My engine lathe from $3,00 up to $7,500..........

[Ponce]

So, what is going on?.....is the US greenback worth less than half in the last two years?

As you might remember I bought a metal engine lathe two years ago for WTSHTF as
part of my plan behind my plan.....well, saw it today once again the the price went up
more THAN DOUBLE.

Even the metal working tool for the lathe has gone up but only about 25-40%

For the price it is a great little lathe and very accurate, as a matter of fact I was wondering
how come the price was so low when I bought and when I recieved it at was a real surprice
at the accureacy of the same and how steady and strong it was.

Anyway, the reason for this post is to let you know about the increase in prices of tools so that if
you need any then you better get them now, in the future also look for them in garage sales.

[MNeagle]

Thanks for the reminder. I saw the windows painted on the pawn shop saying "Hand Tools: 25 cents". Forgot I wanted to stop & check out their options.

[Dogman]

Machine tools can be had pennies on the dollar for good equipment and I do mean name brand, not Chinese crap ether. It just takes time and keeping your eyes out and ear to the ground. And the neat thing if one is a true machinist, you can rebuild your own equipment only materials needed. Except the dam belts and some other consumables.

[palani]

Twenty years ago I could have purchased an entire machine shop for $2,000. Included 8 foot lathe, 12 foot lathe, forge, drill press, milling machine, band say and all the line shafts and belts.

I did pick up the knee type milling machine and a set of line shaft pulleys for $200. I would have liked to have had the line shaft driven drill press but it was too much to haul.

The guy also had a bunch oak wheel halves if one had wanted to get into the business of making oak wagon wheels.

One other thing I forgot. I got a pallet load of chisels and studs that go into horse shoes to give them traction on ice and snow. Still haven't found a use for them yet.

[Dogman]

Twenty years ago I could have purchased an entire machine shop for $2,000. Included 8 foot lathe, 12 foot lathe, forge, drill press, milling machine, band say and all the line shafts and belts.

I did pick up the knee type milling machine and a set of line shaft pulleys for $200. I would have liked to have had the line shaft driven drill press but it was too much to haul.

The guy also had a bunch oak wheel halves if one had wanted to get into the business of making oak wagon wheels.

One other thing I forgot. I got a pallet load of chisels and studs that go into horse shoes to give them traction on ice and snow. Still haven't found a use for them yet.

Over head/under floor, belt drive equipment, all powered from a common power source? The power shafts ether overhead or under the floor?

[palani]

Over head/under floor, belt drive equipment, all powered from a common power source? The power shafts ether overhead or under the floor?
All overhead. Open frame motor in the rafters was the power source.

All the line shafts and motor went for $50. I think I gave the guy a $20 for the wooden main drive pulley (we still have ours in the corn crib ... it got backed into a couple times with the grinder mixer and wobbles a little). I also got the line shafts associated with the mill.

The seller was an old timey Deere machinist near Dubuque.

[Dogman]

1986

I wish!

Those kind of machines can be just as accurate as a new one, depends on the operater
and wear the machine has, backlash and such. Helped rebuild one or two in the past.

Clutches to isolate individual machines form the common drive.

Love them.

[palani]

1986

I wish!

Those kind of machines can be just as accurate as a new one, depends on the operater
and wear the machine has, backlash and such. Helped rebuild one or two in the past.

Clutches to isolate individual machines form the common drive.

Love them.

You need a crew of millwrights to move those things though.

The guy who bought the 12 foot lathe ... I watched him move it. He jacked up one end of the machine and took the legs off. Backed a farm wagon undercarriage under it. Did the same to the other side. Hooked up the pipe that tied the two axles together, hooked it up to his truck and hauled it to his shop. Innovative.

At Cat they skid the machine tool on a strip of metal, hook a cat to the strip and drag it.

[Dogman]

You need a crew of millwrights to move those things though.

The guy who bought the 12 foot lathe ... I watched him move it. He jacked up one end of the machine and took the legs off. Backed a farm wagon undercarriage under it. Did the same to the other side. Hooked up the pipe that tied the two axles together, hooked it up to his truck and hauled it to his shop. Innovative.

