Tour of Lukes shop in Malta || RotarySMP

Lukes very interesting projects. Huge Noga arm, collapsible welding bench, etc.
I had a really enjoyable day hanging out in Lukes very well equipped shop in Malta.
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00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Ajax mill
03:15 - Surface plate
04:27 - Slotting head
06:54 - Shop crane
07:32 - Colchester Master 2500
09:01 - Hydraulic tracing attachment
09:40 - Chucks galore
10:12 - Shop made 5C collet closer
13:20 - Modded drill press
15:17 - Jones and Shipman 540 surface grinder
19:25 - Worlds largest NOGA arm
20:30 - Modded band saw
21:02 - Alexander GK12 engraver
22:06 - TdeG Drill grinder
22:32 - Precision straight edges
22:58 - Kuhlmann SU/2 D-bit grinder
23:52 - Breiley drill grinder
26:49 - EMF 125 bench vise
27:13 - The ultimate compact welding table
29:01 - The boring part
32:46 - Clarkson Mk1 Tool and Cutter grinder
34:10 - Marker 23

[@LCalleja]

It was nice meeting up with you Mark. And thank you all for the nice comments. Was a pleasure giving Mark a shop tour:)

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for everything Luke. I had a great time there.

[@stefanobertelli2650]

Luke What a wonderful shop! Can't wait to come and see it in person :)

[@RotarySMP]

@@stefanobertelli2650Hi Stefano. You two could make a great video together. :)

[@LCalleja]

​@@RotarySMP Sounds like a good idea. And he can show me how to use the DRO :)

[@mumblbeebee6546]

Thank you again for being such a generous machining friend to Mark!

[@sharonseguna2583]

Well done Luke, your shop is filled up with magnificent machines and talent ! Definitely would like to see more of your videos. Super talented!
👍👍👍👍👍

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote Sharon. He does excellent work.

[@joedowling5452]

I’ve been loving the RotarySMP 2024 World Tour. Seeing what others are able to do with their shop space is inspiring.
Would watch the Luke channel if it came to be.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the kind feedback Joe.

[@LCalleja]

I too have been enjoying the shop tours and thanks for the vote of confidence

[@jimsvideos7201]

"Heat treatment to destruction" is my new favourite thing.

[@RotarySMP]

I find it overrated;)

[@LCalleja]

Defiantly agree that it is over rated much prefer when they turn out good

[@squelchstuff]

What a lovely shop you have there Luke. Thanks for letting the plate polisher in.
Make some videos. I would watch.
Thanks Mark.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the encouragement. I think Luke could do an excellent channel.

[@LCalleja]

Thanks a lot unfortunately there was not too many data plates to clean and he missed a few:)

[@steveggca]

HI luke thanks for showing us you shop, would definately watch any video's that you made.

[@RotarySMP]

Awesome, thank you!

[@theisstrm-hansen7051]

Quite fun to see these homeshop-tours.
With all the mentions of Luke in the past fun to see the shop!

[@RotarySMP]

I really enjoyed hanging out there

[@LCalleja]

Thanks a lot it was nice meeting up with Mark face to face

[@robertwatsonbath]

Thanks Mark. Luke, you know what you need to do :D

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Robert

[@Rustinox]

I vote YES.
That was a really interesting visit.

[@RotarySMP]

Hi Michel, we had a fun time in the shop

[@LCalleja]

Thanks if you are ever in Malta you must pop by

[@machineshopatthebottomofth3213]

Great shop. Very British in spirit: British machines, lots in a small space and lots of homemade stuff. You both need to be drinking tea and I would feel very at home!

[@RotarySMP]

Malta has a cool British Arabic Italian vibe

[@LCalleja]

Well there is a lot of British influence here and a lot of tooling came from there as well :)

[@donkultgen4643]

What a talent. We all thank Luke for his generous heart!

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your kind comment

[@LCalleja]

Thanks for the kind words

[@vincei4252]

Oh, wow! Luke thank you so much for the awesome work you have done thru the years! And thanks for the Tour! Now I'm thinking maybe I should retire to Malta 😂

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Vice. Nice place with very nice people.

[@LCalleja]

Well if you end up retiring here you have a shop you can visit

[@RickRolling-tc7vb]

What a lovely bloke. Incredibly talented as well, all the things that he makes and his mastery of all those different machines and techniques. Very cool. Thanks Mark, keep up the world tour videos.

[@RotarySMP]

Thank you kindly. Luke really has talent at this.

