Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: San Diego Machine Shop Recommendation?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    88

    Question San Diego Machine Shop Recommendation?

    I have a toyo lens board (aluminum) that needs a larger hole. I've seen it recommended to have a machine shop do it rather than a potentially dangerous DIY hack job, but I'm having trouble finding a suitable shop near by.

    Seems like most shops are big industrial shops that want a CNC file. One shop was recommended to me but I haven't been able to get ahold of them. I would think it should only take a couple minutes to stick the board in a machine and turn out the hole.

    Anyone know of a place in San Diego they can recommend? Preferably around Miramar or Poway area.


    Board currently has a copal #3 hole but needs a betax #5 (about 80mm diameter).

  2. #2
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    22,389

    Re: San Diego Machine Shop Recommendation?

    That’s a 1 hour job and billed that way
    Tin Can

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Glendale,az
    Posts
    166

    Re: San Diego Machine Shop Recommendation?

    Quote Originally Posted by gnd2 View Post
    I would think it should only take a couple minutes to stick the board in a machine and turn out the hole.

    .
    No offense but it will probably cost you less to find the correct size board than it will be to have a shop do that. Most wouldn't do it for less than the minimum $150 shop rate. They are a business not a friend.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    North of Chicago
    Posts
    1,756

    Re: San Diego Machine Shop Recommendation?

    You might consider buying a 1/2 round file and doing it yourself. Your new hole isn't hugely bigger than the existing one, plus aluminum is soft and easy to work. Draw/scribe a circle of the proper diameter and take your time with the file—the hole doesn't need to be perfectly round, simply close enough to work.
    ____________________________________________

    Richard Wasserman

    https://www.rwasserman.com/

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    88

    Re: San Diego Machine Shop Recommendation?

    I wasn't getting my hopes up but figured it was worth a shot. Some older posts seemed to suggest there were shops that would take on a small one-off project for a reasonable price. But I guess that's just not the case any more, at least not in the "big city". Maybe if I was in Podunk USA I could go to Billy Bobs Auto Shop and have him whip it out for a beer....

    Finding the "correct" board seemed more unlikely than finding a suitable shop.

    Anyway, I just picked up a fly cutter from the local Ace Hardware, that seems to have done the job well enough. The difference was big enough that I didn't want to mess with hogging it out by hand. I've done a smaller hole with a spindle sander, but this was pushing the limit of what I felt comfortable doing that way (removing 8 mm of the perimeter).

Similar Threads

  1. On-Line Machine Shop
    By rbultman in forum LF DIY (Do It Yourself)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 17-Jan-2016, 11:06
  2. Fire in the historic Campbell & Kelly Machine Shop in Tonopah!
    By Jim Galli in forum Image Sharing (LF) & Discussion
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 14-Oct-2012, 16:54
  3. Suggestions: Machine Shop Services
    By rguinter in forum Resources
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 31-Aug-2010, 09:51

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •