Inside The Secret Underground Laboratory

[Bobo]

She's been here. All of her little bits were created on these very machines.

 

[Bobo]

Continuing around behind Drill Press Row;

The yellowish machine is a manual hand tapper. It taps holes, precise and square. It works beautifully. It was custom made by some machine shop. That arm is solid steel! It was given to my friend Thomas by a machine shop that was closing down. He kept it parked outside for a few years, then gave it to me. I use it fairly often.

To the left is a rolling cart filled with drill bits, tools and stuff that goes with the green milling machine.....

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Here's the Green Milling Machine. I've had it for 32 years (!). A true workhorse machine. Up until the last few years, it did all of the milling operations on every instrument and part I've built. I still use it more than all my other mills, mostly because I'm so familiar with it. It's from the 1980's, made in Taiwan. It's called a Mill-Drill, a heavy drill press that also does light milling. I paid $400 for it back in 1989. The best tool purchase I've made.

I highly recommend these Mill-Drill machines for any of you who interested in getting into metalworking. They are reasonable cost, weight, size and power for a home shop.


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And here's my workhorse small lathe, a Logan 11" lathe. I've got it fitted with a collet nose and closer, a turret tailstock, and many other accessories. I bought it from a used machinery dealer in 1990. This lathe makes all my small parts. All of my truss rod hardware, for all these years, has been made on this machine.

If you are looking to buy a small metal lathe for your home shop, I highly recommend a Logan. Not real flashy, just plain and simple and tough. Lots of them available in the used market and you can still buy parts for them.

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Around the end is my metal shop workbench. Jammed with files and screwdrivers and wrenches and measuring tools and......jobs and parts and drawings......

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Around the end is my big drill press. A 1945 Royersford 21 in nearly mint original condition. A beautiful machine, a true joy to use. It does the big holes, from 3/8" up to 1 1/2". Barely breaking a sweat.

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On to the big lathes....This is a 1949 LeBlond Regal 17. A rare lathe because it's a short 6' bed. Most lathes of this size (17" swing and up) are much longer beds, 10' or 12'. This one is the perfect size for me. 3 horsepower, 3400 lbs. It's a serious metal cutting lathe in a reasonably compact size. I bought it from a race car shop in Burbank in 2004 for $2000. It was painted a horrible turquoise! I immediately repainted it black. It was originally grey from the factory, but I think it looks great in black. A wonderful lathe to use.

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This is another LeBlond Regal, from 1947, the smaller 13" model with an 8' bed. It's got some heavy wear, but it still runs okay. It was given to me for free by a shop that was closing down. I showed above how I have it fitted with a Rotozip mini-router, and I mostly use it for making precision wood dowels and plugs. Lots of other machines and machine parts piled under it.

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Here's my big milling machine. A 1980's Kondia, made in Spain. A big solid turret mill, a copy of a Bridgeport Series II. About 3200 lbs of Spanish iron, 3 HP. It cuts some serious metal. We recently fitted it with a cheap import digital readout and X-axis power feed. They seem to work well. This machine is actually a good candidate to retrofit to CNC operation. I may do that eventually.

My friend Thomas owns this mill. He bought it from a friend for $100! They thought it was junk, that the transmission was broken....but it turned out to just be jammed in two gears. It runs fine now. It looks ugly, but it's not heavily worn. It'll mill blocks to 0.001", no problem.

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Here's my Diamond horizontal mill. A small but heavy duty horizontal mill made in Los Angeles in the 1950's. I bought it for $100 from a machine shop that was shrinking down. A sweet little machine, perfect for milling the sides of aluminum blocks for bridges, etc.

I have two more of these Diamond mills, in need of repairs. You can see the blue one in the left background. That's the same machine, but with the knee and table removed and a Rotex head on the upper arm. I'll get it up and running one of these years.

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The grey machine in the middle is my Oliver HD Heavy Die Filer. A very rare machine. One of the last ones made, in 1963. They were mostly used in the 1930's and 1940's for making dies. It's like a heavy scroll saw for metal. It will saw and file intricate shapes in metal blocks. Things you can barely even do with a CNC mill. It's perfect for some musical instrument hardware.

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That's it for the quick tour of my main machine shop. These are the machines that are running and in almost daily use. I have a couple dozen other metalworking machines parked away in other areas, waiting for repairs and work.

So cool, Bruce! Thanks for the whole-9-yards tour! You’re the best!

 

[coy garcia]

Aww the birthplace of #11....my #1.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Sweet! I do love old machinery.

 

[TerribleTim68]

I'm mostly happy the sensitive drill has been moved in with its cousins. Hopefully it will feel less sensitive and really feel welcomed and wanted, part of the family.

What a shop dude, thanks for the pics. So envious over here in my tiny little corner.

 

[ardgedee]

Since the beginning of this thread, I haven't done a walk-through of my main machine shop. I guess it's about time.

You could do an artbook with these machines, each one photographed in front of a backdrop. It'd be amazing.

