A lifetime of waiting has come to an end……….FINALLY!!!!!

Runs With Scissors

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Ok fellas, so here we are about ~30 years after I saw, and tried to use, my first Bridgeport, and said to my 26 year old self…...“Holy shit this thing is cool…...I gotta get one of these!!!"

I suppose the “Statue of Limitations” has expired 🤞 on any crime that was commited, so here it goes…...


So there I was ’slugging it out” as an A&P mechanic for Kalitta’s Flying Circus (it was actually called Kalitta’s Flying Service….but it was a shithole place to work at…..but I digress)

I had only been there 2 weeks, and I already knew I was not a good fit, I hated it there, and I knew that my time was going to be rather “limited”.

Then my MIL calls me at work (pre cell phone days) and tells me “Dave from Chrysler just called”.

I hung up and found an empty room, and called him back.

He said “When can you start?” and I replied “Tomorrow sir…...”.

Well, I still had about 9 hours left on my 10 hour shift, so as I was walking by this Bridgeport, I said to my young self……”Hey dumbass, who cares if they fire you, you gotta use that machine!!!!"

So I decided to try and make a “bit holder” for myself.

So I walked over to that machine "like I owned that f___ker“ and commenced to figure out how to turn it on and was playing with all the knobs and stuff, ….then I saw some bits in a cabinet nearby,…... and a “Big Ass Block" of aluminum.

Well let me tell you sir…...I was snapping off end mills and drill bits like it was my new “Lifes Mission”.

I had smoke pouring off that machine, and hardened steel shrapnel flying around….Hell, I didn’t even have safety glasses on………...good times.

Funny part was, and I still never figured out why, not one person questioned/stopped me.

I stood there, and ran this machine for the better part of 9 hours, broke every drill bit and end mill they had…………..and finally ended up with this.

The world most expensive “bit holder"

IMG_6517.JPG

Still have it after nearly 30+ years.

IMG_6519.JPG


At the end of my shift, I backed my truck into the hanger, loaded my little tool box, told the boss to "F— Off”, put my new “bit holder” on the seat next to me and was outta there…."Proud as punch" and on to a new "life adventure”.


Well here we are, many, many years later, and I finally have one of my own!!!!!

My own, working, 70 year old, clapped out, big ass, 2,000+ pound, 3 Axis DRO, VFD driven, X&Y-servo driven…...BEAST!!!!!!!

IMG_6521.JPG

IMG_6524.JPG


IMG_6523.JPG


The only difference is…I’m nearly 57 years old, I’m drinking covffee at 0200, I have to piss every 2 hours, I can’t sleep, and now, I gotta pay for all the end mills/bits and sh1t I break…. 🤷‍♂️ :ROFLMAO:(y)(y)

HAPPY RETIREMENT TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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PHPaul

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I am SO envious!

I got to play with one whenever it seemed like the best approach when I worked at the cannery. By the time I started there, they'd long since closed down their in-house machine shop but had the sense to keep the Bridgeport and a humungous Hendy lathe. The other maintenance monkeys were using the Bridgeport as a drill press and the Hendy as a coat rack. I taught myself the basics of both and was able to manage several crude but effective repairs and make the odd piece.

I've wanted a BP ever since. While I could scrape up the money for a well abus...uh..."used" one, I have absolutely no place to put it. I've had to make do with a Grizzly benchtop machine.
 
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William1

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I have a drill press, hack saw, a few files (even round ones), drill bits and a ball peen hammer. 1700's style precision machine shop.
 
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sdodder

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I LOVE this story! I myself am 76 YO, retired (and loving it), and just got a Kubota T1400H project tractor. My story is that I live in the lower Hudson valley of NY. I have 2 kids who live not too far away, with families of their own. I've always been a "tinkerer"- whether it's cars, appliances, lawn equipment, woodworking. etc, etc. I'm always "puttering" with something! I've had jobs as a car mechanic, appliance repair mechanic, resort hotel equipment mechanic, water and wastewater treatment plant operator (at the same resort hotel) and probably some other's I can't remember! At the resort hotel, we had a small Kubota 4WD tractor w/a loader that got me started on my love of Kubotas. My wife is a retired elementry school teacher, who puts up with me much better than I deserve! I guess that's it- for now. Steve
 
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Gaspasser

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Ok fellas, so here we are about ~30 years after I saw, and tried to use, my first Bridgeport, and said to my 26 year old self…...“Holy shit this thing is cool…...I gotta get one of these!!!"

I suppose the “Statue of Limitations” has expired 🤞 on any crime that was commited, so here it goes…...


So there I was ’slugging it out” as an A&P mechanic for Kalitta’s Flying Circus (it was actually called Kalitta’s Flying Service….but it was a shithole place to work at…..but I digress)

I had only been there 2 weeks, and I already knew I was not a good fit, I hated it there, and I knew that my time was going to be rather “limited”.

Then my MIL calls me at work (pre cell phone days) and tells me “Dave from Chrysler just called”.

I hung up and found an empty room, and called him back.