[@LCalleja]

Thanks for the kind words. Might be a bit over rated as Mark only showed off the good parts :)

[@MikelNaUsaCom]

Thanks for posting! Always enjoy seeing these machines.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Mike

[@julias-shed]

Blimey I thought my workshop was cluttered 😀 great tour thanks

[@RotarySMP]

Yeah, I think "Compact" is the polite descriptor :)

[@johnsherborne3245]

Well if we are boasting, mine is definitely worse! A mill, lathe, pilar drill, fly press three welding sets a table saw and the bench, and still room for a small car. Mind British garages are designed for Austin sevens, no idea why but basically a single garage is too small for any current model.

[@julias-shed]

@@johnsherborne3245 only one lathe? Amateur! 🤣

[@RotarySMP]

Cars are free air machines. They get claustrophobic if enclosed in confined spaces. Much better for all if they rust out on the street :)

[@johnsherborne3245]

@@RotarySMP sadly it’s a Spitfire. Considering it was designed in the UK, it’s odd that a waterproof roof was not a design feature, only the floor pan is, which gives rise to it filling up to the sills if left outside.

[@GeorgeGeorgalis]

Noga camera arm! And fantastic shop! Luke, just one video per 4 months... it will inspire us all!

[@RotarySMP]

Good idea George. He can start slow :)

[@sayeager5559]

Luke should definitely start videoing. Beautiful shop and obviously a talented fella.

[@RotarySMP]

He sure is.

[@624Dudley]

@@RotarySMPI notice he has a marvelous accent, as well. Made for narrating videos! 👍

[@RotarySMP]

@@624DudleyHi Doric, I told him the same. The Maltese accent is brilliant.

[@LCalleja]

@@624Dudley I think it sounds weird but thanks a lot

[@innominatum9906]

What a cool little workshop! I love the massive NOGA arm and welding table he made =)

[@RotarySMP]

Me too! Very well executed projects.

[@LCalleja]

Thanks a lot they were both interesting projects to do

[@gorak9000]

Wow, posted 27 seconds ago... YES PLEASE!

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for that voice of encouragement.

[@RB-yq7qv]

Amazing shop man one could spend a year and never see all Luke's goodies

[@RotarySMP]

Especially when they are mostly hidden behind the Mill :)

[@LCalleja]

Mark missed quite a few interesting things :)

[@djhscorp]

Fabulous workshop, and a very talented machinist.💎

[@RotarySMP]

He sure is.

[@JoseAlcerreca]

If this is becoming a shop tour series I'm up for it. ToT being the final boss.

[@LCalleja]

I would definitely enjoy that

[@RotarySMP]

That would be cool, but dont hold your breath. :)

[@carlthor91]

Yep, go for it Luke.👍👍

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Carl.

[@RocanMotor]

Really awesome to see Luke's shop. From one Maltese machinist to another- this made me really proud. Luke should absolutely make videos.

[@RotarySMP]

You two should collaborate

[@RocanMotor]

@@RotarySMP I would love to. I'm in the US, but would be happy to help source some hard to find tooling or manufacture something and ship it over. I'm at the tail end of getting a haas cnc mill and lathe running in my shop, but once that is complete I'll be hungry for some parts to run on them.

[@RotarySMP]

@@RocanMotorGood on you. Hope that goes well for you and the customers line up at the door.

[@RocanMotor]

@@RotarySMP I sure hope so too 😊. Thank you

[@LCalleja]

@@RocanMotor Sounds like fun, let me know if I can help with anything and if you are ever over in Malta again we should meet up

[@TrPrecisionMachining]

good video and good luke shop

[@RotarySMP]

Glad you enjoyed, thanks.

[@624Dudley]

Top-notch shop tour!! 👍👍 Thanks Mark and Luke.
Oh, and I’ll be watching for the new machining channel.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks a lot Doric.

[@LCalleja]

Thanks

[@TradeWorks_Construction]

So Jealous!!! A real working man’s shop, where the machinist knows how to work around all the wear and tear that has accumulated in their machines. Reminds me of my first place, density is the word of the day 😊

[@TradeWorks_Construction]

That Breiley Drill Grinder 26:41 the use of its replaceable cam ring is really ingenious. Maybe it was actually a common mechanism (im not familiar with vintage cutter grinders) but it’s the first time i’ve personally seen one.
I’m always amazed by the mechanical and electrical “features” that were devised so that the user can work more efficiently. The skill and ingenuity to create precision before modern CNC compounded with the foresight of longevity never ceases to amaze me..

