Any machinists here?

[SnakeEater]

It's been a rough your for yours truly. I'm now unemployed without any valuable skills for the market. In short, I'm off to school. It's either the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy or an Associate in Tooling & Machining. I've always been fascinated with things made from metal, guns, knives, tools, you name it. I believe I'd enjoy it. Same goes for police work, although my anit-JBT attitude makes me wonder how I'd fit in.

To keep with the rules, any machinist ever build there own guns? Anyone in this field care to comment or offer advice?

 

[Matthew N. Dodd]

Try here: Home Gunsmith Forums

Lots of nifty scratch built projects, plans archives etc.

 

[redneckrepairs]

well having been LE i will chime in that machinests make more $$ and donttypicaly deal with the scum of the earth every day for little to no thanks . Just my thoughts on it YMMV

 

[klover]

Get good enough to build one off..

and you will be too busy making good money to bother with it. You'll simply go buy some.
It's impossible to compete on one off basis except maybe with .50 bmgs.

Mass production methods means low per unit investments of time and material.
Typically, you will use these methods to make stuff you will be paid for.

Learn the metal trades if your heart leads you there. I never regret having learned the skills.

Good luck.

 

[Onmilo]

A two year degree will allow you to work in about any field associated with machining.
Computer Numerical Control Programming is still a field with too few qualified employees and prospects are excellent as is the pay.

You will need basic machine skills and training in metallurgy, welding, and heat treat to become skilled enough to handcraft a firearm from scratch.

A four year degree will give you these skills though you could sort through it all with the basic associate degree.

Machinists with basic CNC set-up and programming skills have no real problem finding work though in fair warning, the work does not always last as long as you might like it to.

 

[James T Thomas]

to be or not to be

Please do not think that my reply is too far off topic, or made with a wise guy attitude, but I recall an old episode of the TV series "The Untouchables" where during the prohibition era, the "mob" gainfully employed, I believe it was, Swedish machinists, to convert their Thompsons to full automatic fire and do repairs and other modifications they needed. Of course, all illegal.

The Untouchable series dealt with what was stated as true occurences, so my thought about your question is this. There is always a need for such skills, and sometimes the demand for it is so critical that you can prosper and all the while do what you enjoy so much.

We may never again suffer prohibition -of alcohol, but who knows, (other) things, some in society deem as undesireable, may some day -might just be regulated, restricted, controlled, etc.

I had learned somewhere that in Pakistan for example, there are machinists that can make any custom gun that a buyer can dream of, if the price is right.

Now, the Bible refers to the mortuary profession as "men of continual employment." Given the right circumstances, firearm machinsts could be in such demand that they could not keep up with filling all their orders.

There is chance involved in selecting any field of work to endeavor. I suppose at the turn of the nineteenth century to the twentieth, the farrier; horse shoe technician seemed a good choice at the time.

I hope some of my thoughts are usefull.

Jim

 

[Zen21Tao]

This may be a stupid options but why not do both. I had a friend that had 10 years LE time in with a Sherrifs dept and decided to become a reserve officer and pursue a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Perhaps you could attend the police academy and then look for employment as a reserve officer then with your off time pursue your associate degree.

 

[Croyance]

I'm not either, but just popping in with a thought.
Ohio has a lot of auto plants, especially from the Big Three - which are laying off and offering early retirement. They employ a lot of machinists, so check to see what the market is really like.

 

[pcf]

I'm not a machinist, I do work with a couple machinist. There's not a shortage of machinist, there is a shortage of competent machinist with good work ethic. Hard work is your job security, it may not keep you at the same job but there's always someone looking and willing to pay for a good machinist.

Take a technical writing course, it'll help you organize your thoughts in a way that will help you program machines. The better you can program, the easier your job will be and the better job you'll do. Associates first, techincal writing later.

 

[220_Swift]

I worked in a machine shop for two years, and I hated it. It was very boring, repetitive work. But, I did not go to school for it, so the jobs I had were just laborer positions. But, even the higher ups had to man CNC machines on a daily basis. Good luck

 

[MIUper]

I am not a machinist, but I am a Manufacturing Engineer who works with machinists every day; nobody in our plant has more respect from me than some of these guys.

First off, let me say that I agree with pcf, a good work ethic will get you farther than any skill you can learn in a school. If you are lazy or have a bad attitude, all the training in the world will not make you a good machinist (I'm not impying this about you, just telling how it is). If you are willing to learn, and know your limitations, there is plenty of opportunity in the field. By knowing your limitations I mean you know enough to stop and ask questions, this is truly how you learn to be a machinist, it takes experience. To not stop and ask questions makes scrap parts and you will not last long.

The best scenario would be to get the associates then find a job in a company with a jorneyman's program. In the program you will get a mentor who is a journeyman or a master to show you the ropes.

You will need to have good math skills, particularly if you are considering CNC programming. CAD skills are also very important for CNC programming, as well as knowledge of tooling, workholding, feed and speeds, etc. I've seen more recent 4 year college graduates who do not have the geometry skills to draw a part, let alone write a program to cut it. You need to know geometry and algebra.

I hope this helps.

 

[ezypikns]

I worked as a Draftsman, then a Machinist, then a.....

