Follies of the Madmen #267

I don't care what they're calling that first one! We KNOW what its REAL use is going to be!!!

Wait.... wasn't this the site I got ridiculed on for thinking an electric iron was a gift the wife SHOULD appreciate? Now y'all'er tryin' to tell me to GET her a power tool?

Um . . . Paul . . . a lathe doesn't really have an 'up.'

Depending on what it's to be used for, a lathe can built with the ways below, beside, or above the workpiece. Even common engine lathes (ways beneath the workpiece) are sometimes mounted on an overhead traverse (so the workpiece can be lifted into position) or on a wall (to ensure good chip collection when machining coin metal or gold alloys).

There are also vertical lathes, both top-loading and bottom-loading.

@Fido

If I use a forklift to push your lathe over, it's no longer standing up.

Hmmm, good point, Phideaux. Maybe I should have said something like, "which part of the lathe is the operating side."

Oh, heck, "which end of the hammer you grab!"

@A Nonny Mouse -- the stand might not be vertical, but that doesn't affect its use (I've known many machinists who'd love having the handwheels near the floor -- it'd be a great excuse to lay down on the job!).

@Paul -- it may just be me, but I think the "women and hammers" connection has become dangerous ground ever since that Miley Cyrus video.

A real man knows the only tools needed are a hammer and duct tape.

WD-40 and duct tape.

Problem resolution tree:
If it moves, and it should, no problem.
If it moves, and it shouldn't, duct tape.
If it doesn't move, and it shouldn't, no problem.
If it doesn't move, and it should, WD-40.

@Phideaux - I'm more afraid of women and scissors. Remind me to hide them as our Patty is visiting here soon.

The only thing even close to those items that I use is a blow dryer. I also know what a lathe is and how it is used. As well as routers (not the internet ones), all sorts of saws and tools AND I have down the general principles of welding. :cheese:

@BrokeDad -- My normal routine for an office visit is to get poked with a big needle, and a nurse sits with me until 350ml has passed through it. Fortunately, the clinic is large enough that I rarely get the same nurse twice. This lets me regularly trot out my line: "I hope you don't mind if I'm a little nervous. In my experience, a beautiful woman with a sharp object rarely ends well for me." I know they know it's b.s., but they do always seem to take a little more care than just a usual jab.

@Patty -- You hit two sore points! After putting it off for years, I finally bought myself a router for Christmas. That was last year. I still haven't finished building a table so I can get the best use from it. And my biggest failing in project building is I can't weld. I burn holes in everything! I had to build a spot welder because even I can't screw that up.

My brother -in -law built a big solid wood table and chairs for my mom years ago. My sister and he have it now. When he built it in the basement work shop he forgot to measure the door. He had to cut a piece off of 2 legs to get it out into the upstairs and then glue them back on. We ribbed him about it for years.