At Cat they skid the machine tool on a strip of metal, hook a cat to the strip and drag it. Been there and done that! Have led a very interesting and varied job and trade life.(would not trade anything) Yes, breaking down and setting up production lines and equipment is in some ways is a art, also it is fun or not can be hell, no two moves are ever the same.

[palani]

Been there and done that! Have led a very interesting and varied job and trade life.(would not trade anything) Yes, breaking down and setting up production lines and equipment is in some ways is a art, also it is fun or not can be hell, no two moves are ever the same.

Millwrights' Crede ... Speak loudly and carry a BFH.

[Dogman]

Millwrights' Crede ... Speak loudly and carry a BFH. 16lb works nicely for the delicate jobs. 8oz or less for the real work!

[palani]

16lb works nicely for the delicate jobs. 8oz or less for the real work!

Last project I worked on they refused to hire union millwrights. Instead they got guys off the street. We had to move and reinistall a couple thousand feet of overhead power and free conveyor. These guys didn't bother to lower components gently. They torched the bolts and dropped motors, gearboxes, steel beams, etc 18 feet to the concrete below.

What a mess.

[Dogman]

Last project I worked on they refused to hire union millwrights. Instead they got guys off the street. We had to move and reinistall a couple thousand feet of overhead power and free conveyor. These guys didn't bother to lower components gently. They torched the bolts and dropped motors, gearboxes, steel beams, etc 18 feet to the concrete below.

What a mess.

The mistake was "off the streets" and not being 'union'. I have never worked a union job and will go proud to my grave never working a union job, not saying they did a hell of a lot of good for the workers, before they got greedy!

Skill is skill, union or not. Sounds like the guys in charge wanted something done quickly and the hell with the results. with the mind of recovery of the equipment for future use. The more delicate the equipment the more like an egg it needs to be treated.

But still skill is skill, on the other hand anyone can be hired to destroy.

Edit: Because not working union, I learned multiple job disciplines and skill sets, to the point I can honestly say I can dam near do anything, if provided with the resources. Had some old time teachers that I am in debt that passed their knowledge.

And do it well.

[palani]

The mistake was "off the streets" and not being 'union'. I have never worked a union job and will go proud to my grave never working a union job, not saying they did a hell of a lot of good for the workers, before they got greedy!

Skill is skill, union or not. Sounds like the guys in charge wanted something done quickly and the hell with the results. with the mind of recovery of the equipment for future use. The more delicate the equipment the more like an egg it needs to be treated.

But still skill is skill, on the other hand anyone can be hired to destroy.

I have no objection to unions. They seem to work at a slower pace and labor is more expensive but compared to hiring unskilled and unqualified people I would tend to go the union route just to keep the overall costs under control. There are people who hang out at the union hall who violate even this rule though.

[Dogman]

I have no objection to unions. They seem to work at a slower pace and labor is more expensive but compared to hiring unskilled and unqualified people I would tend to go the union route just to keep the overall costs under control. There are people who hang out at the union hall who violate even this rule though. yes the word is 'unqualified' that depends on if you have lived and worked in right to work state of not.

I have never lived or worked in any other kind, than a right to work state, it does make a difference.

Because it takes skill to keep the job, and to be versatile. Smaller shops but everyone , mostly could do anything needed.

Edit: Not to start a war, but unions will milk a job for all that it is worth.

[palani]

yes the word is 'unqualified' that depends on if you have lived and worked in right to work state of not.
I have worked in both closed and open shops. One job half the shop was unionized (about 95%) while the other half was non-union. This situation creates some friction that is not present in the closed shops.

Being a contractor or management I was never required to be in a union in even the closed shops.

[Dogman]

I have worked in both closed and open shops. One job half the shop was unionized (about 95%) while the other half was non-union. This situation creates some friction that is not present in the closed shops.

Being a contractor or management I was never required to be in a union in even the closed shops. Have done the same, as a contractor. If back in my days I would prefer open shops. Again not to start a war, too much politics in a closed shop to get anything done quickly.

[Ponce]

The funny thing about is that a little metal bnad saw that cost me $75.00 about 21 years ago they are still selling them but the price now is of $375.00........and some days will remember today as "the good old days".

[Neuro]

Ponce? What are you using your lathe for? Do you make and repair engine parts?

