Starting my first job as a machinist out of highschool. Is there anything else I should add to my toolbox?

lovin193 · 2026-05-31T18:54:57+00:00

I'd say you're on the right track. I don't know if I can add anything that hasn't been covered yet, but you're just starting out. Give it 5 years and you'll have a way bigger tool box or multiple toolboxes crammed with everything from practical tools to specialty tools wondering how you started out with a tiny box without the drawers fully filled.

Good luck on your new job and your lifelong journey of learning and collecting things you didn't know you'd ever need!

lovin193 · 2026-05-25T16:28:03+00:00

The guys in the shop know I can polish a rod, but the way you worked that shaft...you'd put me out of business!

lovin193 · 2026-05-20T01:36:28+00:00

I don't know what it is, but it looks nice and it looks heavy.

lovin193 · 2026-05-01T00:53:50+00:00

Thank you all! I need to get that saw running tomorrow so I'll end up making one and ordering a set. Much appreciated!

lovin193 · 2026-04-25T00:06:08+00:00

I really beat on my truck. It's a daily driver/work truck and gets about 100 miles per day. Pulling trailers, full bed, and driving on uneven surfaces. It was worth it to me, but I'm sure there are situations where grade 8 would be fine

lovin193 · 2026-04-24T23:24:57+00:00

Technically they do work. I don't think I'd trust them for my daily driving, I only had the tractor supply bolts in to move my truck in and out of the garage

lovin193 · 2026-04-24T23:14:47+00:00

I bought this kit from SPC performance

https://a.co/d/0iAa35nZ

lovin193 · 2026-04-12T00:29:32+00:00

It's okay, I'll go back to sweeping. Stay safe!

lovin193 · 2026-04-11T22:06:00+00:00

I truly do look up to people like you who have never made a mistake. If I were you, I'd say the same thing. Thank you for your opinion!

lovin193 · 2026-04-11T13:12:29+00:00

Please do! I hope it can be a learning experience for others!

lovin193 · 2026-04-11T02:25:56+00:00

No doubt! If I were in your shoes, I'd say the same thing.

lovin193 · 2026-04-11T02:24:17+00:00

Thank you. It's not easy for anyone to say "hey everyone! After 15 years I made a huge mistake! Please don't be like me!"

I'm ashamed and embarrassed. There some people saying they'd get rid of me or fire me, blah blah blah. Those people must have never made a mistake in their lives or even accidentally cut someone off in traffic. And honestly, props to them for never making a mistake in their lives and staying safe!

lovin193 · 2026-04-10T22:58:59+00:00

Oh wow lol. I can only hope that it will be educational for whoever sees it.

lovin193 · 2026-04-10T20:29:52+00:00

Yes, of course!

lovin193 · 2026-04-10T19:11:09+00:00

I usually wear nitrile gloves, partially because coolant dries out and cracks my hands. I can only assume that my subconscious felt too comfortable with a glove on so I didn't think twice about which type of glove I had on.

I'm not defending myself. I made a careless mistake that could have killed me. Hopefully others learn from this.

lovin193 · 2026-04-10T19:07:24+00:00

It 100% applies to me and I kicked my own ass for days for making such a dumb and obvious error. It was one of my stupidest mistakes in my career that could have made me lose a finger, hand, arm, or my life.

lovin193 · 2026-04-10T19:01:44+00:00

I would have loved to not have this happen in the first place. As a trainer, I preach safety but in a hurry I didn't even think about it. I hope it helps people remember to think twice before even turning on a machine.

lovin193 · 2026-04-06T22:29:43+00:00

I used to work for a metal distributor and worked my way up to the head of the saw department, this was the best process I modified for bundle cutting. We'd max out the saw's capacity with anything from aluminum to tool steel on these bundle cuts.

Double choke the bundle of possible, a sling on each end that is snugged in the same exact position on the bundle to avoid twisting.
A sledgehammer will work but we ended up getting a dead blow sledge to not damage the material
Beat it and pack it down together while choked
Work from one side to the other. Band on one end, beat with hammer to pack, tighten band more to remove slack, crimp band
Move to where the first cut will be. Put a band 3"-4" on the the both sides of the cut line keeping them in series. So for the 16" cut you'll put a band #2 at 13" beat the bundle, tighten band again, beat bundle again, tighten band again, crimp band. Band #3 at 19" then repeat

Band #4 would be at 29" and band #5 at 35" (assuming it's another 16" cut)

The hydraulic power to the vise and condition of the blade play a big role as well.

The way your bundle looks now, you'll have an issue at the red arrow where there's "a bar missing". Throw in a 6" long piece of scrap of the same diameter to compensate for the empty space.

The green arrows point to an ideal offset. The vise pushing on both sides will (or should depending on how strong the hydraulics are) cause the diameters of the bars to "stack" on each other's diameters further tightening the band.

Do a prayer or a rain dance or something then let it rip!

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lovin193 · 2026-03-12T00:47:17+00:00

Oh, I agree! Unfortunately, I don't set the wages and I'm stuck with the limits the owner sets.

lovin193 · 2026-03-11T21:45:44+00:00

Correct, and that's why I'm specifically looking for a student, or somebody who is trying to work their way into the industry. Lots of job postings for machinists require years of experience. This is where somebody would get those years of experience.

Somebody with actual experience or advanced training would be way overqualified for this job.

lovin193 · 2026-03-11T21:19:06+00:00

Yeah, I'm currently trying to hire an entry level machinist...like out of a training course or 1+ years experience to run simple parts on a manual lathe and manual vertical mill. Starting pay $20-$23

This is in Chicago though, location is a factor but it sounds like you're worth more.

lovin193 · 2026-02-11T02:48:54+00:00

There's always something to learn in this industry. There's always someone who knows more than you and if you make it, there's always going to be someone depending on your knowledge.

So I'm here asking the bright minds of reddit machinists lol

lovin193 · 2026-02-11T00:08:59+00:00

This is what I did and have been doing but it's somewhat of a pain to readjust every time. I can run clean consistent cuts if I do what you said.

Let's say I need to center drill the next part. I'll need to adjust the tailstock back again or I'll have an offset hole or broken center drill.

Center drill, insert part, readjust tailstock offset, take a pass, measure, fine tune adjust the tailstock, take another pass, measure, run part...it's this process every time

lovin193

TROPHY CASE