Resources
There are lots of resources available on the web to help with your projects; here are just a few I’ve found over the years.
Useful Links
- Bedroom Workshop - Amateur machining in the home workshop
- Best Drill Reviews - Drills, DIY and Top Tips
- Blokey Shed (Australia)
- Building BloQs - London’s largest open access workshop for professional makers.
- CIGN Workshop
- Graham Howe Model Engineering
- Home made Tools - An archive of home made tools from all over the web
- John Baguley's Model Engineering
- John R. Bentley's Model Engines
- Maker Pro - Open source platform for maker projects, centered around Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Intel Edison, home automation and more
- Mikes Models
- Model Engine News
- Model Engineering Website - News, Reviews and Tutorials
- Parts of a lathe
- Prazi Lathe Manuals and Pictures
- Sheet Metal Blog - Roto-Die – 45 Years of Sheet Metal
- Steve Bedair's 9×20 Lathe Site
- Swarf Maker
- The Hobbyist's Machine Shop
- Tony Jeffree's Model Engineering
- Toolazine - Tool reviews and recommendations
- Virtual Machine Shop
Interesting Links
- Adventures in Watchmaking - Watchmaking and horology tools
- All About Circuits - Latest news and trends for Electronics Engineers
- Bazmonaut - Small lathes, 3D Printing, Metal Casting and Rockets
- Black Dog Salvage - Architectural Salvage in Virginia, watch out for their Maker of the Month
- Bletchley Park
- DIY Tripods - DIY Tripods, Camera Mounts, Motion Control and Trigger Control
- Don Campbell Models - Hand Built Miniature Machinery
- Engineer Live - Engineering News
- Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories
- Furby Autopsy
- Gater Grotto
- Internet Craftsmanship Museum
- Klockwerks
- Making Wierd Stuff
- MS Raynsford - Useless Machines, Laser cutting and more
- Nothing Too Strong Ever Broke - Tom Lipton journal of mechanical persuits
- Panofish - Machining, Woodwork, Tool Mods, DIY
- Penguin's Lab
- Rich Rap - Latest in DIY 3D Printing
- Rick Sparber - Metalworking and steam engines
- Scrapheap Challenge
- Solar Heat Engines - Stirling engines, ardiunos, variable reluctance motors, 3d printing, solar collectors, engine plans and more
- Steam Boat Association - The Steam Boat Association of Great Britain
- Steve's Workshop - Steves workshop full of tools, steam engines, stirling engines, toys, woodwork and more
- The Engineer - Online resource for the engineering industry offering users the latest news and features
- The Field Lab
- The MAD Museum - The MAD (Mechanical Art & Design) Museum in Stratford on Avon
- Thurgarton Iron Works
- Tim's Model Airship Project
- Tinplate Girl - Ideas and projects for working with tinplate
- Zanconato Custom Cycles
Other People
Here's a bunch of other interesting people I've stumbled across on the internet.
- Alice's Fashion and Welding Blog
- Art in Steel - Alan Ross Metal Sculpture from Herefordshire, garden sculpture
- Bazmonaut - Machines, Rockets and Metal Casting
- Ben Brandt / B2Builds - Woodworking and technology combined
- Ben Krasnow - Great selection of diverse projects from DIY Raman Spectroscopy to Cookie Machines
- Bex Simon - Bespoke metalwork and homeware accessories
- Bitquill - Spiros Papadimitriou’s 3D Printing and electronics
- Blondi Hacks - Quinn’s page of metalwork, repairs, welding, electronics and computing
- Building a pair of Tinkerbells - Peter and his project to build two Tinkerbell type 7.25″ gauge steam locomotives
- Channel Kevin Caron - Videos on Milling, Welding, Metal Forming and more
- Chipped Builds - Ashley Stillson, is a self taught DIYer and makes a variety of projects in her small garage
- Clivey's Blog
- Concrete Dog
- Crabfu Artworks
- Creatorvox - Kristen, an architect and life-long maker of things from carpentry to cooking to all kinds of crafting projects
- Dan's Workshop - Electric furnace, aluminium casting, lego steam engines, alternative power
- Darbin Orvar - Linn – Girl in a shop, lighting, furniture and woodworking projects
- David Neat - Model Making Techniques
- Diana Probst - Fun and failures with Raspberry Pi, Coding, Electronics and Lathe work
- Ed's Junk Shop - Animatronics, Props, Tools, DIY and other totally amazing projects
- Eugene Sargent - Making, 3D printing and art
- Faraz Sayed - Maker, fixer, material scientist
- Graham Dore Metal Sculpture - Contemporary Metal Sculpture by Dorset based artist Graham Dore
- Harold Hall – The Metalworkers Workshop - Harold wrote many of the Workshop Practice series books and his site is a wealth of information and tips
- Honey Bee Yachts - Wooden Yachts
- James Stanley - z80, electronics, 3D printing, casting and more
- Jeremy Cook - Robotics, CNC, Mechanisms, and other unique DIY projects by Jeremy Cook
- Jo the Iron - Blacksmith Courses, Standalone Farm Forge, Hertfordshire
- John Baguley's Model Engineering
- Keith's Electronics Blog
- Kit Wallace - OpenSCAD, sculpture, 3D Printing
- Knoba – Things I've made - A good selection different projects and tool builds
- Maker of Things – Alfred Chow - A maker with some interesting projects, odd things, bike trailers, electric tractors, museum displays.
