![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
Thanks for any pointers.
Unfortunately you don't have a lot of options. The best machinist forum is Practical Machinist, but you can't discuss your machine by name as it's a "hobby grade" import. You can use the forum, just not mention your machine names specific, so any questions you present need to be discussed in a general lathe or mill context. The real unfortunate thing about Practical Machinist is, it's not friendly. Go mention your machine names specific and see what type of response you get!Spartan wrote:Can any of you recommend some decent and friendly (Like WTAT) machining forums? There seems to be a lot of machinist forums, and many seem either a bit unfriendly, or more geared towards machining pros...like the big-guy pros.
Thanks for any pointers.
I follow this forum, lots of activity and some good info as wellkiwi2wheels wrote: This is another interesting site ; https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/
The Garage Journal has consumed much of my time. In a good waykiwi2wheels wrote:My 0.02 c, subscribe to Practical Machinist forum for the info you can get off it, it's gold. They aren't a bunch of ogres, it's just some of them don't suffer fools gladly ....................which is no bad thing.![]()
And their fabrication / welding section is well worth following as well.
This is another interesting site ; https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/
What sort of information are you looking for? What types of machines are you using that you want help with?Spartan wrote:Can any of you recommend some decent and friendly (Like WTAT) machining forums? There seems to be a lot of machinist forums, and many seem either a bit unfriendly, or more geared towards machining pros...like the big-guy pros.
Thanks for any pointers.
It was just for general chatting and info for both lathe and mill work. Haven't yet signed up with any of them, but will probably join hobby machinist as recommended here.BugHunter wrote:What sort of information are you looking for? What types of machines are you using that you want help with?Spartan wrote:Can any of you recommend some decent and friendly (Like WTAT) machining forums? There seems to be a lot of machinist forums, and many seem either a bit unfriendly, or more geared towards machining pros...like the big-guy pros.
Thanks for any pointers.
You mean, recommended by some.Spartan wrote:will probably join hobby machinist as recommended here.
Well if you have never laid eyes Upon A Mill or a lathe, it's possible I might be able to answer some basic questions.Spartan wrote:It was just for general chatting and info for both lathe and mill work. Haven't yet signed up with any of them, but will probably join hobby machinist as recommended here.
Seems to me that most welders are pretty decent fabricators and often a mill and lathe are required for that type of work.BugHunter wrote:Well if you have never laid eyes Upon A Mill or a lathe, it's possible I might be able to answer some basic questions.. I'm No Authority on Machining but I've done enough of it to be dangerous.
Do you use the same handle on Hobby-Machinst?av8or1 wrote:Yeah, just as an FWIW Spartan, I couldn't recommend practical machinist either. For the reasons others have stated; I won't repeat. Hobby machinist is a great forum though and has my recommendation. I realize that I'm responding a bit after-the-fact, but ... hope it helps.
Your description is hilariously accurate. Thanks for the laugh.Chips O'Toole wrote:Practical Machinist is horrible. It's like a lunatic asylum where the patients have valuable information you may be able to pry out of them by humoring them. Get in, ask your question, pretend you don't see the insults, thank them, and get out. Lots of jerks and bullies. People defend them because there are so many knowledgeable individuals on the forum. Still jerks and bullies.
I quit using Chaski a few months back. There are a few jerky and condescending people there, and one day I realized I didn't want to deal with them any more, and that's sad, because there are also some very nice, very skilled members.
Home Shop Machinist is about like Chaski.
I like Hobby Machinist because the mods stomp jerks fast.
CNCZone is full of people I would describe as "high-functioning" but not normal. Heavily tilted toward young people who know a lot about CNC but not a great deal about machining or social skills.
I don't know if avoiding Practical Machinist is necessary, just know what you'll probably experience there. I've been a member there for years (along with the Garage Journal and many other forums) but rarely post, and do so carefully.Spartan wrote:Thanks for the pointers, guys! I'll check those out for sure, and also avoid Practical Machinist, which was the impression I sort of got when I took a look at that site earlier this week. I'm sure I'll also be posting machining questions here as well.
Thanks again.
+ 1G-ManBart wrote:
I don't know if avoiding Practical Machinist is necessary, just know what you'll probably experience there. I've been a member there for years (along with the Garage Journal and many other forums) but rarely post, and do so carefully.
The first key is to do a search and really make an effort to see if your question has already been answered....good chance it has. I recently ran into a massively frustrating problem getting my new variable frequency drive to run the motor on my Bridgeport and shockingly, found a thread to a very specific, oddball error in the settings on my drive. I read the thread, realized it was the same problem I was seeing, made one change and I was up and running 100% in a few minutes. I also took the time to reply to that thread thanking the folks who provided the answer even though I wasn't the OP.
The second thing I do when I post is mention that I've searched without success, admit I'm a novice and try to very carefully explain my question. So far I've gotten really helpful answers and zero BS that I can recall. The guys there largely don't seem to mind helping, but they want to know you've tried to help yourself, and that you're trying to give them enough information so they can provide an educated reply.
The guys on PM really helped me get both my bandsaw and milling machine up and running quickly, so I'm okay with overlooking a little bit of BS if it pops up.