Here is an open letter I had with a Hamber about getting my own reamer tool, and I thought I would share it with you. Kind of shows what rodders are going thru. IF you guys have any thoughts, please,jump right in here. Ken- I make it a rule never to sell my tools. Parts I can pick up anytime, but tools make me money. I kind of liken it to that addage something about giving a man some fish or giving him a pole and teaching him to fish for himself. I can't rember how it goes, but I'm sure you get the idea. If I could get one, I would keep it forever, because I use these things all the time. I also need to get my hands on a cam bearing puller. I'm tired of paying a machine shop for that service too. A guy on the Hamb wrote in and suggested I take it to a good machinist. Well, I live out in Crockett,Texas and it's 150 miles to Houston. They had one machinist here in this hayseed of a town and he quit two months ago after 40 years, because there wasn't enough business for him. He was around 70 years old and met some old gal from Madisonville and wanted to have some fun in his remaining years.. can you blame him? Looking at an old grey block building with bars on the windows and metal dust everywhere, I couldnt blame the old guy one bit. I watched him as him and his buddy loaded up trailer after trailer full of old blocks, cranks, and heads and took them to the scrapyard. An end of an era. He didnt have CNC machines. He had old operator driven machines. He didnt keep up with the times and everyone went to Houston or just bought new. With the City business taxes and mortgage payments and all his costs, he didnt make any money at all. I'm gonna miss him. I learned a lot from that old coot. Its getting to the point whee I need to find an old lathe and milling machine to do occasional machining right here at my home. Every time I discuss it with my wife, it's like pulling her teeth. She just doesn't get it at all. To her, it's all a big waste of time and she says I should do what everyone else does and just buy new or go to Houston the few times I need work done. But, I know for a fact that I would love to do it. It would be a blast doing my own machining. I know it probobly isnt cost effective anymore, but what really is these days? Even the banks and insurance companies are losing money. Well, I'm gonna get off my soap box now. Thanks for all your help. Youve been way kind to me. Youre a true Hamber. Mikey
agreed , buy your own tools and be self sufficient . if you buy good quality they will last a lifetime or more. to ream old ford spindle bushings i have a Bluepoint that my father bought new in 1929. i have a lathe and a mill so i can do 99% of my machining , plus i make a few bucks doing it for others
Agreed. In today's "disposable society" automotive machinists are literally a dying breed. Nobody fixes anything anymore, except us wierdos and dinosaurs on the HAMB. BTW, on the kingpin bushings, in a pinch I wrapped a socket with emery cloth, mounted it on a cordless drill and sanded/polished a true fit. The next day I found my grandfather's adjustable reamer. Figures.
I understand what you are saying ! Times are bad and if you can do it yourself , that's great ! Not many can even change the oil in thier own car because they don't know how to or to damn lazy . I just bought a reamer off CL for $25 and it's a Craftsman ! The guy used it once . I am disabled with bad back and don't have money to have all the work done by a machinest either . I wish I could do more but can't . I have bought many tools to fill my many tool boxes form people on hard times and people that have retired from the business . My wife knows what tools cost and I told her when the day comes you have a lot of money in the garage and she knows what stuff is worth ! I won't sell my tools anymore . I did 30+ years ago from a bad divorce , but that's why ! I have many very old , old Sears and many other tools that I use all the time . Buy USA made and they will out last you and your great grandchildren ! I enjoy doing the work myself plus it keeps me busy . When I talk with people at car shows telling them how things are done and how much I did to my engine and car by myself , it really isn't that hard to do with the proper tools and a little know how . I take pride in what I do and have learned the old fashion way , by just doing it and learning . I could go on & on but unless you have very deep pockets , you better learn how to do the work yourself or you will never have the car of your dreams ! Learn to build it yourself no matter what it looks like as long as it's safe !
Toolmakers and machinists are getting like the dinosaurs, slowly fading away. Just in our area, job shops are failing weekly and to find a Auto machine shop,wow I don't know of many still around. I'm not going to start into a political free trade rant but will say we have to get back fending for ourselves. I'm one of them 100% guys doing it all because I enjoy it and the challenge. I was working on a 31 coupe and needed the int done, I couldn't find a shop to do it under a few grand. I save my dough and bought a Phaff walking foot and learned how to sew from books and screwing up ALOT. I work in a Spring company and have a full machine shop. I have alway enjoyed making or modifying things,part or goodies for guys. We don't do it for dough but for lunch, beer or a handshake. I just get a kick out of make goodies and can learn something too..
