Category: Blog Posts

Winchester 70 Rebarrel Part 2: Start to Finish Process

Building a precision rifle is an exacting process. You need to have knowledge, skills, tools, and a LOT of patience. In my last post, I talked about the planning, preparation, and experiences involved in completing this rifle build. In this post, I’ll walk through the steps I performed at a high level. Note that there […]

Winchester 70 Rebarrel Part 1: Overview

Metalworking and shooting are both passions of mine, so it follows that gunsmithing would be a natural fit. For me, here’s a powerful draw towards gunsmithing projects that involve accurizing, enhancing, and re-building firearms. So when I discovered that my Winchester Model 70 Heavy Varmint 22-250 rifle needed a new barrel fitted, I dreamed about […]

Precision Matthews PM-1440GT Lathe Arrives!

It’s here! It’s finally here! And it arrived unblemished! These are the words I exclaimed when I finished setting my new Precision Matthews PM-1440GT in place. This was the conclusion of my 6-month process that started with requirements and product research, and ended with a brand new ultra-precision lathe settled in the shop. It was […]

3-Phase for the Shop: 3-Phase -vs- 1-Phase Power

As a Mechanical Engineer, electricity and power have always been a touch of a mystery. I can recall my Electrical Engineering classmates talking about things like phase diagrams and other “non-mechanical” things that were fascinating, but very different from what I was studying. Since then, I’ve learned a lot about wiring and power. Having wired […]

A Tour of Gavin’s Logan 11″x36″ Metal Lathe

Have you ever owned a tool that seemed to be “a part of you”? My 1955-built Logan model 1922 11″x36″ lathe is one such tool. I’ve owned this lathe for about 15 years now, and if I were to total up all of the hours using this machine, it would be a LOT. I’ve used […]

Drill Doctor: Sharpen Twist Drills, Save Broken Drills

Ever run across a tool that you wish you had acquired long before you did? That’s how I feel about my Drill Doctor, and I’ve owned it for over 10 years! In this post, I’ll give a quick overview of my (old) Drill Doctor 750. It’s pretty amazing what you can do with this tool! […]

Welcome to “Making with Metal”

Hello, and Welcome to “Making with Metal” – a website where you’ll find resources related to the past, present, and future of metal design and fabrication. This blog will feature tips/tricks, downloadable reference sheets, detailed articles, how-to walkthroughs, and much more. I’m looking forward to sharing my passion for metalworking with you all, and I […]

Subscribe to Updates!