Adam, you points about filing techniques are absolutely correct those methods were exactly what I was taught 40 plus years ago by guys who had worked as bench fitters in a railway locomotive works all their lives; it obvious that folk who make those comments have never done any serious filing and bench fitting Great videos
Hey! I'm not a machinist. I'm a musician. I watch videos of woodworking, machining, welding, and many other craftsmen and women to relax. I have to say that I really love the precision to which you work and the care you take to make your work the best. Keep up the good work and know that your labor is not in vain.
Adam, it's a good thing you don't video yourself in the bathroom, because some people will say you're doing it wrong!!!! Keep up the great work I love your videos!
Old guy here. Was cruzing you tube saw the picture of the front of a shaper! I used one a lot about 40 years ago. It was an old machine tool back then. When I started my tool and die apprenticeship everything was manual. CNC had not been invented. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Adam, your shaper is such an impressive piece of equipment. I love that you respect it and its heritage. Far too few people are like that these days. I look forward to seeing the great things you will do with it.
Here's an idea for a shop-talk episode: I'm a mechanical engineer, and I'm pretty sure your other fans are too. Part of the reason I really like your channel is that I pick up design ideas and learn about some of the more uncommon tooling and techniques. I think you could do a great episode on mechanical design tips and pitfalls to avoid . As an example, I see a lot of newbies at work don't show thread relief grooves on drawings, over tolerance parts, etc. Just throwin' it out there. Keep up the great content! I'm a big fan, and have absolutely no problem with your filing technique ;)
Hi Adam, there is an entusiast fallower of Abom 79 here in Milano, Italy....from the very first video. Is quite impossible don't enjoy with you the passion, the joy of life, the entusiasm you put in everythinghs...you are a very special man, boy.....your channel is one of my preferite, every weekend there is no tv show, no book to read...there are som Abom79 new video to enjoy, instead..!!! and please, note...I am a curious man but not a machinist at all. Very sorry for bad english, see you in a few minutes for SNS 213 part two.
100% agree with your filing techniques. Actually the back stroke can help keep the file clean and make the forward stroke more effective and scratch free. Also it helps to set up the file for the forward stroke (feel for the cut).
G'day Adam I have been a machinist for 51 years and a trade teacher for the past 15 years. Here in Australia I call your knockers Monday's experts, I reckon none of them have ever been in a real workshop. Don't give them your energy.
I cannot believe that someone would question your expertise.....filing..........YOU are the "King of Iron". And I don't say that lightly. Thank you for your time, effort and teaching. Much appreciated. David from "Down Under" Aus.
*ADAM* ... Don't let those *COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR FILING* bother you too much... They are as set in their ways as you are... And like you said .. *IT IS ABOUT THE FEEL* ... Besides, If you *DAMAGE A FILE* they are yours to damage... *THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO* I know it takes a ton of *TIME AND EFFORT* to produce these videos...
I'm glad you cleared up the whole filing drama. The hacksaw analogy was absolutely perfect. Last week I sarcastically mentioned "here come the filing comments." Wether someone learned new technique or not, until they start lending you files, deal with it
What I love about you and you have said it many times, you tell people that there are other ways to do things but this is what works for you. I could give a shit less how you use a file and those that have heartburn can piss up a rope. Great job.
Adam, I'm not a machinist but have viewed for a few months or more now. This will sound strange, but watching you work with these machine tools is thrilling in the true sense of the word. I don't know why except it seems like watching perfection, something pure and important and completely satisfying. Thanks.
By going the extra mile you have done an excellent restoration. Your pride in workmanship is showcased in that beautiful machine. I started working as a machinist in 1966 and those books would have sure made it easier for me. Thank you for sharing your project.
When I was 18, I built a small lathe from scrap hot rolled angle, cold rolled plate, and threaded rod. Bronze pillow bearing blocks for a head stock. Draw-filed the ways and compound slides, gibs, etc. using only the ground surface of a drill press table as reference. Did all the draw filing by pulling the file toward me. I remember the shearing action removed metal much faster than a forward stroke. Still it took weeks. The files were once my grandfather's. Never got to the chuck or power feed. Just hand cranks, centers and a face plate with drive dogs. But it did finally turn 1.5" dia. x 6 in cold rolled with 0.002 taper. What a labor of love...
Hi Adam, like the guys below who have already commented, draw filing is a valid technique and is popular with horologists who produce the wonderful polished timepieces that are greatly admired everywhere. I've done plenty on many jobs, a great deal on my model loco frames. Great to follow you restoring the G&E, but making me itch to get my workshop back into full operation and get my smaller 6 inch shaper into operation.
To be honest..I can watch your uploads all day and am fasinated how these machines work. Life is too short...if I had more years I would surely want to learn how to operate such machines. Its also great to see how your subscribers sent you stuff as token of appreciation of what you do. Having worked as a quality controller in a machine factory I know how expensive some of these precision measuring tools are...so, well deserved and God bless
Your getting the shaper back into good order, it reminds me of watching the neighbor fellow who spent three years restoring his 1949 Pontiac Chieftain. Nobody else would have put that much effort into the job, but then, not everybody has a 1949 Pontiac Chieftain. Nicely done. Thank you.
Nice job, the shaper is looking good. The hardness testing files won’t last you as long if you start with the softest ones. I think we’re ‘Supposed to’ start with the hard ones, looking for the one that doesn’t bite. -Rov
Nothing like the bringing to life that vision in your head of what that machine should look like. You're lovin' every minute of it Adam, it shows. Keep on keepin' on.
Who cares what anyone else has to say about how you use your tools! they are yours! You rock man I love watching your videos and they make me want to learn machining.
I spent ten years working in a shipyard, as an outside amchinist and periodically had the opportunity to work in the (inside) machine shop. I really enjoy watching your videos, as I always learn something new. My ONLY regret is that I didn't go to machinist school when I had the opportunity.
Hi Adam, that thing really looks terrific, runs better too doesn't it, nice job! TC 13:48 "if that bothers you, then you just need to look away and get over it..... " funniest thing I have heard all month!!! With the results you achieve, your techniques are just fine with me!
Just saying - you couldn't look happier if ya won the million dollar lottery when ya got the shaper back together. Looken good there Adam. Nice refurb on it.
Nice work. My own pride and joy is a Brown&Sharpe screw machine from the early 1960's. I went from total strip down and clean to new lubrication, bored a new turret for it, even rescraped it. It took months, cost my company thousands, but I was soooooooooo proud of what I had done. The first job in it was a part that used to take a week to set up, and usually ran with about 40% quality rejects and went to an 8 hour set-up, and the only scrap was the first piece during set-up. I wonder how it runs now, but I got fired a year or two later. But I still have the second piece from the set-up!
Love the way some people see an image on a computer screen and immediately take ownership of it, which seems to give them the right to tell you how you should do your profession. Today you have put them all back in their boxes and nailed the lid shut, well done. Shaper is looking awesome, you have done a job to be proud of
Totally agree with you Adam on the filing technique. During my apprenticeship I was taught here in the UK that a light return stroke clears the file, draw filing on edges was for truing. A "bastard cut" file is used for rapid removal of metal etc.
Adam, congratulations on the shaper. i have enjoyed the series and it turned out really well. as to the file thing, i've learned that there are different opinions and really no reason to explain one way or the other. my dad used to teach the lift at end of cut stroke and i kinda thought it did not matter. so when i was ~16 he bought me a file set for christmas and asked me if i ever used his files to use them like he taught me. when he died 20 years ago i got some of his file set and to this day if i use his files i use them his way even though at age 67 i use my files like i want. anyway, that's my take. thanks for the great videos, you do damn good stuff.
Thanks for the Update, Adam.. Your viewers are SO Supportive of your Machine Shop and Tool and Die Making Community.. Everybody here looks forward to your weekly videos.. The Trade School that I attended used Armstrong Tool Holders.. A Man and His Shaper is tough to separate.. lol..
I was taught draw filing at school 55 years ago when I started metalwork classes at the age of 11 or12. The one thing that I learnt later on as an apprentice (Engineer Cadet in the Merchant Navy) was that when filing a round profile, rather counter intuitively, was to file in the opposite direction to the round profile. So that rather than the file following around the round section you lifted the file up in the direction of travel while pushing down at the rear. This actually gives you a rounder profile than filing the other way which tends to give you a series of flats. For doubters I can only say go to your workshop/garage and give it a go, it does work.
congratulations Adam for such a laborious and totally successful effort ! The machine has been transformed visually and this whole restoration series is in par or even better than other restoration series by other very respected and talented top youtubers !
Hi Adam Filing comments "look away and get over it" I just love that as i have said before there is nothing wrong with your filing, funny enough another UK viewer says that's the way we are taught in the UK. Seriously you could point out to anyone filing the "safety" importance of always have a handle on your file especially when using on a lathe.