[Dogman]

Ponce? What are you using your lathe for? Do you make and repair engine parts? Give me a lathe and a proper milling machine and Iwill build civilization..

Truth

[millwright]

Ahh, a thread i can sink my teeth into. Been a union millwright for 20 years. Seen it all, both good and bad.

Millwrights get little respect , hell most folks have no idea what a millwright even is. Without us, no cars ,no food ,no electronics ,no shitter plants , no power plants, no paper mills ,no steel mills no freakin nothing.

I learned from an old Fillipino. Grizzly old bastard who could perform miracles. His philosophy was that the metal was alive and it was out to get us. Either the steel won, or we won. Needless to say , we always freakin won.

When we were done with a job, IT WAS CADIALLAC JACK AINT COMING BACK! When a pimple faced little bitch engineer walked up on us and put a tape to something it was ZEROES BABY!

Hey Ponce, as to the prices rising, i remember going crazy over at GIM trying to tell those fu*king deflationist morons to go buy some Zinc hardware and tell me we have deflation. I constantly talked of the rising prices for tools , radios (ham),cars parts , farm implements etc. Who gives a shit what the price of a 4 bedroom house on 6000 square feet in Los Angles is going for.

I started buying up everything i could afford 5 years ago. Don't have a mill or lathe though. But i do own a diesel tractor , every hand tool known to man along with a ton of rigging ,a welder and generator etc. That stuff will never get cheaper.

Happy new year to all.

[LastResort]

Two years ago when the big crash happened they were cutting up old presses, mills, lathes, etc into little pieces because they were worth more for scrap.

Now things have rebounded a bit and they value of the machinery has gone up somewhat.

2 years ago my shop bought a couple used presses for the price of scrap.

[millwright]

Two years ago when the big crash happened they were cutting up old presses, mills, lathes, etc into little pieces because they were worth more for scrap.

Now things have rebounded a bit and they value of the machinery has gone up somewhat.

2 years ago my shop bought a couple used presses for the price of scrap.

I talked to an old millwright buddy of mine from Northern California about a year ago. We went through our Millwright Apprenticeship together in the early 90s. We spent a good deal of our time as apprentices at the NUMMI auto plant in Fremont CA. We built the damn place. Seat line, Body line,paint line etc. When i spoke to him , he told me he was working AT THE NOW SHUTTERED auto plant. They were tearing out the stamping plant,and shipping it off in pieces to India. He said and i quote, "NOBODY IN AMERICA WANTS IT" !

America has been completely gutted by the banksters.

[palani]

America has been completely gutted by the banksters.

Sterling Illinois has a history of making wire. The plant there was closed down for the most part 8-10 years ago. The biggest customer was a mattress builder (mattresses use a lot of wire).

So it came out that the mattress company purchased the plant and they were dismantling it and feeding it through the foundry on site to make more wire.

America sleeps soundly on their infrastructure.

[mick silver]

i buy tools ever time i see them at sales . garden tools , tools for my tools shed . i have tools for about anything you can think of . when someone around here needs a tool they come to me . i have posted about buying tools at yard sell . i love it when they give me a box tools for a buck

[Ponce]

When my metal lathe came in I measured and tested everything and then regreased it once again, I don't use it but is ready to go at any time......have all my meassuring tools from long ago, plus the ones that I invented on my own..... when the time come, and if needed, it will make trading goods for me.

Still thinking agout Pluto being banned.........

[palani]

Seen it all, both good and bad.

Seen a union pipefitter plumb 100 psig air into a commode? Interesting result.

[LastResort]

I talked to an old millwright buddy of mine from Northern California about a year ago. We went through our Millwright Apprenticeship together in the early 90s. We spent a good deal of our time as apprentices at the NUMMI auto plant in Fremont CA. We built the damn place. Seat line, Body line,paint line etc. When i spoke to him , he told me he was working AT THE NOW SHUTTERED auto plant. They were tearing out the stamping plant,and shipping it off in pieces to India. He said and i quote, "NOBODY IN AMERICA WANTS IT" !

America has been completely gutted by the banksters.

Your 100% correct

The 2 presses in my shop were saved from being scrap. They would have been sent to China melted down and sold back to us for much more.

They're up and running and work great!