[@LCalleja]

Its not fun using worn out machines but have to deal with it now and again till I sort it out. the drill grinder is amazing to use and you can look at the movement all day long and not get bored

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks, I found out Luke has some other projects lurking in their i missed ;)

[@sm5upj]

Yes!

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote.

[@kudosjeg]

Get it Luke, Already making cool shit, start showing it off!

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the encouragement

[@billgilbride7972]

Thanks for such a fantastic tour. Amazing collection of tools, Thanks Luke for letting us see your shop! Make videos!! You have serious skills.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Bill.

[@LCalleja]

Thanks a lot for the kind words

[@braspatta]

It would be interesting to watch Luke! Yes!
Good job on the visits, always cool to see other shops.

[@RotarySMP]

It is fun.

[@andrewclark8225]

Hello from Australia. I’m a 54 year old fitter and machinist with a bad back, can’t do my job anymore. Worked in the mines as a maintenance technician for years, I didn’t fix planes but have been on a lot of them to get to work, now I just watch CZcams!

[@RotarySMP]

Hi Andrew, thanks for watching my video.

[@nathanweese3812]

Yes, Id watch videos that came out of this great shop. Seems like a skilled fellow as well.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Nathan. He certainly is.

[@LCalleja]

Thanks a lot

[@greglaroche1753]

Thanks for this great video. Now I am much more optimistic about how many more machines I will be able to fit in my tiny shop.

[@RotarySMP]

Good luck with that Greg. Luke is a master of tetris :) He has since bought another machine.

[@steptool1]

Yes yes yes!
Would definitely love to see a video on that HYDRAULIC arm!!!!!!!!
Please!!!!!!!! 😊

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote.

[@LCalleja]

Thanks for that, might be a bit awkward to show if I use it as a camera mount :)

[@stuargh]

Amazing shop Luke. What a feast for the eyes. You could fill an entire channel worth of content with just a clean-up & organising the place 😁

[@RotarySMP]

Good call Stu. :)

[@kenthesparky178]

Yes to CZcams video by Luke,I think he could use Cool hand Luke as his logo

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the encouragement of Luke Ken.

[@JCWren]

I think Luke's shop causes a distortion in the local gravity field! That's a lot of heavy metal in a small area. And I'd watch Made In Malta videos for sure.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the encouraging feedback JC.

[@LCalleja]

I think there was already a problem with the magnetic field as heavy metal seems to get stuck there all the time :)

[@marilynwolf4439]

I agree, the RotarySMP World Tour is great. I would definitely add Luke's channel to my favorites list.

[@RotarySMP]

So would I :)

[@LCalleja]

Thanks for that

[@stephenperry5849]

I'd wattch! Great shop tour.

[@RotarySMP]

Awesome, thank you!

[@billdoodson4232]

We are thinking of returning to Malta for another holiday next year, really like the place. Our first time there was to see the war memorial at Valletta, my uncle, who I'm named after died in the defence of the island flying Beauforts in the RAF, he was 21.

[@RotarySMP]

That is brutal.

[@billdoodson4232]

@@RotarySMPPart of family history for many unfortunately Mark. All of my dads brothers and he were in the RAF, his eldest was in the RAF as a pilot from the mid 30’s and was flying Mosquitos, pathfinders and recon I understand. He made it all the way through the war and was lost flying dispatches over the alps after the war had ended. He was never found either, my gran never went to church again. My dad was in Burma and wouldn’t touch anything made in Japan for donkeys years, he'd never really talk about it.
But yes, love Malta, we will return and the sooner Luke is on CZcams the better.

[@RotarySMP]

@@billdoodson4232I agree. His projects are really interesting ones.

[@josephlovell6951]

Yes Luke would love to see you on CZcams

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote Joseph.

[@TheUncleRuckus]

Wow Luke has a beautiful shop and he build some really cool equipment like that giant noga arm, and the welding table. I'm super jelly right now!
Yes to Luke starting a CZcams channel. 👍👍

[@RotarySMP]

We agree!

[@XLmoby]

yes,
videos please!

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks

[@LCalleja]

Ill try to :)

[@TheAlfieobanz]

Awesome Vid. Luke, definitely make vids.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the vote

[@dougaldhendrick3497]

Wow, super impressive workshop and genius level machinist/inventor.

[@RotarySMP]

You got that right Dougal.

[@iolithblue]

Very impressive shop for one guy. And skilled maker too

[@RotarySMP]

He sure is.

[@LCalleja]

Thanks a lot

[@GeoffTV2]

Awesome shop Luke, many thanks for showing us around and making amazing parts for Mr SMP. I would love to see a CZcams channel from you but I know from what others have said that producing videos is a lot of work. So I think everyone would understand if you didn't. - Heather

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Heather, it does cut down the shop productivity a lot

[@LCalleja]

Thanks a lot for you vote of confidence if I get round to doing videos I don't think I could be as consistent as Mark with uploads

[@philhermetic]

Really enjoyed that!
Phil

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Phil.

[@paulbadger6336]

Yes! And well done 👍

[@RotarySMP]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@douglasharley2440]

very cool shop! talk about getting a lot out of a little space... 🤯
lol, sounds like luke is a finn(?), who is living in malta, interviewed by a kiwi living in switzerland. 🤣👍

[@RotarySMP]

Pretty cosmopolitan vibe :)

[@douglasharley2440]

@@RotarySMP 🌎👍

[@briantaylor9266]

Yes

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for that Brian.

[@joell439]

YES - Luke, you have so much to share and we have so much to learn.
Thanks Luke and Mark for the tour!

[@LCalleja]

Thanks a lot

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote Joell.

[@johnsherborne3245]

The mark of a true engineer: never content with the original design, always improving. Great stuff!

[@RotarySMP]

Luke has excellent tool making skills.

[@LCalleja]

Making tools is satisfying and cheaper most of the time Thanks a lot

[@zxspectum]

Awesome shop!

[@RotarySMP]

It sure is!

[@stevensmart8868]

Great videos Mark. And great work Luke on all your shop made stuff. The big noga style arm is awesome, I'm going to add one to my project list.

[@RotarySMP]

Hope you make a video when you build one.

[@akfarmboy49]

Very talented guy. Very interesting to have a friend like that. I wish you had a picture of it set up when he made the Doall gears.

[@RotarySMP]

Take a look on the DoAll gear video on my channel to see that set up.

[@Hilmi12]

Honesty stereo effect on video was very pronounced and was nice during watching. Didn't expect to say that on a machining video

[@RotarySMP]

I used a dual Rode go Mic set up, and the two mics are fed to the two channels separately. Considered combining them, but I also liked that effect.

[@Hilmi12]

@@RotarySMP it was very pronounced, even on my phone. Try messing around with combining a small percentage of each channel volume into the other so the stereo separation isn't too extreme. Don't if that adds too much workload into video editing workflow

[@RotarySMP]

@@Hilmi12I normally only use a single mic on me, and dump it's signal to both channels. I was a bit concerned about the stereo effect, given that we swapped sides many times. Next time I do an two person video, I will look into partial signal mixing. Thanks for the feedback on that.

[@cyrusramsey4741]

Not being able to clean up every chip would drive me nuts 😆

[@RotarySMP]

Luke has a healthy balance between order (disorder?) and productivity :)

[@TastelessChicken]

Yes yes yes!

[@RotarySMP]

I'll count that as three votes for :)

[@BrunoWiebelt]

yes video of Lukes

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote Bruno

[@ianleuchars8032]

YES! LUKE PLEASE

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote Ian.

[@danielboom26]

Que buen tour, saludos desde Colombia

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your kind feedback Daniel

[@TheDrunkenGuineaPig]

About the cams for the drill sharpener. I have a Farman FC-50N made in Taiwan. While I’ve been trying to find information on these drill sharpeners, I’ve noticed that many machines from different manufacturers are just copies of each other. I’ve already reached out to Farman HQ and they’ve been extremely helpful and they’re still manufacturing machines and selling parts. I presume that the cams are identical to the ones in your machine.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks, I will pass that on to Luke.

[@LCalleja]

They look like very similar machines yous must just be bigger :) I think mine is equivalent to the 32 version. If you are missing any cams that I have ill happily share dimensions with you

[@Engineerd3d]

Let’s get Luke doing videos! He can use the giant noga arm as a camera stand!

[@LCalleja]

That was Marks Suggestion as well:)

[@RotarySMP]

Yes yes yes

[@tomapc]

Yes.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks

[@jammerdillon3868]

Yes please start a video CZcams channel and let us know what it is. You have a really nice shop. Thanks for sharing.

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the vote.

[@billdoodson4232]

YES!

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Bill

[@LikeFactoryMade]

When you wanna visit Romania, I can take you a shop your of my shop and maybe we visit Emil!
Let me know if have any plans in this direction! ☺️

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks I will do if I get over your way.