I am an artist, years ago I decided to start working with metal in my sculptural work. I took a welding class at the Vocational school and got the welding basics. There was not much info out there on metalwork/shop work nor did RU-vid exist. I ended up using old high school textbooks on metal shop work to learn basic skills. That was thirty years ago, I still refer to them from time to time. ( have two of those books Mr. Pete sent you)
To all the people who think they are "experts" of everything Adam does week after week, please, let's see your videos showing us how awesome you are at everything. There's a saying that describes those closed minded idiots. "If a person thinks they know everything, they might not learn much." Grow up folks, and learn to appreciate what someone is willing to take the time to show and teach. Great job as always Adam!
Totally agree with comment below, 'Graham Spinks'. I was just thinking how to describe the action myself. (Sort of a sew saw motion, but certainly not around the radius). I am also from UK and was also taught this method. Love your shop and videos and thanks for raising the profile of the Shaper, a much overlooked machine.
Hi, On your filing, on this side of the pond that’s the way we were taught. It was said that the teeth were cleared on the backstroke. Who knows who’s really correct?Also your draw filing is perfectly correct and I always favoured it for getting a good finish. Very satisfying. You can also fill the teeth with French chalk, you may know it as welders chalk. You get a really soft finish using this. Your detractors never did any bench fitting. Regards.
Great response to the A-holes out there snipig on your filing techniques . I wouldn't have been as polite as you Adam ... keep up the great content ....
a little tip on wire wheels. when they seem to be getting dull lightly touch them to a grinding wheel while spinning. it gives the wires nice fresh sharp edges. works well with hand brushes as well lightly pass them over a grinding wheel or belt to refresh the edges. think of them as any other cutting tool works best when fresh and sharp.
I like your filing tutorials. Watching your last video was great because you showed different types of filing. I have been filing for years and picked up some pointers. Your showing your technique and explaining what you are doing will help people new to filing. You might talk more about feeling when the file is flat on the work piece. Keep up the good work.
Adam, you've done a great job bringing back some mildly to severely abused equipment to top working order, adding to your own expertise and educating me in the process. Thanks man!
Just to add more fuel to the 'filing debate,' I was taught to file round objects in a different fashion to you, Adam. For 'radius filing,' in the UK at least, we start with the file on the forward part of the workpiece and as we push it forward, progressively lower the handle so that the area being filed moves towards you. Great restoration, by the way.
Hey Adam, It's really cool to see the shaper's power feed working again. I can understand your enjoyment of watching things work like they are supposed to after putting it all back together. Keep up the great videos. I love what you're doing!
I. Love the hacksaw comparison with the filing techniques . Just start watching your videos . I love it the way you start following into your Dads steps . Awesome. Good luck .
Abom is right - I was taught the same techniques. File finishing is an artform when it's done right. When I was a lad 50 years ago the old boys would hand finish their tools using a range of draw file techniques. While it was all referred to as drawfiling, by varying the angles of the file on the attack and release strokes they would create anything from a smooth "frosted" finish or by following the angle of the ridge lines they could cut quite deep grip lines as good as any knurling wheel. They'd also create burnishing steels of various agressions for finishing. All "just" with a file. I was taught never to "peck" and told that constant contact was the surest way to maintain a consistent angle. Certainly when filing they'd vary the pressure used on the attack and release - but a combination of the release stroke and only grudgingly, occasional use of the pinbrush was used to clear the teeth of any "shit stick" especially with aluminium.
"You will find knowledge in books and experience in machines" I'm working as a mechanic repairing industrial machinery and equipment and I find both fields in your films. Keep it up you are doing great JOB!!!! Greetings from Poland.
Its great when a tool does what its supposed to...and gives you confidence when operating properly...enjoyed the shaper series & understanding the guts of all the machines...Thanks
Only time I’ve ever pulled a hacksaw up after a cut is in plastic when its tight and biting the blade. Lol. Anyone giving this man hell about his use of tools.......is a tool.
@Abom79 What I enjoy most about your videos is your style of working with tools (example: using the file) is the same method of tool working that my grandpa used! It's almost like jumping back in time and watching grandpa in the shop again! Awesome videos!
I love those old text books. They look similar to books, and processes I learned with in high school. I miss that - having access to those machines. I learned to use a shaper in tenth grade, as well as a horizontal mill. I don't have access to manual machines anymore, but get to vicariously live through your videos. Keep up the great work, Adam. BTW, my machine shop teacher taught me to use a files just as you do.
I have no problem at all with how you hold a file or use one, as I do exactly the same myself and your analogy of the use of a hacksaw, was a good leveler for the purists out there in tool land. Keep being yourself, the world thrives on it's differences.
Seeing that auto-downfeed working just made my weekend! :) To think only a few months ago that shaper was sitting in a dark garage and now the life you have brought back to it. Just such great work Adam.
