My entry into metalworking finally gives me the impetus to build a workbench - 1258 views
My entry into metalworking finally gives me the impetus to build a workbench 		The bench will go against the wall, between the shelves and the light switch - 688 views
The bench will go against the wall, between the shelves and the light switch 		Frame for the lower shelf assembled - 610 views
Frame for the lower shelf assembled 		Lower shelf frame attached to the legs - 660 views
Lower shelf frame attached to the legs
Middle supports added - 740 views
Middle supports added 		Getting ready to attach the apron, I find that apparently I got the math wrong somewhere. The upper board is correct - the bench itself ended up 3" too long. Fortunately, I always buy extra materials, so OK -- I guess my workbench will be a little bigger - 1516 views
Getting ready to attach the apron, I find that apparently I got the math wrong somewhere. The upper board is correct - the bench itself ended up 3" too long. Fortunately, I always buy extra materials, so OK -- I guess my workbench will be a little bigger 		New, longer pieces cut for the upper apron. Carefully levelling it before drilling - 707 views
New, longer pieces cut for the upper apron. Carefully levelling it before drilling 		Outside of the apron completed, now just have to attach the three cross-supports - 632 views
Outside of the apron completed, now just have to attach the three cross-supports
Picking up the milling machine at the freight terminal (man it's handy having a trailer) - 640 views
Picking up the milling machine at the freight terminal (man it's handy having a trailer) 		At 150 lbs it's a stout little bugger, so I strap it well down for the ride home - 1222 views
At 150 lbs it's a stout little bugger, so I strap it well down for the ride home 		The milling machine freshly uncrated - 711 views
The milling machine freshly uncrated 		It arrives covered in red packing grease to prevent rust -- time for an hour or two with a rag and a gallon of kerosene - 797 views
It arrives covered in red packing grease to prevent rust -- time for an hour or two with a rag and a gallon of kerosene
All cleaned up! (Mostly -- that grease is tenacious) - 673 views
All cleaned up! (Mostly -- that grease is tenacious) 		Cutting the plywood for the benchtop - 628 views
Cutting the plywood for the benchtop 		Supports laid out to keep the two halves flat after cutting - 665 views
Supports laid out to keep the two halves flat after cutting 		The long cut made. It went better than I feared - 1155 views
The long cut made. It went better than I feared
Both layers of the benchtop attached to the bench - 660 views
Both layers of the benchtop attached to the bench 		The bench is in place. The surface of the lower shelf and the platform for the milling machine are 3/4" MDF - 727 views
The bench is in place. The surface of the lower shelf and the platform for the milling machine are 3/4" MDF (1c) 		It's handy having an engine hoist on hand. Almost as handy as a trailer. - 787 views
It's handy having an engine hoist on hand. Almost as handy as a trailer. 		One factor I didn't think to allow for - 680 views
One factor I didn't think to allow for
Bring the mountain to Mohammed! - 989 views
Bring the mountain to Mohammed! 		Mill bolted down securely - 926 views
Mill bolted down securely 		The tooling for the mill arrives - 878 views
The tooling for the mill arrives 		The mill along with the tooling and clamping equipment - 871 views
The mill along with the tooling and clamping equipment
The Jacobs 33 taper at the slim end of the arbor needs to be semi-permanently fitted into the drill chuck, which means that the chuck needs to be heated to 400 °F first - 710 views
The Jacobs 33 taper at the slim end of the arbor needs to be semi-permanently fitted into the drill chuck, which means that the chuck needs to be heated to 400 °F first 		...This feels wrong - 641 views
...This feels wrong 		Now the arbor is ready to be seated in the chuck (you can sort of see the steam coming out the top of the arbor) - 677 views
Now the arbor is ready to be seated in the chuck (you can sort of see the steam coming out the top of the arbor) 		A few quick taps with a rubber mallet, and then it's left to cool and tighten up - 1276 views
A few quick taps with a rubber mallet, and then it's left to cool and tighten up
Clamping kit - 689 views
Clamping kit 		A simple starter set of 4-flute endmills - 682 views
A simple starter set of 4-flute endmills 		A set of aptly-named "1-2-3 blocks", a precise 1"x2"x3", used for measuring, marking, and clamping - 698 views
A set of aptly-named "1-2-3 blocks", a precise 1"x2"x3", used for measuring, marking, and clamping 		3/8" and 1/2" collets - 671 views
3/8" and 1/2" collets
Center drills, for accurately starting holes - 704 views
Center drills, for accurately starting holes 		Edge and center finder - 958 views
Edge and center finder 		Milling vise - 687 views
Milling vise 		Milling vise swivel base - 697 views
Milling vise swivel base
Dial indicator kit - 709 views
Dial indicator kit 		Parallels, also used for measuring and clamping - 1282 views
Parallels, also used for measuring and clamping (6c) 		My first milled piece! It's... an ashtray? - 725 views
My first milled piece! It's... an ashtray? 		My order of aluminum stock arrives - 726 views
My order of aluminum stock arrives
It's like an aluminum 2x4 - 1115 views
It's like an aluminum 2x4 (1c) 		After milling the upper surface flat, I practice drilling accurate holes - 802 views
After milling the upper surface flat, I practice drilling accurate holes 		My second milled piece! It's... a spice rack? - 1246 views
My second milled piece! It's... a spice rack? (2c) 		Electronics worktable - 1735 views
Electronics worktable
Machining workbench - 1647 views
Machining workbench (3c)