The metal lathe

What Hacker News says

1. grogenautJul 2019
   This is kinda inherent in everything, our tech generally moves upwards based on iterations of improvements. Even cheap mass production shitty stuff is still an improvement. Or do you mean exactly screws?

   Really when you get down to it, like computers, tools are used like 30+% of the time to build other better tools. Jigs, more accurate cutters, measurement devices, etc. With code that's things like test frameworks, rpc mechanisms, version control, code gen, etc. In fact in software engineering you're usually seen as a better engineer if you build things indirectly (frameworks) instead of mass production of the solution.

   Check out the home machine shop series to see how you'd build up a tech stack from basically scrap metal and wood and Sand.

   The Metal Lathe (Build Your Own Metal Working Shop From Scrap Series Book 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007USU8HU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Gh...

   The lathe is pretty much the ur-machine, and a lathe is really just screws

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2. WillAdamsMay 2025
   Had Self-aid and buddy care when I was in the service, and became qualified and volunteered as an EMT for a while after getting out. I do have a Wilderness Survival First Aid Book on my Kindle, and I'll definitely add it to this list.

   I actually had a copy of _The Metal Lathe (Build Your Own Metal Working Shop From Scrap, Volume 2)_ ages ago, and slotting in the full leatherbound edition of all 7 volumes is likewise a good fit.

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3. SquibblesReduxNov 2023
   "Complete Metal Working Shop From Scrap Series Set (7 INDIVIDUAL BOOKS)"

   Here is the description of the series:

   ISBN 1-878087-00-2 The Charcoal Foundry

   ISBN 1-878087-01-0 The Metal Lathe

   ISBN 1-878087-02-9 The Metal Shaper

   ISBN 1-878087-03-7 The Milling Machine

   ISBN 1-878087-04-5 The Drill Press

   ISBN 1-878087-05-3 The Dividing Head & Deluxe Accessories

   ISBN 1-878087-06-1 The Sheet Metal Brake

   Quote from the site:

   Build Your Own Metal Working Shop From Scrap is a progressive series of seven projects including, The Charcoal Foundry, The Metal Lathe, The Metal Shaper, The Milling Machine, The Drill Press, The Dividing Head and The Sheet Metal Brake. Beginning with a simple charcoal fired foundry, you produce the castings for building the machine tools to equip your shop. Initially the castings are finished by simple hand methods, but it isn’t long before the developing machines are doing much of the work to produce their own parts. It does not take long to learn the simple craft of pattern-making and sand molding. Each phase of the projects increase your knowledge and skill. There is no need to look for outside help. You can do it all in your own shop. No complicated math----No exotic equipment required----No large cash outlay. Lots of work to be sure, and some of it can be downright tedious, but the reward will be a practical small scale machine shop that you might never give yourself permission to buy, assuming you could afford it.

   https://gingerybookstore.com/MetalWorkingShopFromScrapSeries...

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4. jstanleyAug 2023
   I presume it's the Gingery series.

   1. Foundry: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charcoal-Foundry-Build-Metal-Workin...

   2. Lathe: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Metal-Lathe-Build-Working-Scrap/dp/...

   There are a few examples on YouTube of people who have successfully made this lathe, here's an example timelapse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBuUOO3qn30

   It's a cool project, but in the end you get an aluminium lathe made of home castings. If you just want a lathe, I'd suggest starting with a secondhand mini lathe instead and modding it to your taste, they're not very expensive. It's a lot less work than making a Gingery lathe, and not all that much more expensive. But the Gingery lathe is still a cool project!

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