Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline

[TylerDSAudi]

*Update*

Boom is slowly coming along, got all my cross members in on each boom, next will be all the vertical supports to attach the two boom halfs together. After i have these tac down on one boom section I will then add the lacing for extra support side to side, with then putting the other boom half to make it one piece.



Test fitting, checking angles and pre bending the boom sections.



I finally did it! Over years of looking at them, videos and wanting one I went out and got a mini lathe at a wicked deal! Order a bunch of tooling for it, can't wait to start learning to run this machine. Got a good book thats got lots of insight and lessons. Its slowly coming along and a lot of fun!

[Rvjimd]

Ahhhh , now the real fun and satisfaction begins!

As a very new and still learning hobby machinist, here is my advice.

Practice as much as you can, I can do things on the lathe now that I initially had trouble doing.

Make your own high speed steel tool bits to learn about cutter geometry. The only carbide tip tools I have are two parting blades.

Start collecting various bit of stock so when you have an idea for something you are not stuck waiting on an order for material or for the local supplier to open Monday morning.

Start saving for a mini mill to go with that lathe, you're going to want it pretty soon!

Jim