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Machine Shop Resources

This is a list of good resources for machining information, training, and materials. 

YouTube Channels

Blondihacks

Quinn runs a great YouTube channel that has a lot of great training video on manual machining (lathe and mill):

https://www.youtube.com/@Blondihacks/

She has a great playlist for lathe training:

Lathe Skills

There is also a milling playlist:

Mill Skills

In the lathe skills playlist are great videos on measurement:

Calipers and Micrometers and Snap and Depth gauges

Joe Pie

Joe has are good channel with a lot of great short videos covering milling and lathes.

https://www.youtube.com/@joepie221

NYC CNC

John Saunders runs this channel. He stated 15+ years ago by buying a Tormach CNC and putting it in his tiny garage. He has built a multi facetted machine shop business. His content from 6-10 years ago covers using Fusion 360 and the Tormach CNC machines.

https://www.youtube.com/@nyccnc

Inheritance Machining

Brandon of Inheritance Machining makes a lot of cinematic quality machining videos. While they are not really educational in the traditional sense, they can enlighten someone to what is possible without CNC.

https://www.youtube.com/@InheritanceMachining

For example, he races a CNC in making a complex steering knuckle for a race car: CNC Race.

All of his other videos are highly entertaining from a manual machining perspective. 

Websites

ProvenCut

John also runs a site called ProvenCut and is a great resource for Tormach speeds and feeds:

https://provencut.com

Materials

A comprehensive list of metal material suppliers is here:

Material Reference: Metals

Metal Supermarkets (Pittsburgh West)

https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/location/pittsburgh-coraopolis/

Metals Supermarket in Coraopolis gives Protohaven members a good discount. Call them and tell them you are from Protohaven (you need to call them; the protohaven discount does not work with online orders.

They will deliver to the shop for free (1-7 day delivery time). 

Midwest Metal Supply

https://www.midweststeelsupply.com/ 

Midwest Steel Supply is a good resource for Steel, Aluminum and other materials. They will cut to size for a minimal fee. They can take up to a week to get items in the mail.