 

[Flamingo21]

You could do an artbook with these machines, each one photographed in front of a backdrop. It'd be amazing.

With the same descriptions we've just been given. Bruce really knows how to write.

 

[Freekmagnet]

OK, this is actually outside the Secret Underground Laboratory, but here’s a picture I took of Mr. Bruce showing off is wares at a local garden party. It was a Ventura County Arts Commission social/fundraiser.

He did a good presentation - I think he must’ve practiced!

It was a good time. I kept a low profile, ate a sandwich and drank some coffee with the movers and shakers of the Fillmore arts scene.

 

[Flamingo21]

He did a good presentation - I think he must’ve practiced!

Now stop acting surprised. You know Mr Bruce takes his trade seriously.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

OK, this is actually outside the Secret Underground Laboratory, but here’s a picture I took of Mr. Bruce showing off is wares at a local garden party. It was a Ventura County Arts Commission social/fundraiser.

View attachment 4864604

He did a good presentation - I think he must’ve practiced!

It was a good time. I kept a low profile, ate a sandwich and drank some coffee with the movers and shakers of the Fillmore arts scene.

Thanks, Jeremy, for taking that picture and posting it! Yes, the Ventura County Arts Commission invited me to give a little presentation about what I do. I was supposed to be showing off the hidden arts/craftsmanship culture growing in Fillmore. Okay. I'm not really sure what the point was, or what the Commission intends to do. Other than hold fundraisers and try to get government funding for....something. I asked them repeatedly what exactly they planned to do. I got vague answers about "raising awareness" and "educating the public", etc.

But I played along, and gave a presentation about what I do here in Fillmore. I took two of my Scroll Basses and a selection of partially-finished bodies and necks and pickups and hardware. I tried to concentrate on the idea of building a business, creating "artistic" products that people want to buy. That's what becoming successful in the Artist/Craftsman world is all about. Business, products, customers. The lifeblood of America. So many Artists don't seem to get that.

I don't know if I helped to inspire anyone, but I tried.

By the way, note the beautiful backdrop of the picture. The event was held on the back porch of a small 110 year old ranch home, maybe 3 miles away from my shop. A gorgeous view over the valley of avacado fields. That's Fillmore in the background. This is what central Ventura County, CA is like in November. A real good reason for liking Fillmore.

 

[TerribleTim68]

I do love avocados.

I will, however, check back next August when it's 100+ degrees tho.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

I will, however, check back next August when it's 100+ degrees tho.

That's what the Underground Lab is for. I come up to the surface and enjoy the beautiful sunshine and warmth...for a little while. Then go back underground and work where it's nice and cool. California weather, when I want it.

 

[Freekmagnet]

Thanks, Jeremy, for taking that picture and posting it! Yes, the Ventura County Arts Commission invited me to give a little presentation about what I do. I was supposed to be showing off the hidden arts/craftsmanship culture growing in Fillmore. Okay. I'm not really sure what the point was, or what the Commission intends to do. Other than hold fundraisers and try to get government funding for....something. I asked them repeatedly what exactly they planned to do. I got vague answers about "raising awareness" and "educating the public", etc.

But I played along, and gave a presentation about what I do here in Fillmore. I took two of my Scroll Basses and a selection of partially-finished bodies and necks and pickups and hardware. I tried to concentrate on the idea of building a business, creating "artistic" products that people want to buy. That's what becoming successful in the Artist/Craftsman world is all about. Business, products, customers. The lifeblood of America. So many Artists don't seem to get that.

I don't know if I helped to inspire anyone, but I tried.

By the way, note the beautiful backdrop of the picture. The event was held on the back porch of a small 110 year old ranch home, maybe 3 miles away from my shop. A gorgeous view over the valley of avacado fields. That's Fillmore in the background. This is what central Ventura County, CA is like in November. A real good reason for liking Fillmore.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the so-called "point" of the event was to give the money people the chance to meet the non-profit people face-to-face. Having Mr. Bruce doing his dog-and-pony show served to give legitimacy to the idea that Fillmore is hot and happening. The only problem is that Fillmore, and in turn Ventura County, are so small that all those people know each other already. The added layer was that I think they were trying to give the new VC Arts Commissioner the opportunity to show his face and see for himself what's happening in Fillmore. I know he's new, 'cuz the li'l Lady applied for that gig about six months ago, but didn't get it.

The nuances of the political dynamics are complete speculation on my part. The li'l Lady has been doing the non-profit hustle for a while, and she used to drag me along to some of these shindigs back in the day. I'm kinda going from memory on this, and most of the time, I had no clue what the purpose these events served. She shies away from these events now - she figured out most of these people are trying to figure out a way to get something out of her and give nothing in return. The li'l lady is the queen of volunteer manpower and she has a small army of minions that seem to be under her hypnotic control.

