machine school

[vendetta333]

perhaps this is the wrong thread, but i figured the actual gun smiths on this site would frequent this area. anyway, i was wondering if any of you went to machinist/metalwork trade school? i am a philosophy major, go ahead laugh, and i am a fingernail away from dropping out of my college, because community college sux! that being said, i do love philosophy, but it really has nothing to do with what my life plans are. i want to make ****! i have the inspiration and basic knowledge, just not the training. NOW MY QUESTION: i cannot find any info on the web about any actual machine schools. can someone please point me in the right direction? i live in atlanta btw. well, not really. i could commute lol. all info will be graciously appreciated!!

 

[shortgrass]

A gunsmith is much more than a machinist. He's also a metal finisher, mechanic/parts maker (at times), stockmaker, and has knowledge of firearms design and ballistics. You might check-out the accredited schools that offer two year gunsmithing programs.

 

[lazylabs]

Trinidad state junior college, Trinidad Colorado. I know it's not in Atlanta but will have to relocate if you really want school based training for gunsmithing. If you search google for machinist training in Atlanta you could pick up a few lathe or mill classes but as mentioned building guns is ALOT more than that.

 

[mrbigtexan]

stay in school and apprentice under a gunsmith in your spare time! it could mean the difference in building your own guns and getting to enjoy them or just building guns for other people.

 

[shortgrass]

There is an excellent school just north of you, with a 2 yr. program. Montgomery Community College in Troy, North Carolina. I don't know a working 'smith who has the time to take on an apprentice. Everything that comes out of a shop reflects on the 'smith and taking time for instruction just wouldn't be cost effective.

 

[Trickymissfit]

perhaps this is the wrong thread, but i figured the actual gun smiths on this site would frequent this area. anyway, i was wondering if any of you went to machinist/metalwork trade school? i am a philosophy major, go ahead laugh, and i am a fingernail away from dropping out of my college, because community college sux! that being said, i do love philosophy, but it really has nothing to do with what my life plans are. i want to make ****! i have the inspiration and basic knowledge, just not the training. NOW MY QUESTION: i cannot find any info on the web about any actual machine schools. can someone please point me in the right direction? i live in atlanta btw. well, not really. i could commute lol. all info will be graciously appreciated!!

I did the apprenticship thing twice. Your best bet is to get into a job shop, and start an apprenticship. Schools are usually just good enough to let you know how to turn a machine on.

A typical tool and die apprenticship will last four to five years, and require close to a thousand hours of schooling off site. I went thru an apprenticship to learn the machine building craft as well. It was much different, but yet paralled the machining trades. I'd be looking at places that do the BAT certified training. The others won't get you thru the door in a lot of places, unless you got ten years or more under your belt. I'm not a tool maker (thank God), but a machinest repairman That's what the department of labor classifies it anyway. I did the tool room thing right along side the T.&D. guys, but also expanded in other areas. Anyway I own two journeyman's cards, and never stopped learning.
gary

 

[vendetta333]

thanx for the replies guys. i am aware that gunsmithing is much more than just machine work, however my thoughts were that you wouldn't be able to be a gunsmith without also being a machinist. correct me if i a wrong. also, relocating is out of the question, and i am not looking to do only gunsmithing, i hold interest in other fields as well. thanx for the info though, i just found another community college that i can transfer to with no questions, and go through their trade program of machine tool and cnc. i am checking machinists that i have contacts with to see about an apprenticeship. i really want to learn all there is to it, not just enough to be a "machine operator" in a factory know what i mean? i also want to learn welding and metallurgy? anyone got any tips on that?

 

[Trickymissfit]

thanx for the replies guys. i am aware that gunsmithing is much more than just machine work, however my thoughts were that you wouldn't be able to be a gunsmith without also being a machinist. correct me if i a wrong. also, relocating is out of the question, and i am not looking to do only gunsmithing, i hold interest in other fields as well. thanx for the info though, i just found another community college that i can transfer to with no questions, and go through their trade program of machine tool and cnc. i am checking machinists that i have contacts with to see about an apprenticeship. i really want to learn all there is to it, not just enough to be a "machine operator" in a factory know what i mean? i also want to learn welding and metallurgy? anyone got any tips on that?

being a competent machinest is one thing, but learning to use what you cut is another thing. That was one of the major points in the two apprenticships I served in. Fitting it altogether, and learning to work close. Much closer than a tool maker in many cases. Gunsmithing is similar, but with a different application.
gary