Lathe, drillpress, milling machine available, but.....

The local EAA chapter has a lathe, drillpress, milling machine, etc
set up in the back of the chapter house. As far as I can tell, the
lathe hasn't been used in a while. When I asked, someone rightly
replied they were concerned someone might hurt themselves using the
lathe. Having had some training with a lathe, I recognize that danger,
but there should be a way for the Chapter to feel comfortable
allowing use of the lathe. A training program would be ideal

Has anyone else been faced with this situation and how did it get
solved? - MIke

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 06:26:31 -0500, Michael Horowitz
wrote:

The local EAA chapter has a lathe, drillpress, milling machine, etc
set up in the back of the chapter house. As far as I can tell, the
lathe hasn't been used in a while. When I asked, someone rightly
replied they were concerned someone might hurt themselves using the
lathe. Having had some training with a lathe, I recognize that danger,
but there should be a way for the Chapter to feel comfortable
allowing use of the lathe. A training program would be ideal

Has anyone else been faced with this situation and how did it get
solved? - MIke

You might buy several hockey helmets with face shields, to be used by
nervous club members when operating the drill press and milling
machine. Trade the helmets for the lathe, and take it home for safe
disposal before it can maim or kill anybody.

Wayne

If they cannot use a lathe safely, they should not be operating an airplane,
or possibly even driving a car. Forbid anyone from using the lathe unless
they have verifiable training and use manufacturer recommended safeguards.

There are risks inherent in almost anything. People are hurt using
screwdrivers, electric drills, power saws and shears.

If it still is a concern, limit the use to adults and then have them sign an
appropriate release. In addition, you probably should already have some
liability insurance. The dangers from a lathe are much less than a rotating
propeller. I suspect more injuries occur using a drill press than a lathe.

Colin

"COLIN LAMB" wrote in message
ink.net...
If it still is a concern, limit the use to adults and then have them sign
an appropriate release. In addition, you probably should already have
some liability insurance. The dangers from a lathe are much less than a
rotating propeller. I suspect more injuries occur using a drill press
than a lathe.

Colin

Speaking as an old Jr. High Shop teacher, I suspect you are right about the
drill press.
Especially when attempting to drill sheet metal. If not securely retained
sheet metal instantaneously becomes a rotating blade when the bit grabs, as
it often does. Some of my
60s longhairs also learned they needed to restrain their flowing locks when
working near
rotating machinery. I had to constantly preach on that point. No total
scalpings ever occurred, but it was a constant worry and a few small
floating locks were removed.

Harold
KD5SAK

Go down to your local community college. Find out where the voc ed
department is and explain your problem to the director. Suggest that they
might want to hold a 1 unit class once a year for a full semester on
Saturdays at the hangar. Promise them at least 20 students a class and mean
it. You might even suggest that somebody in the chapter who is a skilled
machinist could qualify for a voc ed credential (or min quals, or whatever
your state requires) and teach the class. Salary for a 1 unit class for a
full semester is somewhere around $1500, which will buy a hell of a lot of
beer for the Friday night come-to-Jesus meeting.

A 1 unit class is two hours a week for an 18 week semester and most
community colleges will jump at the chance to get the equivalent of 1 fte
(full time equivalent) student for peanuts. Have the voc ed instructor gin
up some sort of certificate for those who pass the class (or those who get a
B or better, or whatever criteria you want, but I don't want C students
working on MY equipment) and keep a log of those who have passed the
certificate. No class, no use.

In California, a 1 unit class is $24 plus whatever "student" fees (health,
library, etc.) are tacked on no matter HOW many units you take. Certainly
less than $50.

Jim



"Michael Horowitz" wrote in message
...
The local EAA chapter has a lathe, drillpress, milling machine, etc
set up in the back of the chapter house. As far as I can tell, the
lathe hasn't been used in a while. When I asked, someone rightly
replied they were concerned someone might hurt themselves using the
lathe. Having had some training with a lathe, I recognize that danger,
but there should be a way for the Chapter to feel comfortable
allowing use of the lathe. A training program would be ideal

Has anyone else been faced with this situation and how did it get
solved? - MIke

Go down to your local community college.