 

[Crawforde]

I hit like.
Don’t actually like the situation though.
Similar things happen around here and we say.
Competence is punished
Dedication is abused

 

[Freekmagnet]

I hit like.
Don’t actually like the situation though.
Similar things happen around here and we say.
Competence is punished
Dedication is abused

This event was pretty innocuous. And like I said, any opinion of mine is purely speculation and not necessarily factual. I just happened to know who maybe 20%-30% of the attendees and I kinda know their angle. They're all decent folk - they're just trying to make something happen and maybe get a chance to be a part of it in the process.

I think what I attempted to and subsequently failed to emphasize is that when you're not in the game, the game doesn't make sense.

Back to Bruce's tool collection...

 

[ardgedee]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the so-called "point" of the event was to give the money people the chance to meet the non-profit people face-to-face. Having Mr. Bruce doing his dog-and-pony show served to give legitimacy to the idea that Fillmore is hot and happening. The only problem is that Fillmore, and in turn Ventura County, are so small that all those people know each other already. The added layer was that I think they were trying to give the new VC Arts Commissioner the opportunity to show his face and see for himself what's happening in Fillmore. I know he's new, 'cuz the li'l Lady applied for that gig about six months ago, but didn't get it.

I hit like.
Don’t actually like the situation though.
Similar things happen around here and we say.
Competence is punished
Dedication is abused

I've worked with and for salespeople and nonprofit organizers and they're pretty similar jobs, inasmuch as the primary requirement is to spend every possible moment out circulating with people. Actually trying to sell things or raise funds is maybe 1/6 of the job, the other 5/6 is going to every public event to meet people, make friends, add them to your contact lists, exchange Christmas cards and birthday drinks, and so on. A good salesperson that's just starting out should be on the road more than a touring band, even if that time is for playing golf and attending banquets. Actually knowing the product you're trying to sell or the cause you support is less important than the quality of your rolodex, and your next employer is going to hire you on how good your rolodex is rather than on your actual track record at your previous employer.

I always have mixed feelings having to work with these people because they exist in a totally different world and mindset than my introverted self. But they know how to interact with the people-with-money-who-run-large-businesses and the people-with-money-who-provide-large-endowments-to-charities, because those people think a lot more like salespeople and organizers than they think like me.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the so-called "point" of the event was to give the money people the chance to meet the non-profit people face-to-face. Having Mr. Bruce doing his dog-and-pony show served to give legitimacy to the idea that Fillmore is hot and happening. The only problem is that Fillmore, and in turn Ventura County, are so small that all those people know each other already. The added layer was that I think they were trying to give the new VC Arts Commissioner the opportunity to show his face and see for himself what's happening in Fillmore. I know he's new, 'cuz the li'l Lady applied for that gig about six months ago, but didn't get it.

The nuances of the political dynamics are complete speculation on my part. The li'l Lady has been doing the non-profit hustle for a while, and she used to drag me along to some of these shindigs back in the day. I'm kinda going from memory on this, and most of the time, I had no clue what the purpose these events served. She shies away from these events now - she figured out most of these people are trying to figure out a way to get something out of her and give nothing in return. The li'l lady is the queen of volunteer manpower and she has a small army of minions that seem to be under her hypnotic control.

Army of minions? Sounds like you better stay on her good side!

Like several others have said, I’m better at fixing and building so I don’t entirely get the sales thing either.

 

[RichterScale]

Competence is punished
Dedication is abused

....and the incompetent inherit the earth.
I'll have to check, but I'm pretty sure this is the banner above our main entrance.

Like several others have said, I’m better at fixing and building so I don’t entirely get the sales thing either.

I'll one-up ya,....they put a guy who only knows sales,...in charge of the dept that builds and fixes things. After almost a decade of doing a bad job, he handed it off to his sidekick,...who isn't good at sales, or fixing things.
Didn't really want to add to the sidetrack, but these things jumped off the page and represented my working life to the letter.
I also find it interesting and kinda cool, how much people who build things have in common.

 

[deff]

....and the incompetent inherit the earth.
I'll have to check, but I'm pretty sure this is the banner above our main entrance.

I'll one-up ya,....they put a guy who only knows sales,...in charge of the dept that builds and fixes things. After almost a decade of doing a bad job, he handed it off to his sidekick,...who isn't good at sales, or fixing things.
Didn't really want to add to the sidetrack, but these things jumped off the page and represented my working life to the letter.
I also find it interesting and kinda cool, how much people who build things have in common.

Not to muck up the thread but that sounds like mgmt is to blame, not the person put in charge of a department they can't handle. Speaking up for sales people everywhere, I'm lab/material science sales. I've run labs for 20 years, am an analyst and more than competent on all of our equipment. A good salesperson knows every aspect of their work and how to recommend the right course to clients and design every aspect of every project. If not, everything goes sideways.

 

[Max Bogosity]

I'll one-up ya,....they put a guy who only knows sales,...in charge of the dept that builds and fixes things.

That sounds like the Peter Principle at work. If you do a good job, you get promoted until you land in a job you can’t do.