Current HSM is best one in quite a while

[Cuttings]

I have been no so patiently waiting since this thread started.
The pony express finally made it out to the west coast and my HSM was in the mail today.
A quick look through and I agree, lots of good articles here.
You know where to find me for the next while. Sitting back in chair with my HSM magazine and a cup of tea.
Good job.

[George Bulliss]

But to the poor author who submits them, it can look a lot like a black hole.

I suppose it does.

When accepting an article, I make a point to tell the author to check in with me now and then. Although I can't always give a firm answer on dates very far in advance, as time drags on I usually can give a ballpark estimate of publication date. I've had authors suggest that I send out occasional reports of article status, but I simply don't have time to do that. I will reply to any and all emails though.

[alanganes]

It is a labor of love, perhaps some pride, but not real lucrative.

I have had a few things published and while I'm not quitting my day job, like you I find it fun and satisfying to see something I wrote in print. Anytime I can make a few bucks as a side effect of doing something I'd mostly be doing just for the fun of it, I count it as a win in the same way that I will occasionally pick up a paying shop job. I really don't want to make a living at this stuff, but the extra cash has funded some nice additions to my tooling and such.

I'd encourage anyone who is thinking of writing up and submitting something to go ahead and do it. George is very helpful if you have questions. It's a bit more effort than it may seem at a glance, but fun and satisfying when you see it in print and get a check in the mail.

[Paul Alciatore]

Well George, I guess it is not very mysterious or secretive to you as you are the one doing it. Probably under a lot of pressure and with deadlines looming. But to the poor author who submits them, it can look a lot like a black hole. Was it too short? Was it too long? Too highbrow? To low? Not enough pictures? Too many?

Until it ultimately appears, that is.

Just jabbing back, I know you have a difficult job and do not envy you. And I think you do it quite well. Keep up the good work.

I'll agree it is a slow process, but I'm not so sure about the mysterious and secretive part. All of our articles come from readers and subscribers. Because of this, we have very limited control over editorial content. I can make a few suggestions to frequent contributors and columnists, but that's about as much direction as we have. It's because of this lack of up front control that we need to keep a fairly large inventory of articles on hand, which increases the time from submittal to publication. However, without the ability to choose articles from a broad selection we would severely limit our ability to vary the content of each issue.

So, the selection process involves looking for a good mix of subjects in each issue, with preference given to articles that have waited the longest. We also have to match the page count of the editorial content to available pages, which are in constant flux as ad sales vary. Nothing mysterious or secretive about it; just a matter of taking a WAG as to what will make the majority of the readers happy and then trying to stuff it into the issue!

[EddyCurr]

HEY !

I just noticed my neighbor and fellow prayer group (Alberta Metal
Enthusiasts Network - Amen, get it?) member has a small mention
and three photographs on page 6 of the current issue.

The lathe pictured on there on page 6 can be seen as it looked
last October when Clarence brought it out to a club display.

Scenes From a Local Club Display (2014.10.04) Post #3

I do not know what sort of lead time there is between when
Village Press gets content and when it lands in my mailbox,
but you can imagine that Mr Elias made quite a bit of progress
to complete the lathe in order to submit the photos.

Also, if you look below the photo of the lathe, you will see the
finished full size guitar that Clarence made entirely from steel
sheet, neck and all. This was posted here HSM-Built Steel Guitar
and there is a link to a video of the build which culminates with
Clarence picking a tune. Highly recommended.

If you scroll even further down, you can see several photos
of the scaled-down Harley which Clarence refers to being
the reason he built the scaled-down Southbend lathe
shown on page 6. Clarence actually has more than one
of these Harleys under construction.

Oh, to whet your interest ...







Mr Bulliss, if you can get Mr Elias to submit some more
substantial articles I propose both you and your readership
will be well entertained.

.

[George Bulliss]

I do know that the selection process is mysterious, secretive, and quite slow.