[@ragnarhairybreeks]

Yes, Luke starts a channel

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote

[@user-yu5hq3sx5x]

Ja ik zou graag het werk van Luc zien

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks

[@PhilsProjects]

yes

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Phil.

[@mattym8]

Yeah!

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks a lot Matty.

[@PiotrSarnacki]

These vices look like German WMW vices or similar. Nice shop btw!

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the feedback Piotr.

[@LCalleja]

The big ones are WMW very nice vices and good quality and thanks

[@andli461]

Yes! 😊

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote

[@chrislee7817]

Video time 👍

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Chris.

[@chrislee7817]

@@RotarySMP there is an ajax mill for spares on uk ebay not sure of model or condition.

[@RotarySMP]

@@chrislee7817Thanks for pointing that out.

[@samcope3377]

Yes 😊

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks

[@goboyz8016]

YES

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote.

[@jesseservice7828]

Ótimo !

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks

[@claeswikberg8958]

yes...

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the vote Claes.

[@stevenhavener7327]

Luke make videos !! best regards Steve

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote Steve.

[@LikeFactoryMade]

We want videos! 😄

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks

[@stefanobertelli2650]

Haha, Luke you have the same disease I have with Auctions!!!

[@LCalleja]

What can I say, cant see nice tools going to waste

[@RotarySMP]

Glad you two have formed a AA self help group. Auction-victims Anonymous;)

[@LCalleja]

@@RotarySMP Not sure if its helping or not :) Might just be making it worse

[@yuroberkovic2885]

Yes. 😂

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote.

[@mikepettengill2706]

Do some videos Luke!

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the vote

[@johnlemmey7698]

Luke i am jellos of your tetras shills. I thought my shop had every thing but room.

[@LCalleja]

Was never into Tetris but sure do like my tools

[@adagioleopard6415]

My father has that exact same drill press

[@RotarySMP]

With the same mods? :)

[@adagioleopard6415]

@@RotarySMP he did replace the motor yes. But not with a 2hp one. The original died somewhere along the line

[@RotarySMP]

@@adagioleopard6415I wonder how long before Luke torques up a casting into a pretzel.

[@adagioleopard6415]

@@RotarySMP I'm sure he has enough tools to mend it. XD

[@RotarySMP]

@@adagioleopard6415He sure does.

[@notsonominal]

.. or maybe you should make videos in Lukes shop?

[@RotarySMP]

Nice idea :)

[@LCalleja]

sounds good to me :)

[@BIBIWCICC]

It’s such a shame the online gambling companies in Malta launder all the Italian mafias money otherwise I would visit.

[@RotarySMP]

Understood

[@TheLukemcdaniel]

I hope you didn't risk your life on a Boeing...

[@RotarySMP]

While it is not completely unearned, the current media freak out around Boeing is also a bit excessive. Many of the wheels falling off and other occurences are airline maintenance issues, and not design or production issues.

[@TheLukemcdaniel]

@@RotarySMP some of these are NEW planes.

[@RotarySMP]

@@TheLukemcdaniel Yep, some are serious Boeing screw ups.

[@jeremylastname873]

Don’t fall for the CZcams video career path, Luke! You may even make some money from it, but you will lose all of your productivity! 😂

[@RotarySMP]

Yeah , I can vouch for the truth in that

[@LCalleja]

That's what I heard as well :)

[@peter2uat]

Scharmann (part of STARRAG) precision tooling Mönchengladbach Germany. Love your travels and machining vids! greets from Vienna

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Peter. Greetings back from Vienna.

[@binghamstagram]

I've got a half-decent workshop down in Cape Town, South Africa - let me know if you plan on coming down here for the tour! :)

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for the invitation. Will note that if I ever get down your way.

[@andrewclark8225]

I was taught how to sharpen a drill by hand before I could drive and I could drive by 14

[@LCalleja]

Me too but a drill grinder sure is convenient

[@RotarySMP]

I guess for most holes it makes little difference, but I have never seen a hand ground drill with such perfectly accurate and equal flanks as a macine ground one.

[@Paddington60]

Thank you Luke for the look around your workshop and do try to make the odd video!

[@LCalleja]

the odd video might be doable thanks a lot

[@RotarySMP]

Hurray. Please do.

[@philhermetic]

Yes!!

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Phil.

[@oldmetalmachines2094]

Yes

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks For your vote.

[@jeffreysmith9369]

yes

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks for your vote.

[@brasscog8890]

Yes

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks For your vote.

[@vincei4252]

Yes

[@RotarySMP]

Thanks Vince.