Mr Pete222

I watch Mr Pete just as a thank you and entertainment, he got me back into this. I never thought I would own the machines I own, and certainly wish I had them during my Car , Motorcycle days, and model airplane days. The projects would have been numerous.

Woodworking magazines and I'm sure metal working suffer the same as Mr Pete. They run through then repeat. The reality is that the more advanced stuff is too limited, and by the time you reach a certain level you are mostly on your own.

I watch Youtube for the entertainment value, since TV just doesn't do it for me, and I need to have some down time before I go to bed. I also watch early in the morn before I start puttering around.

As far as the dirt nap, really? that bothers you. I guess I am more pragmatic about things, I don't let it bother me, I am here for a time and then I'm ashes, and dust in the wind.
 
SouthernChap said:
I'd never suggest this to MrPete (got to show some respect and besides, it would probably tip him over into the grave!:eek::oops::frown:) but I have considered suggesting to one or other of the more established experienced/skilled machinist youtubers (one of those that uses and is used to proper old iron), that they buy a Chinese 7x from one of the reputable importers and do a series on their version of fettling, upgrading and getting the most out of it. A warts and all series of videos.

Sometimes putting a skilled and experienced engineer up against those kind of constraints can make for excellent entertainment and give extra insight into techniques that your average beginner-machinist-turned-youtuber (who are the people that mostly account for the mini lathe upgrade videos on YouTube) won't provide.
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I’d love to do something like this as I already understand the limitations of the machines.

The problem is time and money. Time I could come up with, but to make a $700 lathe into what I would want it to be would cost another $700 on top of the purchase price, and that would mean dragging the process out a bit.

Unless someone wants to donate a machine?

I initially didn’t like mrPetes videos when I found them, but I quickly realized I was more of a peer than his target audience which is raw beginners.

He teaches good lessens, but without being hands on and on the same room, the classroom style in my opinion will not hold people’s attention.

The opposite of MP would be fireball tool. Lots of flash and breaking stuff with a little learning gleaned.

Blondie, abom, oxco, that aussy guy that does heavy equip, and our own Norwegian feller are better for the more advanced amount us.
 
There’s a difference between teaching and demonstrating. I could watch Adam a booth make things all day, just talking through and showing what’s he’s doing without any teaching. He more than others has captured the online master/apprentice demonstrating vibe, where he and each of his viewers is standing together at a machine doing stuff. His early stuff included a lot of hydraulic repair, which doesn’t have broad appeal. But the machining was universal and I still enjoy watching it.

Quinn Dunki has the teacher skills and the clever humor, but she’s smart enough to limit output to one half-hour highly edited video a week.

Joe Pi is more effective when we watch him solve problems than when he’s teaching. But I already know the math.

I think This Old Tony has run out of projects to do, and I know he’s got to have two hours of writing and another two hours of editing for every five minutes of video he produces. But I can show them to my wife, whereas she would not be able to hang with an Abom video. He provides the complete entertainment package.

For a mix of teaching and master/apprentice demonstration, plus an example of working cleanly and accurately, I enjoy Stefan Gotteswinter.

Keith Rucker’s videos are about cool toys and machines that I’ll never own but can appreciate. But sometimes I yell at him.

Steve Watkins is for me like hanging with an old buddy in his shop doing nothing much in particular. That he lives where I grew up and we are the same age enhances that experience for me—with only a slight shift in the space-time continuum we could indeed have been old buddies that hang together messing around in the shop. But the title of his channel is misnamed—“Steven Watkins at Work” should be “Steve Watkins messing around”.

These producers probably get bored with repeating themselves, but I for one don’t get bored watching them do what they’ve done many times in the past. There’s always something new to pick up.

But for me Mr. Pete is more encyclopedic than storytelling or demonstrating. I search his content topically rather than watching for sheer entertainment. I suspect his older videos still get a steady stream of views from people searching for specific answers in his back catalog. He may not realize that, but I hope he does.

Rick “appreciates them all” Denney
 
rwdenney said:
I think This Old Tony has run out of projects to do
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Yeah, I mean I loved the video about pruners but it kinda showed he was running low on channel specific topics. Can't blame the guy, he's certainly done his bit for machining education and paid his dues.

I know he's done a couple of videos on it already but he was the YouTuber that made me consider the idea for the "Chinese 7x Challenge". In fact, I just shot him a message about it. He may not fancy the idea but he does have a sense of the ridiculous so maybe it'll appeal. :grin:
 
rwdenney said:
I don’t watch all of Lyle’s videos, but I watch a lot of them. I suspect he rode a wave of novice hobbyist interest in the earlier days of YouTube, and now he’s running out of viewers looking for a shop teacher who jokes a lot about dirt naps.