There's a significant message buried amongst the clutter. Your wife wants you to take her to houston more often. If you "got it at all" you'd understand the key to your mill & lathe lie in Houston
36-3 window has the right additude about this. The old rule of thumb is if you have to borrow it more than two times you ought to own it! What you can afford has to be applied to this formula, though. I have no problem hauling loads of top-soil or stone to my machinist buddy's house in return for work done on his $30,000 cnc mill.
I like to get my king pins honed. on a wrist pin or connecting rod conditioning machine. local shop charges $10. The honed finish will last longer then a reamed finish. ON the subject of machine tools I think buying a lathe is never a bad investment, with care it will outlast you. I use this analogy with people that don't understand machine tools. You can buy a new computer or TV or some new hi tech junk(have to have device) for $1000 that will be obsolete or broke in 3years. Buy a lathe and it will never go obsolete and you can use it for many things for many years and get real satisfaction out of repair or creating something. just my opinion. Ago
if you got the room buy all of 'em you can get. i have a mill and lathe, but end up trading stuff out and selling stuff because i don't have the @#$% room.
I have a different way to look at buying tools that really makes it easier to swallow. I look at buying tools like buying stock in a company (only I own it). When I buy I ask myself, can I resell it tomarrow and get my money back, and how much am I going to use it? If you buy a tool or machine used, and buy it right, You can always get your money back if you take good care of it. If anything, if it's a used machine tool like a lathe, mill, or pullmax it apreciates in value (much like stocks used to do). Then every time you use it and save or make money off of it it's a dividend to you. I owned and worked a machine shop for a few years. Worked my ass off and made a little money, but I make alot more now. When you take an engine into a machine shop and you get price shock just remember they are not getting rich off of you. There's some bad shops out there and I'm not talking about them. A good shop will give it to you up front. BTW I still have my Dad's king pin reamer and Sunnen pin hone. I use the hone..... Jeff
Another way to look at it is, how much is the tool and how much will it cost to have it done? if it cost twice what it would to have it done and their is a chance of you doing it again buy it!! I have a 28x38 shop that is packed full and another out back that is 56x40 that I am putting together now to have enough room to work without tripping on everything. yeh I like tools and toys!!
im not a tool junkie.....i just like having the tool to do the job myself......and maybe help someone else out.........
I desperately want a lathe, have done for years. Back in the seventies I served my time as a machine shop apprentice, mainly on centre lathe, plied that trade for 16 years, until 1990, but worked as a mechanic ever since. Some day soon I'll be moving into a decent sized shop, and I will be keeping an ear to the ground for a good sized lathe.
I am like Tim Allen, I have tools to fix tools. Never regretted buying a tool. Only regret was not buying one and then needing it. Pat.
"Innovate or Die", as they say. Too bad the guy never kept up with technology, it's no wonder he's no longer around.
Luckily being a general machinist I got to make most of my own tools, including cam bearing changing tools, hyd press, plus many other tools, jigs etc. Keep an eye out for inexpensive tooling, I have a small Southbend lathe, 8" X 30" with manual gear change, a drill mill only to mention a few, garage sales, local auctions, shops going out of business and CL are but a few avenues.
I have been a machinist for 10 years. Have keys to 3 different ships in town that I do work for and welcome anytime. Yet still gathering equipment and gettin things lined up to put a complete machine shop in my garage. I have built my own bench top cnc mill and router. I love it and cant imagine doing anything else. I will have my own shop one day. Currently building a 4bbl intake for my buick 320 straight eight. Valve cover headers and side covers are all designed just need to find time. Once the engine dress up is done I move onto completely remakin the front suspension. But will complrtely built in like thw original equipment. Once you learn Thw capabilities you won't be able to sleep because u will be dreaming up/designing the next set of parts you want to make Good luck. Have fun . Don't wear gloves broke my thumb in to places 6 month ago. These machines ar very dangerous if you aren't payin attention.
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