Granite Video / Photos

"I'm an engineer. I've had a Smithy Granite for two or three years; it's a nice machine. When I need something, I make it. That saves sending out to tool shops. It saves a lot of money, but more importantly, it saves time. It's much quicker to just do it myself. I also build optical assemblies for 3-D video cameras. The components are small, and I have to hold less than a thousandth of an inch. I chose Smithy because they've got a wide product line and they don't nickel and dime you to death. I chose their Granite model because they have thousandths increments with english and metric thread cuttings. Granite also has an R-8 mill head, that's what Bridgeport and other industrial mills use, so there's lots of affordable tooling available. It's rigid, so you can make things accurately. I could have bought a used Bridgeport, but the Smithy gives me a lathe and milling machine without taking up a lot of room."

Jay D., NH

"My hobbies since retirement as an auto repair shop include - hot rods, woodworking, and wood turning. The hot rods require lots of fabrication and that's where my Granite 1324 is wonderful. I'm busy every day with fabrication challenges with the hobbies and also helping family, friends, neighbors with mechanical problems. It does everything I want it to do. I should have bought this machine years ago while still in business. This machine's versatility would have been a real asset."

Bruce L., CA

"I bought the Smithy to make some of the worlds best sundials. I make sundials from Bronze and Granite. The Smithy is versatile and capable of doing most of what I need."

Bill G., CA

"We make deep-sea diving equipment that makes no bubbles. Our Granite 1324 makes all the prototypes of mold masters and mold housings for all the parts before we go to tooling."

Steam Machines Inc., TN

"Being able to make special parts is worth it all. My first job was to build parts for a 65 switch machine for the toy train layout. I saved $650.00 over buying commercial units."

Carl B., SC

"The Smithy is used in the test lab in the composite shop at United Airlines. We used it to manufacture test coupones for material certification. We also use it to make test fixtures. It has paid for itself in the time that it has saved."

Roger B., CA

Jim Todd apprenticed as a tool and die maker in Glasgow, Scotland, then came to work for Ford Motor Company. Not too long after getting to Detroit, Jim decided to brush up on his machining skills.

After his machining instructor told him about Smithy machines, Jim came to Ann Arbor, MI showroom and saw a our Granite 1324. It was love at first sight: He knew this was the machine to help him achieve his long time dream of starting his own engineering firm.

Jim has put his machining experience, engineering mind, his large garage and his brand new Smithy to work. He has already invented a three tier roulette wheel for a new board game and he has also fabricated and sold a metal soccer goal.

When not innovating with his Smithy he is helping out family and friends. Recently his daughter was visiting from London and she had a big problem, she had the only key to the lavatory. The key was an old, European-style that your local hardware couldn't duplicate. Jim was able to make 5 replicas of the key and make her the office hero.

He also helped a family friend and saved him $2,000-$3,000. A left hand bracket on a corn collector broke and a new one cost between $2,000-$3,000. Jim took the measurements from the right hand bracket and machined the left one. Jim has also made a hand held skate sharpener for ice hockey players and he machined an exact scale replica of the church he and his family attend. We are not sure what is next on the docket but we do know Jim will enjoy every minute of what he is doing. As Jim put it. “I have a workshop and a Smithy, how much happier can a man get?”

Jim T., MI