I just won several recent Petebay auction lots and corresponded with him last week.

Rick “not quite comfortable with dirt nap jokes” Denney
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I suspect there is a great deal more competition for viewers as there are more folks doing what he does...
 
Agree with many of the comments.

Mr Pete has a lot going for him, with a few hinderances. He was one of the very early youtube machinists, and by far the most successful. So many from that time period never had his numbers, and dropped out after a couple of years.

Comparing those earlier days with now he kind of has a double whammy working against him. One there is just so much more competition dividing eyes, and two, those early videos are the beginner topics most desirable to developing hobby machinists.
Comparing the views from a video in 2010 showing some basic skill on his Atlas lathe is naturally going to blow away his latest video on some random gadget that caught his eye.

I'd put his video style as a neutral element. He doesn't have the technical skills in video production of some of the others, but where that may turn some off, it is likely a plus for others and a doesn't matter for most.


The comparison with magazines is a good one. He is not alone among the youtube machinist community of struggling to find something unique. You can only do so many beginner skills videos, so projects start to replace them. Those can also get repetitive, and are self limiting. If they just the application of basic skills, some will skip them. If they are an advanced subject or branching out to other skills, like soldering they will lose appeal to many, like those who already know how to solder, or have no interest in soldering.


SouthernChap said:
I'd never suggest this to MrPete (got to show some respect and besides, it would probably tip him over into the grave!:eek::oops::frown:) but I have considered suggesting to one or other of the more established experienced/skilled machinist youtubers (one of those that uses and is used to proper old iron), that they buy a Chinese 7x from one of the reputable importers and do a series on their version of fettling, upgrading and getting the most out of it. A warts and all series of videos.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't count that out. He has been taking on some smaller lathes lately, and I think there is a lot of pent up interest.

Small lathes and mills are far more popular than many of the forums would suggest, as I think many just lay low about their machines. There really isn't a whole lot of small machine content out there. Watch and clock maker videos are very niche, and the few I can think of who use small lathes like Clickspring, and Stefen Gotteswinter are so over the top in their projects that the lathes become secondary and I think they scare many off. It is almost like they are compensating for using a small lathe.

Blondihacks and Clough42 do use 10" import lathes, but these are still more substantial than true "mini-lathes" and they have on occassion been less than flattering to lathes smaller that theirs (and mostly hearsay not based on personal experience, Adam Savage has also been guilty of this as well).

I agree it would be very interesting to see somebody take a look at some smaller lathes from the aspect of what they can do, and the kind of work they are truly well suited for. Not just how they fail compared to a 12" lathe weighing 900lbs.

Point out the strengths and weaknesses of the different options, and what you get for $500 vs $1500. I'd really like to see it from somebody with real skills, doing a variety of "normal" small lathe projects, like the majority of buyers are interested in, making a weird screw for an antique gun, a bushing for a mini-bike, or a simple wobbler engine. Not restoring a Victorian clock work monstrosity or an ancient computer (Antikythera mechanism).


I'm encouraged with Mr Pete taking on the Unimat, I just hope he goes further than a show and tell, using it on some real projects. I hope he continues the series with some of the other common 8" and smaller lathes, and maybe branches out to include some small mills.

Of all the youtubers, I think he really is the best positioned for a series like that.

It also provides an opportunity to revisit those evergreen beginner topics as he can go over basic operations like tool selection, threading, parting both as a refresher / intro for new viewers as well as highlighting the capabilities of the different machines. Threading being a good way to show off differences with lathes like the Atlas 618 and Chinese 7" using change gears, while many smaller lather require a variety of special accessories, like the hand operated change gears on the Sherline, or tracer device on the Unimat, while others are entirely reliant on taps / dies.

Like all topics, there will be some who immediately tune out of the "toy" show, but I expect he would also gain a lot of new viewers who own or were considering the purchase of one of these lathes.
 
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Aaron_W said:
Agree with many of the comments.

Mr Pete has a lot going for him, with a few hinderances. He was one of the very early youtube machinists, and by far the most successful. So many from that time period never had his numbers, and dropped out after a couple of years.

Comparing those earlier days with now he kind of has a double whammy working against him. One there is just so much more competition dividing eyes, and two, those early videos are the beginner topics most desirable to developing hobby machinists.
Comparing the views from a video in 2010 showing some basic skill on his Atlas lathe is naturally going to blow away his latest video on some random gadget that caught his eye.