Tool Designer. You won't get rich doing either, (LEO or Machinist) but they're both honorable jobs. I was a production Machinist for about 10 years. I worked on conventional and CNC lathes and mills. The people in the machinist trades who really seem to get more respect are Tool and Die Makers, including those who can produce precision molds. The down sides of any machining jobs are long hours on your feet (not so bad when you're young), and depending on your workplace, possibly some pretty nasty working conditons.
I eventually left the Machine shop and went to Manufacturing Engineering as a Tool Designer. It's a pretty good job. Essentially you design the tools and equipment which allow the Machinist to do his job.
If you want to work as a Machinist in the firearms industry, I think you'll probably have to move to New England and work for either Colt, Ruger, or Smith & Wesson.
Do try to get an associate degree as a Tool and Die Maker. You'll make more money and be more in demand.

 

[mcosman]

I am a machinist/engineer. Most of my work can be seen @ Underbedlift.com
One of the main things that is said when people visit my shop is that the only thing missing is a gunbore

I have considered getting a license to build a silencer for my own personal use.

I find it to be a rewarding and fullfiling career to build things with my own hands and find myself working for all kinds of interesting people (i.e. Streisand, Annenberg, Samueli)

Some of whom I desagree with but most of whom side with this crown on the important things in life.

Short story long, I would recomend Machinist over LE just for the $$ alone Oh and the ability to build your own guns for medicinal er...eh.. recreational use.

Matt

 

[poe_9999]

I worked in a machine shop for 2 years and hated it.
-Pay sucks
-Dirty
-Bad work environment
-Hard on your hands
-Monotonous
-Always busy.

If you are seriously considering being a machinist, make sure you know what you are getting into before you invest a lot of time into it.

 

[SnakeEater]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I'm 28 and I've only had 2 jobs, 4 years in the Infantry, 6 years in a steel mill, labor dispute resulting in a lockout is going on 4 months now. Even though pay was good I've hated the job for years so I'm using this situation as an opportunity to pursue a career that I'll enjoy. Things get a little hairy after factoring in a mortgage, 3 kids and ammo Thankfully I've got that $30k college money from the Army.

Thanks again for the helpful advice, I need all I can get. Ok, I'll admit it, part of the desire to learn the machine trades is the ability to make cool toys for myself, legally of course.

 

[Valkman]

I worked in a machine shop for 2 years and hated it.
-Pay sucks
-Dirty
-Bad work environment
-Hard on your hands
-Monotonous
-Always busy.

Hey you described knifemaking pretty well also!

Good luck anyway - I'm 50 and going to buy a mill but have never operated one. Hope it doesn't take TOO long to use it! Tell you the truth I have no idea of how to learn except to get it and practice - I can't find any schools around here that offer classes.

 

[Third_Rail]

Check your PMs - I've sent you some information on the course I'm currently taking.

To sum up in regards to your question, I'm a machinist still in classes after year 1 of schooling, but I've already made some simple firearms from scratch.

-Pay sucks Maybe for a CNC operator (button pusher), but not for toolroom work, prototyping, and CNC programming. I'm still in school and I've gotten $28/hr job offers.
-Dirty Untrue, see next comment.
-Bad work environment Completely false - most machine shops around here are environmentally controlled and more comfortable than my apartment!
-Hard on your hands This much is true.
-Monotonous Not if you're in toolroom work, or a CNC programmer
-Always busy. Some people like that.

Production machining, there's not much money in it. CNC programming, toolroom work, and prototyping (the fun stuff) is where the real money is - a few gents around here work for over $45/hr in an environmentally controlled shop, comfortable work.


For that money you have for college, you could go through the course I'm going through and start out making $28-$35 an hour after two years of college. Quite an investment, considering I'm spending about $10k a year after grants and including living expenses!

 

[jeepmor]

Machinist

Being a LEO does not pay well enough considering you very well may have to be there for the worst moments in some peoples lives.

I'll take machining over that any day. I have an ME degree and reside in a cubicle, a shop would be a welcome change. Manufacturing and designing parts would be nice instead of babysitting silicon wafers and their engineers.

jeepmor

 

[STUPID1]

I have been a tool and die maker for over 20 years. My advice is to stay out of this field. In the next 3-5 years there will be no or little work thanks to Bill Clinton for giving our jobs to China. The work is long (curently on manditory 60 hrs. per week) and thankless. Don't let anyone kid you it's boring!!!!!!, hot (most places don't have a/c to save money), and last but not least you work with toxic chemicals evey day.......just my opinion.

 

[pcf]

One more thing, well two. Start working on a resume and job interview skills.

Do yourself a favor when writing your resume: double space, use size 12 print, do not fold your resume and keep under 2 pages.

I'm now unemployed without any valuable skills for the market.

I'm 28 and I've only had 2 jobs, 4 years in the Infantry......

Don't sell yourself short. Anyone that's done time in the military should have four critical and intangible job skills that every employer needsand can't find. And don't be afraid or unwilling to let a future employer know that you have them.

1. You know the importance of showing up to work on time, you know how to show up to work on time, and you will show up to work on time.

2. You know how to follow orders, when you're told to do something you'll do it in a safe, legal and ethical manner.

3. You understand the importance of team work, as a leader, a follower, and as a teammate. It's easy to find people that understand teamwork as long as they are the chief and everyone else is an indian (it rarely works for them). Teamwork improves the work enviroment, increases production, reducers loss, and reduces employee conflict.

4. ****MOST IMPORTANT**** You can conduct yourself in a professional manner, work effectively with, and be respectful to coworkers that you personally find to be disagreeable. I could complain about this one for days. "I can't work with with so and so because.........<insert petty reason>."

If you need help getting your military experience into a civilian friendly format. let me know, I'm decent at it, but I know guys that are good. Talk to your local VSO's (if you have the money, join) they can help with the resume and usually have an extensive network in the local workforce.

 

[Justin]

This topic is better suited to APS:
http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/