What a great idea. Learning to use tools such as lathes and milling
machines is a joy and having such a tool should be an incentive to join an
EAA chapter.

When it comes to reasons for joining an EAA chapter, the opportunity to
learn new skills and use specialized equipment I did not have at home, and
watching others who were experienced using that tool, I would put that way
above drinking beer and telling old war stories, as much as I like to do
that.

Colin

kd5sak wrote:
"COLIN LAMB" wrote in message
ink.net...
If it still is a concern, limit the use to adults and then have them sign
an appropriate release. In addition, you probably should already have
some liability insurance. The dangers from a lathe are much less than a
rotating propeller. I suspect more injuries occur using a drill press
than a lathe.

Colin

Speaking as an old Jr. High Shop teacher, I suspect you are right about the
drill press.
Especially when attempting to drill sheet metal. If not securely retained
sheet metal instantaneously becomes a rotating blade when the bit grabs, as
it often does. Some of my
60s longhairs also learned they needed to restrain their flowing locks when
working near
rotating machinery. I had to constantly preach on that point. No total
scalpings ever occurred, but it was a constant worry and a few small
floating locks were removed.

Harold
KD5SAK


With lathes I remember a major hazard was ties when someone would
flip his over his shoulder or tuck it into his apron instead of removing
it.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Dan wrote:
kd5sak wrote:
"COLIN LAMB" wrote in message
ink.net...
If it still is a concern, limit the use to adults and then have them
sign an appropriate release. In addition, you probably should
already have some liability insurance. The dangers from a lathe are
much less than a rotating propeller. I suspect more injuries occur
using a drill press than a lathe.

Colin

Speaking as an old Jr. High Shop teacher, I suspect you are right
about the drill press.
Especially when attempting to drill sheet metal. If not securely
retained sheet metal instantaneously becomes a rotating blade when
the bit grabs, as it often does. Some of my
60s longhairs also learned they needed to restrain their flowing locks
when working near
rotating machinery. I had to constantly preach on that point. No total
scalpings ever occurred, but it was a constant worry and a few small
floating locks were removed.

Harold
KD5SAK

With lathes I remember a major hazard was ties when someone would flip
his over his shoulder or tuck it into his apron instead of removing it.

Then you have forgetting the chuck key in the chuck (duck!)

Next, cutting too much material at once resulting in a broken cutting
tool (crack!), an ugly workpiece, and a lesson learned... which is also
why one wears eye protection.


Serious suggestion:

Maybe you (the original poster) could run a hands-on demo at the next
chapter meeting. If you could make even a small number of people (three
or four?) not afraid to use it that might do the trick. Who here admits
to experiencing, as a builder, fear of the unknown, be it tools,
welding, metal wood, glass/composite, etc, on at least one occasion? I
admit it.

COLIN LAMB wrote:
If they cannot use a lathe safely, they should not be operating an airplane,
or possibly even driving a car.

Well that has to be one of the ten stupidest things I ever seen on
Usenet.

The knowledge skills required to safely operate a lathe are
significantly
different from those required for flying or driving. People who are
highly
competent as pilots may still not know a damned thing about lathes.

Forbid anyone from using the lathe unless
they have verifiable training and use manufacturer recommended safeguards.

OTOH, that is a smart statement.


There are risks inherent in almost anything. People are hurt using
screwdrivers, electric drills, power saws and shears.

Yes, that is why people need to be taught about those things, just like
they need to be taught how to fly. Some of the hazards are not
obvious.


If it still is a concern, limit the use to adults and then have them sign an
appropriate release.

Obviously, THAT should be done, no 'if anything'.

In addition, you probably should already have some
liability insurance. The dangers from a lathe are much less than a rotating
propeller. I suspect more injuries occur using a drill press than a lathe.


People seldom work as close to a lathe as they do a propellor, they
typically are not trying to see what is going on close to the hub.

You are probably right about the drill press vs the lathe because many
more people use a drill press. OTOH I'll bet the typical lathe injury
is worse than the typical drill press injury.

--

FF

("COLIN LAMB" wrote)
There are risks inherent in almost anything. People are hurt using
screwdrivers, electric drills, power saws and shears.


Using a #2 Phillips bit in an electric drill is a double hazard.

So I've heard...


Montblack
(Finger tip)