Teaching a 17 year old how to use a lathe

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by Martin Johnson 1 on 01/07/2018 16:24:14:

…

But all this talk of safety rules and a course of instruction – forget it.

Martin

+1.

(a) Lathes aren't very dangerous and figure nowhere near as high as woodworking or agricultural machinery in injury statistics, and

(b) You can develop and take him through a comprehensive series of exercises (the Government Training Centre course I did in '75 did that for me), but the best time to learn any specific technique is when you need it for a project – so a project is the best teaching guide.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Martin Johnson 1 on 01/07/2018 16:24:14:

I started at 14 with a very grotty ML4. Fortunately, I had an instrument maker grandad who was there to get me out of trouble. I started straight in on a Rob Roy and finished when well into my 20's – but school, uni and lumpy jumpers tend to get in the way. That was nearly 50 years ago now.

Best advice – lend him a heap of ME's & MEW's and let him get on with it. Help him out of the hole when he gets in there.

But all this talk of safety rules and a course of instruction – forget it.

Martin

I'm confused! You say:

1. 'all this talk of safety rules and a course of instruction – forget it', and
2. 'I had an instrument maker grandad who was there to get me out of trouble'!

Do you mean that, in your experience, a 14 year old beginner with an Instrument Maker Grandad should shoot the silly old duffer before starting work on an ME article chosen at random? I'd worry that might lead to a 7½" scale Hackfly, converted to metric, and fitted with a home made soft-soldered stainless steel boiler.

Dave

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I grew up on a farm. Very few get away with loose clothing getting caught by a rotating power take off shaft – even at tick-over.

Getting scalped, by not tying back long hair, is not pleasant. You only have one pair of eyes. Losing sight in one puts one at a disdvantage for the rest of your life. Not wearing eye protection is an oversight, to say the least.

Machines do not stop as they do not recognise a human being caught up.

Check out this video. First is definitely not an accident. There are plenty of other videos to watch, as more than adequate warning of the possible consequences if one ignores the safety aspect.

**LINK**

Forewarned is fore-armed as they say!

[Martin Johnson 1Participant @martinjohnson1]

Do you mean that, in your experience, a 14 year old beginner with an Instrument Maker Grandad should shoot the silly old duffer before starting work on an ME article chosen at random? I'd worry that might lead to a 7½" scale Hackfly, converted to metric, and fitted with a home made soft-soldered stainless steel boiler.

And now I think you are being a very silly old duffer! I chose the project based on what I read, which was that Rob Roy is a beginners engine. I had enough common sense at 14 to see me through and Grandad to guide gently. I think I had a pair of goggles once I got a grinder. I also had a flat cap to keep my hair ( I had some then!) out of the way.

An ML7 is not a massively powerful nor dangerous machine unless you are terminally stupid with it. – I did find out what happens if you leave a chuck key in and I haven't done it again………..

But seriously – the lad is 17. He is either going to take to it or not. And lectures on this that and the other will not help. Advice, sure, but gently does it.

Martin

[Simon CookParticipant @simoncook82779]

Hi,

I consider myself to still be a beginner. I'm 30, so older than your 17 year old, but (perhaps misguided) still consider myself the same generation. I've been making things and parts for a few years now.

Anyway, I have largely taught myself, and YouTube has been a huge influence on my learning. Tubal Cain / MrPete222 is great, Toms Techniques is no nonsense, Keith Rucker of Vintage Machinery.org is very informative, and then there is Abom79 which is great from a practical industrial type of view point. Having said that, I do get a lot of guidance from my Dad who is a life long machinist.

Tubal Cain/MrPete222 is hot on safety, I think it's because he is an ex-teacher. My first project (on an ML7) was a plumb bob, by following a MrPete tutorial. – It was also something I could realistically finish in a day.

[Bob n AboutParticipant @bobnabout]

I would also suggest following Joe Pieczynski (Advanced Innovations) on YouTube.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Whilst I hold little confidence in the current OTT Health and Safety quotes (Otherwise how could we cross a road without falling off the kerb?) Safety IS important. I realised the that a 350 Watt pistol drill was stronger than me when it tried to twist out of my hands.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" Being aware of the dangers, and avoiding them tends to prolong life!

Teach an awareness of the risks, and then basic use of the machine. Our turning instructor was frustrated by our 10 thou a side cuts, but understood that we were safer learning that way than trying to take a quarter of of inch a side before we had any idea of what we were doing, or what would happen if we got it wrong.

First steps in machining should be just reducing diameters, followed by turning a taper.

As said, a centre punch makes a good first project. Plain turning, taper turning, knurling and chamfering , and parting off will be good experience, and build confidence.

I C engines can come later, after making a few basic tools with which to learn procedures and methods.

Howard

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