford ML7, and Myford VM-B.

My background is in piano restoration and hobby-ist woodworking and wood turning.

This is my first foray into machining and can’t wait to get started.

I will be learning the ropes through a few beginner projects, hopefully to a level where I can use the new skills for my work.

My main areas of interest are toolmaking, prototyping, jig making, and maybe one day a Stirling engine!

Any advice is greatly appreciated

Cheers,

Henry

H
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12 August 2026 at 10:44 #860360
Andrew Crow
Participant
@andrewcrow91475
Welcome to the forum Henry, there is always plenty of help on here in the areas of interest that you have indicated.

Making some tools is a good place to start for developing your skills, plenty of designs and kits available. Have a look for some of the books by Harold Hall, Tubal Cain and George Thomas, plenty of ideas in there for basic tooling before you get into machining castings.

Hot air engines are a fascinating subject and still highly relevant today, but hone your skills first as you do need to work work to close tolerances in places, plenty of help here though.

Andy
12 August 2026 at 10:48 #860363
Howard Lewis
Participant
@howardlewis46836
Welcome!

Your previous experience will be of benefit to you in your new projects, and probably to others on this forum. (It has members covering an immense range of interests and experience.)

If you are new to machining metal, may I suggest reading “The Amateur’s Lathe” by L H Sparey, “The Amateur’s Workshop” by Ian Bradley or the books by Stan Bray and Harold Hall? (The latter has writtren books on both latheowk and milling.

FWIW, my advice is to start by just nachinging bits of bar in the lathe to become familiar with the latyhe, and then to make simple tools, (centre Height Gauge for a start and then a sliding Die Holder for the Tailstock, A drill chuck could be made, to slide on the same arbor, to act as a sliding Tap Holder. Then, follow up with a mandrel handle, which will be useful for use with the Taps and Dies.

You will gain experience and confidence for the bigger projects which follow, and have useful items, ehich make life a little easier.

Riding another hobby horse, it will eventually be worth making a rear toolpost for the Myford. With the tool held, inverted in it, parting off will be less fraught.

Good Luck!

Howard
12 August 2026 at 10:49 #860366
noel shelley
Participant
@noelshelley55608
Hello Henry and welcome, I had written a longish reply only to find I had been logged off and my work lost. I have run out of time to re write but good luck and best wishes. Noel.
12 August 2026 at 10:57 #860369
henrypianoman
Participant
@henrypianoman
Thanks for your replies.

I will definitely dive into the reading materials.

Thank you for the project suggestions. I’ve been trawling online and on YouTube for beginner ideas, but nice to be guided to some making that’ll be relevant to my progression.

In spirit of “no question is a stupid question”…can anyone recommend a UK supplier for metals?
Also, any recommendations for CAD software (cheap or free) for some basic 3D drawings?

Cheers
12 August 2026 at 11:06 #860370
noel shelley
Participant
@noelshelley55608
A visit to a local small engineering co and ask for off cuts or bar ends. Tell them your new to the game and offer a donation to the tea/coffee fund. Some will cry out in horror at this idea, there are many types of steel, some not easy to work with but it will give you a start. Noel.
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