Barry wrote:
Unmoderated newsgroups like this get out of control so I'm wondering
what else is out there.

I like eng-tips, even though it's very commercial and "promoting,
selling, recruiting and student posting are not allowed in the
forums." They have a Metal and Metallurgy Engineering forum at
http://tinyurl.com/77h27eu and a Welding, Bonding & Fastener
Engineering forum at http://tinyurl.com/7anoxjy

Doityourself.com has a Welding and Metalworking forum at
http://tinyurl.com/7zrolg3

Anything else?

Here's a couple for ya
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/index.php
http://hobby-machinist.com/index.php
http://www.chaski.com/homemachinist/
and
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/
--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !