New Member in NC

[nc cooter]

Hello all. My name is Mike Broach and my hobby is knife making/blacksmithing. In the next year I plan to add a small mill and lathe to my modest tool inventory. A partial list of tools: 2 drill presses,O/A set, MIG welder, anvils, gas forge, 2x72 belt grinder,and misc hand tools.
The new tools will be used to make some parts for knives and building jigs and dedicated tools. Being mostly self taught, I am entering the machining arena with a clean slate. I will be reading posts and asking questions(not too dumb, I hope). With my space, funds,knowledge and accuracy requirements being limited, I will be at the bottom entry level.

[DENedbalek]

Welcome Mike!

BTW, the "bottom entry level" seems well staffed by any number of us, me included. Glad you found us.

Dwayne

[Oldbrock]

I already suggested this to St Kevin. Go to the "Alebris" website and look for Technology of Machine Tools by Krar and others. You can get a $100 book here for as little as $20 and it's worth the 100 Once you learn all in there you won't need to ask how from anybody. Glad to have you on board, this is a really great site. Just found it myself last month. Peter

[Bill in Ky]

Welcome! I'd love to see some pictures of your knives.

[Al Messer]

Welcome aboard!!

Al, X-Tarheel

[nc cooter]

Thanks for the welcome guys.
Here are pics of some of my work.

[JBL37]

Nice work. Jim

[mjm3xs]

i'll second that . yeah nice work, been thinking abot blacksmithing ,but never i never dove in yet!how small do you mean?

[nc cooter]

mjm3xs, small as in mini mill/drill. As to the lathe, I don't know. Beware, blacksmithing is very addictive.
Thanks to all for the kind words about the knives.

[mjm3xs]

well small as in benchtop? right now at home i run a sherline mill an a emco unimat 3 both which are small.don't take up alot of room!the only problem with small is you're limited to size of work you do.