Metal Lathe Tutorial 16: Your First Project!

This is Lathe Skills, a multi-part series to help you learn basic machine shop work. Exclusive videos, drawings, models & plans available on Patreon!

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[larryshaw]

Ok that was fun, I really liked your parting method . Do you think a standard bit could be easily reground for brass or copper, if so maybe I could buy a cheap set of drill bits and start a set of brass bits?

[vascointhemix]

i just watched the all 16 episodes, i just have to say thank you for this, very educational, very usefull, i loved it, you are like the Bob Ross of

[behemothinferno]

I love your childish, innocent sense of humor. It's quite adorable really!

[viperspec]

"standard imperial knuckle" ; this is why I am drawn to your site after two years of not seeing it. Your precise machining and quick wit is always enjoyable. Doing a "Quinn-athon" tonight to see what I have missed in the last few years. You lady are the reason why I really want to get into machining. PLEASE keep doing what you do, viewers like me see the passion in what you do and want to be like you. Thank you!!

[excavateboy]

"Walk away cause you're weird"! Was my highschool career

[TheFishingHobby]

I have been going through your beginners lathe playlist even though I've been using my metal lathes for several years now. I learn things in every video. I'm just a hobby guy who learned mostly through trial and error so some of the details you cover are very helpful. I liked this a beginner project and it got me thinking back to the first thing I made. My first project was a finger top like a kid would play with. I made it out of brass and it allowed me to try some fairly complex things like using the compound for turning a taper for the top. I also learned (through trial and error) that it really helps to bore out the top where you spin the top with your fingers so that it weighs less and isn't as top heavy. I made several playing around with the designs to try to make tops that would spin for longer periods of time so that was kinda fun too. I thought I'd share that idea in case someone else would be interested in a similar project. It was fun and I still have them and even give them a spin from time to time. My kids liked them too 👍

[hsvboy]

Your lathe videos are very educational and easy to understand for a beginner. I have not found better videos anywhere. Thankyou.

[Joe-dbhz]

I LOL when you said "or they walk away because you're weird" 🤣 I can relate.

[machobunny]

The most important thing you've taught me is, humility. I've used lathes and made stuff since before you were born. OF course I know how to use a lathe? Not at all. And if I spend the next year learning here, maybe I'll a bit less naive. Thanks for a lot of very useful and challenging, "simple" stuff. My skills are exceeded only by the capability of my machine.

[etp]

After watching this, I made my wife a bushing as my first lathe project! Nothing like a custom made piece of wearable machinery to earn some brownie points :)

[OneCupOfCoffee]

Standard imperial knuckles are always good to have on hand.

[Ti_Ti_ta]

Just made my first bus....Decorate Ring. Your channel is awesome and a huge inspiration. I'm a band instrument repair tech and just getting into lathe work so we can offer more expansive repairs at the shop I work at. Thanks!

[panther]

In grade 8 high school metalworking class, we went right past making bushings and basic welding and casting to secretly designing and turning our own gun barrels. Our teacher was so pleased we were actually taking the class seriously he never really asked us what we were making as long as we did the curriculum projects too....

[jwstanley]

Nearly 50 years ago, my stepdad was a precision machinist working at tolerances of +/- 1/100, 000 of an inch, highly skilled, all with analogue measuring tools. Then his aerospace employer began looking at CNC machines. My stepdad's first CNC project was a small hammer. For part 1, he lathed a piece of brass about 3/8" diameter, faced both ends, with a pair of round-bottom grooves the same distance from each end. Then, he used another machine to put a 1/4" hole through this, at the center between the ends, perpendicular to axis of Part 1. Next, part 2, on the lathe, a piece about five inches long, tapered to a precise diameter, slightly larger than the hole in part 1. He heated part 1 to enlarge it and its hole. Part 2 fit into part 1, so that at room temperature, the head cannot escape the handle. 50 years later, my mother still has that hammer in her desk and uses it from time to time. It seemed to me a wonderful first (maybe second) lathe project. Quinn, yours is a great first project too. Thanks for the videos.

[griplove]

“Standard imperial knuckle” I almost spit my water out...

[quadlife]

My first project and first time on a lathe was a gavel. I replicated a gavel my teacher in school had. It was super fun and taught me a lot about machining. My favorite beginners project though is a spinning top. They teach you a lot about finer work when you get to the upper part. I make a concave bottom on mine and do it all by hand using both wheels to turn the point.

[girliedog]

Love this, what does a lady machinist do for her first project, well jewelry of course. My first project was a scribe not unlike the one Quinn uses. It's very handy for many things. I will be making some rings now. lol

[TheBsavage]

This video is like the shop class I never had. I had wood shop once, plastics shop once (yes, one of the few schools that does that & I'm super happy I took the class), and electric shop 3 X. Never metal shop. Now I can't get enough of making chips to make stuff.

[rbproductions]

"....or they walk away because you're weird" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Love it

[JDnBeastlet]

Awesome video. I really scratched my head when you started parting before boring the centre hole. The lightbulb came on gradually - not by switch but be rheostat.