Metal Lathe Tutorial 13 : How To Pick Metal

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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[tornado]

Just discovered your channel. I’m 100% new to machining and your explainations, pace, depth and width make it a pleasure to listen to. No patronising, no baby talk, just clear concise education from someone who’s talented and passionate about what they do. A true lesson in YT education a lot of YT’s could learn from. 5 star. Thank you.

[bretonkyle]

I happen to live down the road from an OnlineMetals warehouse and those guys are practically begging you to take their cutoffs. I paid for a 10lb "scrapbox" and when I tried to leave the guy laughed me right back to the cutoff bin, pretty much told me to take whatever I wanted lol. I must have left with 3 or 4 times as much, not sure how that translates to online. Everyone I interacted with was real friendly. Highly recommended if you live nearby.

[rogergoulder]

Well, the info given in these videos is absolutely first rate. Very clearly presented, just what I need. Thanks so much for posting.

[firstmkb]

I love your videos - there is a knowledge gap you cover that nobody else does.

[BSMikkel]

Finally someone boils it down to the essentials. Coming from wood working, where you can read entire essays on the use and history of different species, going into machining the materials are just a jungle.
Also funny to learn that the intimidating visit to the local steel shop apparently is universal :D (writing from the Czech rep.)

[david]

"Sold by the atom"....love it!!!

[TangentJim]

Quinn -- Good Bread and Butter Video -- Great tips on how and where to buy metals, not many think about it.
You did a great service for the novice Machinist . Two thumbs up .

[toms]

What a lot of great information and tips. Here in Australia we can only buy gold online eg ebay - it looks like brass, steel and aluminium but the price asked is a dead giveaway that it must be at least 14 k gold..

[OldDave]

I’m one of those people that has just got a lathe and your channel is so helpful, thank you so much for your help

[doyleholmes]

Recently I've been looking forward to getting a lathe for projects I have in mind. Quinn, I find you to be a VERY good teacher. Your videos aren't short and choppy like so many youtube posts are and you go into pertinant detail without alot of unneccessary talk. BRAVO! I've subscribed and look forward to all of your postings.

[waynegrindstaff]

I'm 72 and a self taught machinist before the Internet. I do enjoy watching your Videos and will add some input. I was a Steamfitter/welder in NYC for 30+ years. When we removed valves for replacement instead of selling the scrap steel with the valve stems I cut them off first. I have valve stems which are acme thread up to 1-1/4" OD and no doubt an alloy of bronze. I have used that material for everything and it has never let me down. Keep up the good work Guinn

[steveshindeldecker]

I kinda like the surprise of mystery metal, but I also like to stick welding. I think there is something wrong in my Head.killer vid as usual.

[konecnydevin]

This would have been extremely helpful when I first started out. I would also add that only buy what you need. Especially when starting out. When you take a look at the off cut area at a supply house it is really tempting to buy extra. Almost every time I have bought extra 'possibly useful stock' it it just sits in a pile under my bench for years. At least that's my experience.

[yamlcase]

Another good plastic is HDPE. I'm finding that more and more common, especially as cutting boards at the dollar store. Great to find your chanel! I look forward to watching more of you

[HOFFMARINE]

Very good videos. Greetings from Estonia.

[pmdoit]

Came back to this video to get clarity as I progress into actually cutting chips with my new lathe. You are my go to creator for learning this new craft.

[seanalexander]

Wow, Quinn, these videos are super impressive. I'm a vaguely-experienced but mostly self-taught ex-mechanic turned hobbyist fabricator, and I'm learning so much from you. You have a wonderful style - precise, but simple and straightforward. Thank you :)

[prodoverjeff]

You may see yourself as a hobbyist, but from the things you say, you obviously know more than a lot of full timers I have worked for/with. And I thought I was tyhe last guy around who knew what leadlloy is!

[BlueSparrow]

@7:00 I work at a hardware store, and our warehouse is having an inventory changeover as our store owner was doing a renovation. As a result, it meant it was cheaper for him to replace all the inventory at once rather than sort all the parts twice. So all those old, but perfectly good plumbing fittings were destined for the recycling center. It was something like 100 lbs. of Brass tubing, nuts, flares, couplings, you name it, it was there. I ended up with 10 lbs. of mostly 1" tubing for $20, thinking if I ever got around to learning how to use a lathe, it would probably be a good idea to have some stock to turn into chips as I learn what I'm doing. Fast forward one month to today, watching this video after getting certified to use the Grizzly 4000 at my local Makerspace. Wishing I had dropped the $200 to buy it all now, but someone else made him an offer, and it seemed rude to buy it ALL at that point :P I'm just glad I got some so I can make a few rings and stuff. Thank you for letting me know, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more chances like that in the future!

[kidsnosleep]

“Just a hobbiest who just wants to buy some round bar to play with on the lathe”…are you watching me or what?😉 Thank you for all your videos, they have been a super helpful entry into this world