I'd put his video style as a neutral element. He doesn't have the technical skills in video production of some of the others, but where that may turn some off, it is likely a plus for others and a doesn't matter for most.


The comparison with magazines is a good one. He is not alone among the youtube machinist community of struggling to find something unique. You can only do so many beginner skills videos, so projects start to replace them. Those can also get repetitive, and are self limiting. If they just the application of basic skills, some will skip them. If they are an advanced subject or branching out to other skills, like soldering they will lose appeal to many, like those who already know how to solder, or have no interest in soldering.




I wouldn't count that out. He has been taking on some smaller lathes lately, and I think there is a lot of pent up interest.

Small lathes and mills are far more popular than many of the forums would suggest, as I think many just lay low about their machines. There really isn't a whole lot of small machine content out there. Watch and clock maker videos are very niche, and the few I can think of who use small lathes like Clickspring, and Stefen Gotteswinter are so over the top in their projects that the lathes become secondary and I think they scare many off. It is almost like they are compensating for using a small lathe.

Blondihacks and Clough42 do use 10" import lathes, but these are still more substantial than true "mini-lathes" and they have on occassion been less than flattering to lathes smaller that theirs (and mostly hearsay not based on personal experience, Adam Savage has also been guilty of this as well).

I agree it would be very interesting to see somebody take a look at some smaller lathes from the aspect of what they can do, and the kind of work they are truly well suited for. Not just how they fail compared to a 12" lathe weighing 900lbs.

Point out the strengths and weaknesses of the different options, and what you get for $500 vs $1500. I'd really like to see it from somebody with real skills, doing a variety of "normal" small lathe projects, like the majority of buyers are interested in, making a weird screw for an antique gun, a bushing for a mini-bike, or a simple wobbler engine. Not restoring a Victorian clock work monstrosity or an ancient computer (Antikythera mechanism).


I'm encouraged with Mr Pete taking on the Unimat, I just hope he goes further than a show and tell, using it on some real projects. I hope he continues the series with some of the other common 8" and smaller lathes, and maybe branches out to include some small mills.

Of all the youtubers, I think he really is the best positioned for a series like that.

It also provides an opportunity to revisit those evergreen beginner topics as he can go over basic operations like tool selection, threading, parting both as a refresher / intro for new viewers as well as highlighting the capabilities of the different machines. Threading being a good way to show off differences with lathes like the Atlas 618 and Chinese 7" using change gears, while many smaller lather require a variety of special accessories, like the hand operated change gears on the Sherline, or tracer device on the Unimat, while others are entirely reliant on taps / dies.

Like all topics, there will be some who immediately tune out of the "toy" show, but I expect he would also gain a lot of new viewers who own or were considering the purchase of one of these lathes.
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His Unimat videos are really good and I've really enjoyed them.

Ultimately though, they're European machines that are limited by their size and mass rather than the workmanship of the manufacturers, that's probably acceptable to a man like MrPete.

I think the problem with asking MrPete to take on a Chinese 7x is a tendency for people who have/had a professional role in machining (as MrPete had) to dismiss the Chinese mini-lathes out of hand as a homogeneous group.

Now, that dismissal is arguably not completely without virtue but, as many of us know, it's often partially based on a bit of a caricature, and sometimes a bit of understandable animosity towards China itself.

I can't imagine MrPete, with his strong views on Chinese products, even entertaining the idea of having a Chinese mini lathe in his shop.

I fear even if someone donated a 'decent' example, he'd struggle to get over the demotivating effects of his views, combined with the demotivating experience of the less-than-perfect QC of an example from even one of the more reputable importers.

If he'd even start, I'm not sure he'd find himself wanting to finish! ;)

Haven't heard back from ToT yet. Who knows, we may be in for a rollicking 7 part video series from the trademark darkened workshop, full of laughter and tears. :grin:
 
SouthernChap said:
His Unimat videos are really good and I've really enjoyed them.

Ultimately though, they're European machines that are limited by their size and mass rather than the workmanship of the manufacturers, that's probably acceptable to a man like MrPete.

I think the problem with asking MrPete to take on a Chinese 7x is a tendency for people who have/had a professional role in machining (as MrPete had) to dismiss the Chinese mini-lathes out of hand as a homogeneous group.

Now, that dismissal is arguably not completely without virtue but, as many of us know, it's often partially based on a bit of a caricature, and sometimes a bit of understandable animosity towards China itself.

I can't imagine MrPete, with his strong views on Chinese products, even entertaining the idea of having a Chinese mini lathe in his shop.

I fear even if someone donated a 'decent' example, he'd struggle to get over the demotivating effects of his views, combined with the demotivating experience of the less-than-perfect QC of an example from even one of the more reputable importers.

