Ideas for newbies who want to learn how to machine

A thought ocurred to me while machining today - squaring up stock takes a significant amount of time. I figure a good training exercise for mill work would be to have newbies attempt to square up a piece of stock to some standard dimension (like 3x3x0.5, whatever will fit in the scrap stock). Maybe the HSC could even sell pre-squared stock for a small fee, since it's a big convenience.

Could also do something similar for lathework.

Stuff for HSC members to do

Hand tool maintenance

While using tools today in the Hobby Shop, I noticed a lot of tools are beat up - having novices using tools doesn't fare well for the tools. In particular, today I noticed that some of the files are pretty dull, many drills are either chipped, have a flattened chisel edge, or are otherwise fubar'd, lots of reamers are busted, and a bunch of endmills have chips on one or more flutes.

I figure a good opportunity for HSC members to help out the shop, as well as further our own knowledge of machine tools, would be to maintain our cutters and hand tools - for example, by replacing files or re-grinding drill bits, punches, and lathe tools.

A tool "wish list"

We could compile a list of tools that are "nice to haves" and members could vote on which tools to have. For example, new reamers would be nice, as well as a counterbore set. The surface plate caliper-scribing thing is all busted up - I imagine a new, digital replacement wouldn't be too expensive.

Organize things

It would be nice to have our collection of fasteners labeled - we could use a labeler and a couple of afternoons to completely label our extensive stock of fasteners. One particular nuisance is that the granite surface plate keeps getting cluttered, particularly with the drill bit sets and punches. We could build racks or something to organize these parts and keep the work areas de-cluttered.

Tool "user's manuals"

It would have been helpful for me, as a novice in the HS, to have had some kind of manual with each tool; maybe we can make these. We can write up a manual for tools in a particular cabinet or shelf, maybe a laminated double-sided single page document, detailing what's in the shelf, how to use the tools, and how not to use the tools, and why you shouldn't use the tools that way. Whenever someone tells me NOT to do something, it's nice to have a reason why.

Speeds n' feeds guide

The bandsaw takes a lot of crap from people, for example when trying to cut steel and the bandsaw is set to aluminum speed (this wrecks the blade and pisses everyone off). It would be helpful to put a thing on the machine to explain how to change feeds n' speeds, and why, and what happens if you don't. Would also be helpful for mill and lathework; some kind of guide explaining what sfm (surface feet per minute) is and how it's calculated, and why it's relevant.

Membership privileges

Better tools

Look, we've all used the HS 'made in china' calipers as scribes, or dropped them, or dropped dial indicators. Since the HS caters to novices, the equipment takes a hell of a beating, and so we often end up using worn out tools as a result. Maybe we could have something similar to the tool chests in Edgerton that David and Mark have, that they keep under lock and only loan out to trusted individuals, where we would keep high-quality metrology equipment and other assorted tooling.

Identification

The hobby members of yesteryear used to wear buttons to distinguish themselves; I think white was for ordinary members, red for journeymen, and blue for mastercraftsmen. We could have something similar, like the Hobby Shop t-shirts (although that means we'd have to wear those shirts every time we're in the shop) or some other thing, maybe bring back the buttons, or maybe something entirely new, like an armband or tattoos or unique saftey goggles.