Four decades ago, I asked my father "So, what is a machinist?" He thought for a moment then replied "A machinist is just a carpenter who works with metal instead of wood" (or words to that effect.) Well, although his response was greatly over-simplified, it made total sense to me at the age of 16 as I was about to enter into a fitting, turning and machining apprenticeship.

Over the next 5 years I came to know, use and love all the tools of the machinist in a very large engineering workshop - amongst many tradesmen and fellow apprentices.

In today's modern machine shops some things have changed dramatically since those days decades ago - but many things have remained the same.

More and more these days you will find the new 'computer numerically controlled' (CNC) machines replacing the old manually-operated work horses. And many of the boundaries between the old traditional tasks of turning, milling, grinding and drilling are becoming blurred with these new CNC multi-tasking machines.

During the apprenticeship stage of 'wannabe' machinists, then and now, there are some basic skills and tools that have to be mastered. These broad areas are: hand tools, cutting tools, machine tools, measuring tools, workholders and toolholders.

The hand tools, workholders and toolholders are still much as they always have been - but the machine tools have had some great advances over the years as mentioned previously with the CNC lathes etc.- and so too have many of the measuring devices - for example, the humble vernier calipers I used to know and love have progressed to dial calipers and now to the latest electronic versions with digital readouts.

I was lucky. Our big engineering company was generous with its apprentices. Every week we received a healthy tool allowance on top of our pay, so on a regular basis we would purchase new tools-of-the- trade to add to our personal toolboxes. Over the years I amassed an excellent tool kit - most of which I still have to this day. This included micrometers, vernier calipers, hammers, chisels, punches, dial indicator, screw drivers, spanners, drills, tool bits, scribes, taps, dies, rulers, pliers, hacksaws, clamps, files, cutters, allen keys, ratchets & sockets, torque wrenches, dial test indicator, angle gauges, radius gauges, feeler gauges, magnifying loupe, vise grips, depth micrometer, squares, vice,  and …. I'm sure there were many more bits and bobs, but that's all I can remember for now.

Those were great days. (Well, except for the time I was sent by my tradesman to go get a very specialized piece of equipment called a "Long Weight" from another tradesman across the road. After a few hours of hanging around waiting for the gear - I finally clicked! 'A long wait.' I wonder if they are still pulling that one these days?)

Every day in machine shops all around the world you will find tradesmen and apprentices turning and grinding and milling and drilling all sorts of metals and plastics into endless shapes with great precision. Long may it be so.

Below you will find links to many great machining tools for sale today. Click on any of these that interest you for more information:

STARRETT No 124 INSIDE MICROMETER up to 7 CALIPERS MACHINIST TOOLS E
STARRETT No 124 INSIDE MICROMETER up to 7 CALIPERS MACHINIST TOOLS E
Paypal   US $31.00 		MACHINIST TOOLS PUNCHES COLD CHISELS USED LOT
MACHINIST TOOLS PUNCHES COLD CHISELS USED LOT
Paypal   US $32.00 		Assorted Machinist tools
Assorted Machinist tools
Paypal   US $23.00
Mitutoyo 0 1 outside micrometer 103 135 carry case machinist tools
Mitutoyo 0 1 outside micrometer 103 135 carry case machinist tools
Paypal   US $39.00 		Mitutoyo 1 2 outside micrometer 103 136 carry case machinist tools
Mitutoyo 1 2 outside micrometer 103 136 carry case machinist tools
Paypal   US $45.00 		3 Mitutoyo micrometers 0 1 1 2 2 3 set 103 932 machinist tools
3 Mitutoyo micrometers 0 1 1 2 2 3 set 103 932 machinist tools
Paypal   US $95.00
Machinist Tools Lot of End Mills Assorted New
Machinist Tools Lot of End Mills Assorted New
Paypal   US $127.50 		OLD USED MACHINIST TOOLS FINE SHARPENING HONING STONES LOT NICE
OLD USED MACHINIST TOOLS FINE SHARPENING HONING STONES LOT NICE
Paypal   US $46.00 		OLD USED MACHINIST TOOLS NORBIDE STICKS LOT 4 PIECES MACHINING
OLD USED MACHINIST TOOLS NORBIDE STICKS LOT 4 PIECES MACHINING
Paypal   US $27.50
OLD USED MACHINIST TOOLS MICROMETER INDICATOR COMBINATION NICE
OLD USED MACHINIST TOOLS MICROMETER INDICATOR COMBINATION NICE
Paypal   US $21.95 		12 digital electronic caliper tool tools machinist toolmaker
12 digital electronic caliper tool tools machinist toolmaker
Paypal   US $20.50 		MACHINIST TOOLS TELESCOPING GAGES AND OTHERS
MACHINIST TOOLS TELESCOPING GAGES AND OTHERS
Paypal   US $30.00
Machinist ToolsAlot21 usable carbide endmill all sizes 2 drill for scrap 4bls
Machinist ToolsAlot21 usable carbide endmill all sizes 2 drill for scrap 4bls
Paypal   US $39.88 		lot cobalt tungsten lathe machinist metal cut tools 11 pound mixed size carbide
lot cobalt tungsten lathe machinist metal cut tools 11 pound mixed size carbide
Paypal   US $36.00 		Machinist Tools Large Lot of Lathe HSS Carbide Boring Bars Everede et al
Machinist Tools Large Lot of Lathe HSS Carbide Boring Bars Everede et al
Paypal   US $207.50

There are many manufacturers of machinist tools producing excellent products on the market today. For example, the Starrett company has been producing high quality machining tools for toolmakers, machinists and craftsmen for over 130 years. Mitutoyo, founded in 1934, also manufactures an excellent line of precision measuring devices for the machinist, such as dial indicators, micrometers and calipers.