I'll agree it is a slow process, but I'm not so sure about the mysterious and secretive part. All of our articles come from readers and subscribers. Because of this, we have very limited control over editorial content. I can make a few suggestions to frequent contributors and columnists, but that's about as much direction as we have. It's because of this lack of up front control that we need to keep a fairly large inventory of articles on hand, which increases the time from submittal to publication. However, without the ability to choose articles from a broad selection we would severely limit our ability to vary the content of each issue.

So, the selection process involves looking for a good mix of subjects in each issue, with preference given to articles that have waited the longest. We also have to match the page count of the editorial content to available pages, which are in constant flux as ad sales vary. Nothing mysterious or secretive about it; just a matter of taking a WAG as to what will make the majority of the readers happy and then trying to stuff it into the issue!

[Paul Alciatore]

Speaking as one who has had several articles and other short pieces published, I believe they use both unsolicited articles and some that are requested, even scheduled. I do know that the selection process is mysterious, secretive, and quite slow. I have several articles "in the queue" at the present time and they have been submitted over the past two years or so. There is no rhyme or rhythm to the process except that, for unsolicited articles, publication in under a year is just not in the cards. They do pay for the articles, but considering the time involved, you are better off making minimum wage elsewhere. It is a labor of love, perhaps some pride, but not real lucrative. I am writing more articles now: I have at least a dozen in my cueue. I was working on an article on a wood project last night; a tape dispenser with measuring capability. This will probably not be submitted to George as it is mostly a wood project. I am mixing my efforts with a metal project article as well. It is also for a somewhat unique and practical item.



As for things like the gunsmith articles and other, somewhat obscure projects, I have to agree with the idea of reading them to learn the techniques. Gunsmith techniques are among the more precise and delicate machining practices out there. I mean, trying to get a tighter group of strikes at 100 yards or solving an intermittent problem while firing has to be a pretty big challenge. So I do read the gunsmith articles. And I pay attention to the techniques presented there. And I do learn from them.

George and Village Press; keep up the good work.

Well put, my thoughts run along the same theme.

Pretty much every issue shows a way of fixturing an odd shape; using
one tool or machine to achieve an outcome that ideally would have been
done with a different (more expensive) tool or machine in the "textbook";
or perhaps introduces non-metal materials and ways of working with these
such that they become a component part that enhances a metal object.

Most interestingly is that, AFAIK, the articles are not commissioned, they
come from a pool of work submitted randomly by contributors. The editorial
staff put together each issue by selecting material from the pool using some
criteria, polish where necessary, illustrate with photos & drawings, add
advertising and then send the issue to the printer. While all the steps matter,
having good submissions to choose from and having the judgement to put a
pleasing issue together from submissions are perhaps key steps to success.

Even with an unlimited pool of work to draw upon, finding a balance between
entry level, intermediate and advanced projects in every issue seems nigh-on
impossible. However, over the course of a year, my view is that HSM & MW
have both averaged out skill levels favourably.

In the natural progression, if demand and content availability warrant, perhaps
Village Press can consider creating another title and divvy up audience
according to skill levels ?

Anyway. Now that J Tiers has whetted my interest, I am looking forward to
the arrival of my copy of the current issue in 7 - 10 days with even more
anticipation than usual.

.

[vincemulhollon]

really interested in how guns are repaired or modified

I find the work holding interesting. Observationally it seems there has never been a firearm component designed for the convenience of the machinist making or repairing it, at least never in the magazine articles I can recall. And at the same time appearance matters, and as if thats not enough, also at the same time there's all kinds of precision interoperation / interchangable parts tolerance issues. Which makes for interesting articles, even for a guy like me who hasn't shot anything since I got out of the Army a long time ago. I feel pretty good when I pull off 1 or 2 of the 3, but imagine doing all your work all the time to the pinnacle of all three criteria.

Hard to say whats a higher display of machinist skill... gunsmithing or engine making. I suppose a rhetorical question I'm happy as long as I see both. And the other stuff too.