- Making It - Three different makers with different backgrounds talking about creativity, design and making things with your bare hands. Hosted by Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett and David Picciuto
- Mayer Makes - Clemens Mayer builds electronic and DIY projects in Austria and appears at MakerFaires
- Metaltronics - Metalworking and Electronics by Ignacio Garrido
- My Heap - Casting, Gingery Lathe and Shaper, Furnaces
- Nick Reynolds – Maker - Electronics, Props, Mesh Radio, ESP
- Part Fusion - 3D printing, Resin, LEDs
- Paul the CAD - TurboCAD, DoubleCAD and Google SketchUp, Sales and Advice
- Phil's Workbench - Making model buildings, trains and accessories
- Rouge River Workshop - Tom dabbles in just about every field: small engine and power tool repair, woodworking machine restoration, tool design, electronic projects, woodworking of a more practical nature, also around the house construction projects.
- Shorty Leatherwood - Leatherwood Foundry
- Southern California Home Shop Machinists - A group of amateur machinists who all share a love of metal, assure lively discussions and a variety of viewpoints for problem solving.
- Steam Punk Workshop - Jake Von Slatt’s Steam Punk Workshop
- Steve's Workshop - Steves workshop full of tools, steam engines, stirling engines, toys, woodwork and more
- Stuff Andy Makes - Maker, Tinkerer Chief Technical Strategist, Office Chairiot™ inventor
- Tanya Makes Stuff - Projects with microcontrollers, LEDs and motors
- The Ben Heck Show - Electronics hobbyist Ben Heckendorn builds and mods a host of amazing community-inspired electronics creations
- The Carpenter's Daughter - DIY and Repairs
- The Internet Lab of Winston Moy - CNC, Electronics, Making, Disassembling, Motion Control,
- The rag and bone man - Turning discarded metal into unique items
- Tinkerlog - Alex Weber’s Portfolio of Amazing projects
- Upcycling My Life At 49 - Welded scultures, small projects and woodwork
Blacksmith
- Artistic Blacksmithing and Wrought Iron
- Blacksmith's Day - Blacksmith, Art, Sculpture, Craft, Handmade, Tools
- British Artist Blacksmith Association
- David Stephenson - Artist Blacksmith Copper Repousse
- Jo the Iron - Blacksmith Courses, Standalone Farm Forge, Hertfordshire
- Leslie Tharpe - Metal Artist
- Owen Bush Artist Blacksmith - Artist Blacksmith and Bladesmith, and Bushfire Forge School of Smithing.
- Quinell School of Blacksmithing
- Richard J Weaver – Craft and Design - Blacksmithing and Green Woodwork
- Vaughans (Hope Works) - Tools and Equipment for Blacksmiths and Foundries
Inventing
Resources for inventing and inventors
- A better mousetrap - Frank and impartial invention advice and support for inventors
- Goldie Blox
- Invention of the day - Patrick Andrews – Invention of the day
- Inventor in Residence - Inventor in Residence at London’s Science Museum
- Inventor Tim Hunkin - Creator of wacky arcade machines at the Underthe Pier show and Novelty Automation exhibition, TV star of “The life of Machines”
- Inventor's Handbook - Lemelson-MIT Program: Handbook for inventor’s and aspiring entrepreneur’s
- Lyndon's Machines
- The Curious Inventor - Concise explanations of technical topics
Sheds
- Reader's Sheds
- Shed Plans - Shed plans from Shedplans.org. Plans for making a wide range of different shed styles and designs
- Tanya Makes Stuff - Projects with microcontrollers, LEDs and motors
- The secrets of shed building
Steam Punk
- Brass Goggles Forum
- Steam Punk Workshop - Jake Von Slatt’s Steam Punk Workshop
- Steampunk Magazine - An interesting downloadable and printed magazine, I featured in #6
- The Smoking Lounge Forum
- The Steampunk Home
Suppliers
A supplier of model engineering parts, tools or materials. These have been selected as they have been useful suppliers for my projects or appear to have interesting products. If you note any issues with these suppliers then please let me know.
