On Aug 23, 8:08 pm, Rich Grise wrote:
On Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:48:30 +0000, Lloyd E. Sponenburgh wrote:
Jim Stewart fired this volley in
Robert Swinney wrote:
A new twist on the old, worn-out "chicken and egg" question. IMO,
the original question would have been more appros to this group had
it said "machining operation" rather than "metalworking operation".

Good point. It was never clarified whether "done
by hand" might include turning a lathe spindle
with your hand...

Nah.... a lathe, powered by electricity or mule is still a machine.

Yabbut, what if you unplug it, put the mule out to pasture, and
turn it physically with your own hand?

Does that count? ;-)

Thanks,
Rich

I think the distinction falls between a gunsmith drawfiling a barrel
round and a clockmaker with a foot-powered lathe making pivot shafts
with a hand-held graver. Both are expert craftsmen and the gunsmith
could possibly fit two surfaces to micron accuracy by smoking them,
but I think only the clockmaker could generate a true cylinder.

But today, why bother? Use any excuse you can find to justify buying a
lathe.

jw