According to the bureau of labor statistics for the year 2001, the median hourly wage for tool and die makers in the U.S. was $20.01/hr.

The top ten percent were making $29.49/hr. Michigan and Washington had the highest median wage at $24.29/hr. and $23.67 respectively. Mississippi and West Virginia had the lowest median wage at $13.76/hr. and $12.48/hr.

According to my high school shop teacher, a drill press causes more injuries than any other type of metal working machine. Lathes and disk sanders come in a close second.

Wood's metal has the lowest melting point of any solid metal at room temperature. It melts at 158 F. It consists of about 12% Cadmium, 12% Tin, 24%, Lead and 50% Bismuth.

The average automobile consists of about a hundred and fifty different alloys of metal.

An average man working hard can output about one quarter horsepower.

Loctite thread and bushing lockers do not dry like glue, they set up in a lack of oxygen.

A one hundred degree F rise in temperature will expand steel approximately .0006 ? per inch and aluminum about twice that amount.

Something that is 140 to 150 F is difficult to touch or hold for an extended length of time.

The "C" in 5C collet stands for "Cataract" which is the name of the waterfalls that could be seen from the windows of the original Hardinge factory in Chicago, Ill.

The "RS" in RS232...