- Abrasive Systems - Flap disks, grinders, stainless steel finishing
- Abrasives for metal - Flapdisks and polishing kits
- Anvil Trading - Tools for metal work and welding
- Arc Euro Trade - Machine tools such as milling and lathes, general workshop tools
- Avery Knight - Construction Tools, Masonry, Carving, Sculpture, Pattern Makers Tools
- Axminster Power Tool Centre - A diverse range of tools
- Baileigh Industrial - Baileigh metal fabricating equipment
- Barry Carter Motor Products Harrogate
- Bearing Boys - Bearing, Belts, Electric Motors
- Blackgates Engineering - Castings for machine tools, Sweet Pea Locomotive parts and plans
- Buy Metal Online - Wide variety of metal products including steel, brass, copper, checker plate, Corten steel and aged metals
- Camden Miniature Steam Services - Bookshop for model engineers, steam fans and all things technical
- Carhartt Workwear - Authorised Major Carhartt Workwear UK Distributor
- Chase Alloys - Specialists & Suppliers in Stainless Steel & Multi-Metals
- Chronos Engineering Supplies - Wide range of engineering tools and parts
- College Engineering Supply - Range of engineering materials, steel, plastics, bronze, cast iron, casting for engineering tools
- Cowells Small Machine Tools - Precision lathes and milling machines for engineers and clock makers
- CP Cases - Protective Cases & 19″ Racks for Transit & Storage
- Cromwell Industrial Tools - Industrial tools for garage, welding and workshop
- CuP Alloys of Chesterfield - Silver solder, flux, brazing torches
- Drill Service - Burrs, drills, reamers, countersinks, centre drills etc.
- Ebay – Metalworking Tools
- EKP Screws and Turned Parts - Model Engineering tools and components, 6″ Burrell castings and drawings
- Emvio Engineering - Bristol based supplier of workshop sized milling machines
- Engineering Supplies - Taps, Dies, Drills, Gauges and everything you need for threading
- Eyre and Baxter - Marking and Identification Specialists from Sheffield UK
- F H Brundle - Materials and tools for ornamental metal work, e.g. scrolls, baskets, gate hardware, handrails, mesh and more
- Farnell - Electronics, Components, Arduino bits, Tools and Testgear
- Flints Theatrical Chandlers - For making props, casting, resins, scenic materials, paints
- Forward Metals - Aluminium sheet, channel and bar, brass round bar
- Gears and Sprockets - Gears, Sprockets, Tiiming Belts, Pulleys
- Gloster Tooling - Machine tools, collets, boring heads, indexable tooling
- GS Supplies - “everything model engineers require to build model steam locomotives and traction engines”
- Hallet Oil - Oils and lubricants for machining and steam engines
- Hemmingway Kits - Drawings and castings for engineering tools by people such as G H Thomas and G H Thomas, also model engines
- Hindleys Ltd - Design and technology supplier (including metal supplies)
- Home and Workshop Machinery - Surplus and pre-owned equipment for the workshop
- HPC Gears - Gears, Racks, Lead Screws, Splined Shafts, Springs
- John Winter - Casting Supplies for Model Engineers
- Macc Models - Materials, parts and tools for model engineering
- Machine Mart - Garage and DIY equipment including welding
- Machine Tool Systems Inc. - CNC Grinders
- Maidstone Engineering - Boilers, castings, models, tools and fittings
- Mallard Metals - Packs of different metals such as brass, steel and aluminium
- Metalcraft - Forming, punching, scrolling tools for metal
- Metals 2 Go - A range of steel, aluminium, stainless and corten sheets and bar
- Metals 4U - Metal suppliers for longer pieces of metal
- Milton Keynes Metals
- Mindsets Online
- Model Fixings
- My Hobby Store
- Namrick - Nuts, bolts, screws and washers
- Noggin End Metals
- Original Gauge & Calibration Solutions - Internal thread gauges, external thread gauges and UKAS calibration services
- Plastic Pipe Shop - Sells plastic pipes.
- Polly Model Engineering
- R-Tech Welding Ltd - Welding machines and welding supplies
- RDG Tools
- Reeves 2000 - Model engineering supplies and castings
- RS - Electronic and mechanical components along with tools and test equipment
- Ryval Gas - Welding gas in a more managable size for hobby welders
- Smith And Arrow - Cutting Discs, Abrasives, Flap Disks
- Stakesy's Metalwork Machinery - English Wheels, Benders, Shaping, Notching, Slip Rolls and Vices
- Stuart Models - Castings, machined kits and ready to run steam engines
- The Engineers Emporium
- The Metals Warehouse - Aluminium and Stainless Steel sheet, plate and bar, cut to size and delivered across the UK
- Tracy Tools - Tap and Die Specialist, Drills, End Mills etc
- UK Stainless - Stainless Steel Fasteners and fittings
- Velleman Store - Kits and components for all your electronics needs
- Warco - Lathes, Machine Tools, Metalworking
- Welding Supplies Direct - Mig, Tig & Arc Welders, Plasma Cutters & Equipment
- Westermans Welding Equipment
- Win Source Electronics Online Store - A good place to get small batches of common components, (End of Life) EOL and obsolete parts
- Yorkshire Profiles Metal Offcut Store - A range of sheet metal in a variety of shapes and sizes
Metal sculpture in brass, mounted on an 1800s French Coin