He said “When can you start?” and I replied “Tomorrow sir…...”.

Well, I still had about 9 hours left on my 10 hour shift, so as I was walking by this Bridgeport, I said to my young self……”Hey dumbass, who cares if they fire you, you gotta use that machine!!!!"

So I decided to try and make a “bit holder” for myself.

So I walked over to that machine "like I owned that f___ker“ and commenced to figure out how to turn it on and was playing with all the knobs and stuff, ….then I saw some bits in a cabinet nearby,…... and a “Big Ass Block" of aluminum.

Well let me tell you sir…...I was snapping off end mills and drill bits like it was my new “Lifes Mission”.

I had smoke pouring off that machine, and hardened steel shrapnel flying around….Hell, I didn’t even have safety glasses on………...good times.

Funny part was, and I still never figured out why, not one person questioned/stopped me.

I stood there, and ran this machine for the better part of 9 hours, broke every drill bit and end mill they had…………..and finally ended up with this.

The world most expensive “bit holder"

View attachment 178068

Still have it after nearly 30+ years.

View attachment 178069


At the end of my shift, I backed my truck into the hanger, loaded my little tool box, told the boss to "F— Off”, put my new “bit holder” on the seat next to me and was outta there…."Proud as punch" and on to a new "life adventure”.


Well here we are, many, many years later, and I finally have one of my own!!!!!

My own, working, 70 year old, clapped out, big ass, 2,000+ pound, 3 Axis DRO, VFD driven, X&Y-servo driven…...BEAST!!!!!!!

View attachment 178070

View attachment 178071


View attachment 178072


The only difference is…I’m nearly 57 years old, I’m drinking covffee at 0200, I have to piss every 2 hours, I can’t sleep, and now, I gotta pay for all the end mills/bits and sh1t I break…. 🤷‍♂️ :ROFLMAO:(y)(y)

HAPPY RETIREMENT TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!w
Congrats. I got to play with one during summer job in high school. I was just the watch and repeat 1000 times kid as the work was set up for me by the tool and die maker owner. Pre CNC days. I had no knowledge of cutting speeds, oils, which bits to choose, different alloys, etc. Always wanted one and they do become available now and then but wouldn't have a clue about the how to use it efficiently. I'd be breaking bits and mills left and right. Best of luck with your new machine!
 
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Yooper

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And the next thread will be about all the tooling you will be acquiring. Endless! But there is hardly a week that goes by that I don’t use mine for something! Enjoy the journey
 
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Old Machinist

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I'm somewhat jealous. I got to use one for the last 16 years of my working life and didn't get to retire until I was 65. It's been 9 years and I don't have the space or income to own my own. I don't miss it that often. I have plenty of metal cutting and welding equipment to keep me occupied when I choose to do metal work.
 
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Mikeymotorbikey

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You should have been an author. Always a great story.

And I'm jealous.

I spent 5 years in a development lab as a mech tech. My work area was next the machinist, old school eastern European guy. He could make anything on "his" BP and lathe. He hated that I was stationed next to him. He had a line painted on the floor and told me never to cross it.

If he only knew the things I did on "his" equipment after he left for the day!!! I never broke anything and it was always as he had left it when I was done. But he would have still had a stroke!

I've always been a woodworker and have a full suite of that equipment. But still need to up my metalworking game. A BP is probably out of the question but a benchtop square column is in my future when I retire next year. Oh and a lathe would be nice also!!
 
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GeoHorn

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LOL I dig your safety shoes!
HA! STEEL-TOE FLIP-FLOPS ! 😅 🤣 :love:


(I’m so relieved this is a Happy-Story!…. the subject-line had me worried! (“A Lifetime fo waiting has come to an end…Finally” ) :oops:

😱 WHEW!
 
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Runs With Scissors

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Thanks for the comments and well wish’s everyone.

I was so happy to finally get that BP to spin up for the first time.

When I put the first VFD in, it would not fire up.

It mades some "whinnying noise’s", then I heard a butt puckering “POP”. After that, it would just make some “gurgling noises”……...I was worried that I had screwed something up.

But after some hours of troubleshooting with my meter, I finally surmised that the “El Cheap” VFD I got was defective….and the “POP” I heard, was most likely one of the capacitors letting the “Chinese'ium” out.

Since I was way out of the “return window” I just ordered a different model, and she spun right up….Quiet as a mouse, and variable using the dial on the VFD.



On that note, retirement has brought along some “odd feelings"

1. I am still not use to not having to worry about "getting a project done by Monday morning” feeling. After a lifetime of fairly strict time constraints, not having the pressure of a work schedule is very nice….although a bit “weird”……But its a “I like it” kind of “weird" (y)

2. Not getting a paycheck kinda sucks though.:oops:

3. But not having a Boss is priceless.:)👏👏

4. I keep “looking over my shoulder”……Kinda waiting for someone to call up and say “Haha D—-head, it was a joke….get your ass back to work":devilish:



The Saga continues I guess;)(y)(y)
 
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