how do you learn to use a metal lathe?
by Lathe on Mar.27, 2009, under Do It Yourself (DIY)
squiggles asked:
I’m looking to become a gunsmith and I want to learn to use a lathe properly first. Also any info on how to to learn about gunsmithing.
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March 29th, 2009 on 1:53 pm
i can gurentee that you will never learn to do something properly from online. some specific questions minght help here and there but to do somehting right, the best way is to be shown how from a master in their craft.
April 1st, 2009 on 8:36 pm
There are several good gunsmith schools around the country. Most will teach the proper use of a lathe. Look on line for a list of schools in your area.
April 4th, 2009 on 6:33 pm
Look for local community college courses or find you a master to learn from. It is not going to happen without hands on training.
April 5th, 2009 on 11:34 am
Try these sites:
April 6th, 2009 on 10:33 am
As a retired machinist i can tell you from my own experience how i did it. I enrolled in a trade school, concentrated my studies on machinist skills and got accepted into a local shipyard as a helper in the machine shop, from there thru the years I became a Journeyman 1st class thru hard work, knowledge of the job, and basic enthusiasm for the work itself, if it’s something you truly enjoy doing you’ll be good at it quick! Since working in the shipyard i have also worked several power plants in various states, both fossil fuel and nuclear refueling outages as an inside machinist. The skills I leaned as a machinist have helped me in my own gunsmithing work.
Good luck to you! You are off on a great journey(man) enjoy it, learn all you can.
April 6th, 2009 on 5:19 pm
As those above have said, you do not decide to become a gunsmith, and start in business the same day! You are going to need training by a qualified gunsmith, or an engineer with an interest in guns at the very least, guns are after all machines. In my case, it was 5 years as an apprentice, working for pennies, followed by one year as an improver (journeyman) and even then a gunsmith would not employ you, unless you were exceptional at your trade. It’s a long, hard slog, best of luck to you.
April 8th, 2009 on 9:41 pm
i learned from the community college in my area.
April 11th, 2009 on 12:15 pm
Before enrolling in a gunsmithing course, go to your local tech school and take a machining course. You will be miles ahead of anyone else at gunsmith school who had no prior machining experience.
I went to the Colorado School of Trades, but others are available.
When talking to the gunsmith schools, ask if you are getting a diploma or an associates degree. You want a degree, not a simple diploma.
The link below is to Brownells.com, and they have a page of links to gunsmithing schools. You will buy most of your tools from Brownells.