[rock_breaker]

No doubt the preparation for these magazines is challenging, difficult and time consuming, and like others I find some articles less interesting. I have found in reading both HSM and MW something new or forgotten appears in most articles. My viewpoint about the Gunsmithing is; Good show!! I plink at trargets, and like reloading but am really interested in how guns are repaired or modified. In my view point, the publishers have the right mix.

Have a good day

Ray

[George Bulliss]

I did see a dimension error that is critical in the very fine build article by Richard Rex.
The dimension between the .250 pins/dowels for the Aloris style tool holder is off a decimal point.
The page 36 dimension shows 1.04 when it should be 1.004 when depth of cut is .375


Rich

Thanks for pointing that out Rich. I typically redraw things to try and catch just this sort of thing. Always seem to get caught when I try to take shortcuts...

[Rich Carlstedt]

I did see a dimension error that is critical in the very fine build article by Richard Rex.
The dimension between the .250 pins/dowels for the Aloris style tool holder is off a decimal point.
The page 36 dimension shows 1.04 when it should be 1.004 when depth of cut is .375

I did like the use of Metric and Inch units together !
I believe both units have unique advantages and be used together or interchangably
"Never throw the baby out with the bath water" as they say, and in machining all avenues should be employed.
Good magazine !

Rich

[EddyCurr]

Anyway. Now that J Tiers has whetted my interest, I am looking forward to
the arrival of my copy of the current issue in 7 - 10 days with even more
anticipation than usual.

Well, I am happy to be wrong.

The foregoing was posted Thu 4/23. It turns out my copy of
the issue arrived the next day, Fri 4/24. Someone else brought
in the mail that day and absentmindly shuffled HSM to the bottom
of a pile of flyers. I just discovered the magazine this morning.

Mr Bulliss insists VP has no influence over their CDN bulk mail agent
and that improved delivery times are a coincidence. Coincidence or
not, I am pleased with the improvement !

Thanks !

.

[loose nut]

When an article is specific to a particular machine, as in making a part for a 7 x 12 mini or a 9" Southbend as examples, you limit the interest in those articles, for some. People without that equipment (lathe or mill ETC.) are somewhat less likely to read them. General interest articles that are not specific to any one piece of equipment or can be modified to fit any type of lathe or mill will have a better following. Better still are articles about subjects that are not about fixing or modifying specific lathe or mills, like making stand alone tools and machines. In the older mags there where many articles on building shop equipment IE: rotary tables, dividing heads etc. These seemed to be more prevalent in the past then they are now.

[Brett Hurt]

I like what they do and the projects like the 7x12 lathe lathe ones but would like to see more how you build this or restore this like a wilton vise ect tool building I make a lot of those. Or here is a great steam engine to build or ic engine. I get home shop machinist machinists workshop model engineer model engineers workshop live steam and engineering in miniature the last one I like was machinists workshop and the one on a woodworks marking knife next thing I build. When I buildet herald halls grinding rest I could email him about stuff off model engineer forum about it and that helped. I know the usa looks at this differ than england but in home shop machinist may/june there is R Robertson on his miniature tools so how do you build one let see that in there and that is my rant

[J Tiers]

We kind of do that. The gunsmithing articles appear only in Machinist's Workshop, never in The Home Shop Machinist. Also, we do try to keep the gunsmith content to a maximum of roughly one quarter of the editorial content of each issue, though things do vary.

Jerry, thanks for the kind words. That issue was put together a while ago so I'l have to go back and refresh my memory to see what I managed to do right.

You managed to include several things that made me not notice the ones I didn't care about! Might be that you included some others didn't like, but that I did, though. Takes all sorts.....

I guess my reaction was that there were more solid metalworking articles. I even like the taper head article, although there is no boring machine here. The hot air whatever-it-is..... well......

I like the gunsmithing articles, and often find them to be the only thing redeeming an issue of MW. They are always interesting, even though I doubt I will ever get into modifying guns.

The folks that do not like gunsmithing articles may want to re-consider and take them as lessons in problem solving in the shop. Many illustrate neat methods, and even if you regard the idea of someone actually owning a 1911, or other firearm, as being too horrifying to contemplate, the setups and techniques are of interest.