If he'd even start, I'm not sure he'd find himself wanting to finish! ;)

Haven't heard back from ToT yet. Who knows, we may be in for a rollicking 7 part video series from the trademark darkened workshop, full of laughter and tears. :grin:
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I just watched the Mr Pete video on making some brass screws with the Unimat. It is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for. He is using the lathe for the kind of task it is meant for, and he includes some of the little mods he has done, a carriage stop, foot pedal control, and a dial indicator holder which would be useful on something like the "other" (AA) 6" Craftsman. He is using it because of the Unimat being metric, while the Craftsman would benefit due to the lack of a dial on the cross slide wheel (or any of the hand wheels actually).
It is unfortunate that he doesn't have the threading accessory to show off, but they are hard to find and expensive, so using a die is reality for most Unimat owners.


I get your comments about his attitude towards Chinese machines, but he does have some Chinese tools in his shop, so he isn't completely above allowing some in.

Maybe not jumping straight to a 7x right away, but if he were to go through a few other small lathes first he might warm up to the challenge and providing some comparison. The 7x lathes are what is out there for many, and I'm sure his shop teacher mentality of bringing more into the fold even if that is warning people of the steep learning curve to bring a Chinese lathe up to par.

Off the top of my head, there are two in production American lathes (Taig and Sherline), one English (Cowells), and several small vintage lathes that would fit the concept (Atlas 618, AA Dunlap / Craftsman, Myford 7, Unimat 3, Emco Compact 5, Prazi SD300), so plenty of room to ease him into the idea.

Of course examples would have to find their way to him but I expect that he is enough of a gentleman to give a donated or loaned machine a fair shake if one of the more reputable sellers (Little Machine Shop, Grizzly etc) or a viewer provided him with one.

I'm not sure why he doesn't use Patreon like many youtubers. That would be one way he could raise the money for the sample machines, which he could sell off, use as prizes etc after using if he didn't want a house full of tiny lathes.

One of the reasons I think he could be a good proponent of small lathes is he doesn't have the lathe snobbery that some have. He has used the machines that many hobbyists have in their homes, 9-12" Atlas, Logan, South Bend with his "fancy" lathe being a Clausing (12" I believe).


Did not know ToT was planning to revisit the 7" lathe. He did a short series on "the infamous mini lathe" a few years ago. He seemed amused with the machine, and didn't totally trash it recognizing it is the right machine for some if they are willing to put some work into it. He does seem to like tinkering with machines so I can see him being a good choice for a series on making the 7" better.

Maybe ToT could loan Mr Pete the suped up 7" lathe when he is done so he can show off what a properly tuned 7" can do. ;)
 
Yes true, given his obviously strong motivation to teach (which as a youtube creator, he's alway been a shining example of) and given the likely preponderance of Chinese 7x lathes in beginners hands, I can definitely see why, on the face of it, he'd be a good person to reach out to with the idea.

It's just that he has such a bee in his bonnet about "Made in the USA" and anything requiring any degree of careful manufacture being made outside the West (I think he has a few examples of various Asian bandsaws but I expect he sees those as having a low bar of acceptability, precision-wise and so can be pragmatic about that), I'd be personally reluctant to contact him about it.

You know the sign:

"Please do not ask for content based on Chinese machine tools as a refusal often offends"

:grin:

Aaron_W said:
Did not know ToT was planning to revisit the 7" lathe
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As far as I know, he wasn't planning on it. Which is why I sent him a DM on Patreon, that I hope will amuse him enough that even if he doesn't fancy actually taking up my idea, he won't actually block me on Patreon! :oops::grin:
 
SouthernChap said:
Yes true, given his obviously strong motivation to teach (which as a youtube creator, he's alway been a shining example of) and given the likely preponderance of Chinese 7x lathes in beginners hands, I can definitely see why, on the face of it, he'd be a good person to reach out to with the idea.

It's just that he has such a bee in his bonnet about "Made in the USA" and anything requiring any degree of careful manufacture being made outside the West (I think he has a few examples of various Asian bandsaws but I expect he sees those as having a low bar of acceptability, precision-wise and so can be pragmatic about that), I'd be personally reluctant to contact him about it.

You know the sign:

"Please do not ask for content based on Chinese machine tools as a refusal often offends"

:grin:



As far as I know, he wasn't planning on it. Which is why I sent him a DM on Patreon, that I hope will amuse him enough that even if he doesn't fancy actually taking up my idea, he won't actually block me on Patreon! :oops::grin:
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Have you ever looked at Adventures with a very small lathe?
 
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