Quote Originally Posted by ghettodub View Post
Cool, thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll just start out my learning some machining!

Why not start with the original machining method?
I will give you a 1.5" square of steel. You provide a 10" mill bastard file and file a perfect 1" square, 90 degree corners and accurate to .0010 in all dimensions.
Then you can move onto a machine.
I have a friend of mine who apprenticed to an old German tool and die maker and that is how he started with his apprenticeship.
Makes perfect sense, the better you can manipulate the metal by hand then the better you can by machine.
Don't waste your time on CNC machining unless your idea of Smithing is watching a machine turn out 3K parts per day.
I think Emily Griffith still has manual machining classes. That is what you want, old school knob turning machine skills.
You need a huge knowledge and reference base for Smithing. Buy every book you can and read them.
You need to know many different mediums-steel-stainless-high carbon and low carbon steels-brass-copper-wood