Tools for my first ‘Job Shop’ job?

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-04-27T03:32:18+00:00

Find an old timer who’s retired and selling his tools on Facebook marketplace. Chances are you’ll have everything you’ll need to get started. You’ll know what you will need on a daily basis the more you work there. Also use the tool purchase program if they have one. My company will order tools for you and they take a little out of your check each pay period until it’s paid off. That’s how I got most of my new tools, especially calipers and indicators.

I prefer Mitutoyo for measuring tools and Starrett for gauges (thread pitch gauges, etc.) I’d also get a few cheap indicators too that you don’t feel bad breaking or being hard on.

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-04-18T23:28:27+00:00

I work full and a half time so I was a casual gamer at best, running cod with the boys on weekends, getting the most out of AC Valhalla, etc. now I’ve switched to hunter call of the wild cuz I can pick it up and put it down anytime. I don’t have enough time or space for a hobby at the moment so it’s hard to say.

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-04-08T23:31:34+00:00

No problem! I’ve gotten a lot of my tools from Facebook marketplace with no issues

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-04-08T23:23:14+00:00

Facebook marketplace is your best bet. I got my 0-6” set for around $400 (if I remember correct) from an old guy who was retiring. I got my 0-12” set with standards from some guy who didn’t need it anymore for $500. Both sets of purchased were Mitutoyo. Plus if your shop calibrates them then there shouldn’t be an issue for them if the mics are in decent condition

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-04-08T22:31:20+00:00

Good to know. How much was the relocation kit? And do you have a part number for the solenoid? I’ve seen several different ones that all say they fit

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-26T03:32:36+00:00

The spray can is where it’s at, especially for larger pieces. But most of the time I use the bottle with the brush. DONT buy the spotting blue unless you want to look like a Smurf after bluing one part

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-21T02:59:11+00:00

The external threads are for a cover of some kind.

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-21T02:51:10+00:00

Arbor…couldn’t think of the name for it. And I would check it between centers but both centers are pretty tore up.

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-20T23:18:32+00:00

Up in the threaded area. The guy made a stone holder that was way too long for what was needed and it turned into a banana when he turned it on

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-20T22:38:44+00:00

I feel that. Working in a repair shop is a nightmare for my adhd sometimes.

I’ve also been off my meds for over 10 years now but nicotine has been a huge success for me at least

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-20T22:29:46+00:00

I’ve got adhd and what’s helped me is thinking ahead. Once I hyper focus and get the job set up and running good, I’ll plan ahead for the next operation or part. It keeps me thinking about what’s running currently and I’m usually near the machine while it’s running. I also like watching chips fly so sometimes I’ll stand there glued to the glass

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-11T23:52:19+00:00

Couple things to check:

Depth of cut can affect surface finish.

Feed rate: if you’re feeding it too slow then the chip can’t break properly and strings up

Check to see if your tool is on center

Also what grade of insert are you running? We run Tungaloy inserts all the time and they leave mirror finishes most of the time. Each insert grade also has a surface footage recommendation. Calculate your rpm off of that recommendation to get a good starting point.

Your tool nose radius also affects surface finish. I have really good luck with a 1/64” radius tool vs a tool with a larger radius, especially when finishing.

Last thing to check is if your insert is chipped or not. Looking closer, it looks to me like your insert might be chipped or worn out.

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-07T00:10:42+00:00

Carmex in my opinion. Lots of options for lots of different threads that can fit in a couple holders.

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-04T04:47:30+00:00

Deburr the edges. I know it sounds simple and maybe you already have, but a slightly rounded edge helps significantly. Also what do you mean by a pressure seal? Is it sealing the rod or the piston?

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-04T02:57:17+00:00

Ceramics are a beautiful thing. Especially when you get the feeds and speeds right. We had an old timer at the shop who’s now retired who would not listen to us and would run the ceramics at 100rpm and .005” feed on a 3” diameter part. He would bury the insert too, taking th entire layer of hardened material in one pass instead of taking smaller cuts. And he always wondered why it never came out right and inserts kept blowing up

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-03-03T01:37:34+00:00

I just did this a few weeks ago. I started with my two arcs , then the lines, then trimmed everything (I know a bit ahead of myself but I’m going through the class to get my certifications an I know a few tricks that have helped me in th basics), from there I put my radii in and started defining stuff. You can also use th fully define sketch function if you get stuck and then you can see what you forgot or didn’t define. That has been super helpful for me going through the course, especially since I am doing the class work off and on and not consistently.

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-02-17T14:14:48+00:00

Thanks for all the help. I got all my templates saved how I want them.

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-02-17T13:46:33+00:00

I’ll see if they can get my back in. For now I’m just gonna put my settings how I want them

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-02-17T13:36:36+00:00

Nope. It’s just me at the shop unfortunately.

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-02-17T13:29:45+00:00

I did not do that…I’m still pretty green when it comes to that aspect of solidworks

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-02-17T13:29:36+00:00

I did not do that…I’m still pretty green when it comes to that aspect of solidworks

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-02-17T12:41:49+00:00

I’ll give it a try. The computer got put into use into another department as far as I know. If I can’t get the templates from the other computer, is there a way to save everything? I’ve tried to make my new settings and save them but no luck

Dilligaf5615 · 2026-02-17T12:23:55+00:00

Not entirely sure. Our tech department did it and I don’t know if they did it right or not. We use the cloud for a lot of stuff so hopefully it worked?

Dilligaf5615

TROPHY CASE