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Visit to Swatkins shop

texasgeartrain

Titanium
Joined
Feb 23, 2016
Location
Houston, TX
Had a visit to Steve Watkins shop. He was going to help me check a couple of straight edges I bought, and let me check out his Toolmaster 1D.

For those that don't know, Steve has been doing a youtube channel which has grown quite a bit. You can find it here:
Steve Watkins at Work - YouTube

Poking around, and talking about a whole host of topics, thought I'd get a few pics of some of his machines and projects he has going on. He does have a more detailed shop thread here:
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/member-and-shop-photos/steve-watkinss-shop-376117/

One of his best known and popular, "The Beast" Rockford planer. From this thread:
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/...nd-history/1943-rockford-planer-beast-317291/

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One of the Axelsons he got which is pretty massive. I thought a Pacemaker had a large headstock. This one may be bigger yet. One of his Axelson threads:
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/...gone-heaven-axelson-lathes-everywhere-379334/

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His B & S No 13 tool grinder, a few threads on it here:
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/...tory/1942-b-s-no-13-grinder-what-heck-303763/
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/abrasive-machining/older-b-s-13-grinder-questions-303765/
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/...grinder-spindle-not-reaching-full-rpm-314806/

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One reason for my visit was to see a Cincinnati Toolmaster 1D he's working on. Mentioned in this thread:
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/...-iron/toolmaster-1d-vs-van-norman-22l-385407/

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A new acquisition Cincinnati tool grinder:

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Another Axelson he has in the works:

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A Swedish radial arm drill that looks quite stout, but doesn't eat up too much floor space:

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A Bridgeport about to be gone through and tricked out:

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I have just purchased a Monarch 10ee with a 30" bed, not knowing all the electrics in it yet, I was curious to have a peak at Steve's. His is quite a bit different, but should be an interesting project:

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One item very interesting to me is his taper attachment. Mine has the mounting, but is missing the internals. As time permits, hopefully he'll let me copy some pieces for the dimensions :D.

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One of my main reasons for the visit was help checking a couple of straight edges. Steve has hosted a number of Richard King's scraping classes, and is pretty well set up and knowledgeable in the area.

Having a large AA surface plate that could accommodate a 36" straight edge I purchased.

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He's got a real nice set up for hanging his camel-backs. Plus a home made crane for lifting and swinging heavier items over:

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Steve running the first test of my 36":

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Finding high spots. A ding on one corner and a rough edge opposite side holding it up.

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My shorter straight edge for dove tails. A bit more difficult to pick up, as it is not a camel back. Several small dings need to be addressed:

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If Steve wants to host another class in February 2022, I'd be willing. He has some of my 48" straight-edges and Granite surface plates ready and waiting for students to use. I love to see he has my 12", 18", 24" and 36" HKA style straight-edges hanging for storage. Steve planned them on his Rockford that is a beauty. Texasgunsmith....nice scraping job Do know my friend Nick Hughes another Gunsmith in Nowata,OK ?
 
After stoning a ding and the rough edge on my 36", I was pretty ecstatic that the 36" was not twisted like a pretzel :D.

Using a cigarette paper as a .001" feeler gauge, Steve walked up and down both sides of the straight edge. The paper held firm. For what I feel my skill level and goals are, I was quite happy.

But in teaching me something, he explained we want to strive for better than that. That if this tool is our guide or master, that in making it as close to perfect will have longer range concequence, as it is applied in helping to true the machines we work on.

In part of that lesson, he showed me a paper he keeps hung in the shop. Giving a little perspective on size and the difference between working in .001's and .0001's.

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If Steve wants to host another class in February 2022, I'd be willing. He has some of my 48" straight-edges and Granite surface plates ready and waiting for students to use. I love to see he has my 12", 18", 24" and 36" HKA style straight-edges hanging for storage. Steve planned them on his Rockford that is a beauty. Texasgunsmith....nice scraping job Do know my friend Nick Hughes another Gunsmith in Nowata,OK ?

I was at Steve's for several hours yesterday, talking about so many topics. He in fact showed me your straight edges there, and mentioned I should contact you if interested. He doesn't like my shorter one, lack of rigid structure :D. As i get sorted from tax time and a necessary trip next month, I think I'd like to ask you about a short one you have there, rough casting, not planed yet, and about 12 or 14 inches long by eye ball measure.

He also mentioned he'd like to host classes again, and that you guys need to talk.
 
I ran across Steve's channel a few months ago. I have been watching him score items at all the sops closing down in the area.
 
Just picked up a nice 60” straight edge. Looks like it has been well cared for, but I don’t have access to a surface plate large enough to check it.
 
Just picked up a nice 60” straight edge. Looks like it has been well cared for, but I don’t have access to a surface plate large enough to check it.

You must have arms like King Kong to lift and set that nice ! :D

As you know, my first adventure into these aspects. Thanks to Steve for helping me out.

I'm using my 36" as a master or surface plate for some smaller straight edges. If I could magic some extra floor space I think I'd like to get a surface plate, just too crammed atm.
 
If I could magic some extra floor space I think I'd like to get a surface plate, just too crammed atm.

Space?

No Probbbbblemmmmmm.

Just get a really BIG one. Pour a Hell-for-stout footer.

Set it vertically as a wall!

Hang your SE's and metrology goods on balance beams, spring reels & such from the overhead.

Worked for the Temple of the Sphinx and the Grand Gallery, Great Pyramid of Cheops, Giza, Egypt.

Astonishingly flat stonework on both of those!

Plus that jaggedy pyramid was originally clad as a polished white-stone first-surface MIRROR! Bits of the purloined cladding are all over Cairo!

What's not to like?

:D
 
I ran across Steve's channel a few months ago. I have been watching him score items at all the sops closing down in the area.

There is another video just posted... North Houston area where the owner died suddenly and left very little for the wife...Sad situation ... I bought a little to help them out.....
 








 
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