I am what is termed an overambitious amateur. Never having had the opportunity to study engineering, my knowledge, often overstated, has been gained by trial and failure, but always by observation and listening.
Mr Les Hart, an engineer from Blackburn, once watched me struggling with a problem, he drew breath and took me to one side, "come with me lad" I followed and Mr Hart took me around the factory and explained that "Every machine has a heart beat, stop and listen" having stopped and listened and watched his fore finger follow the beat of each machine. The light went to green and I understood that the rhythm of cause and effect, often held the root of the problem or should I say the lack of a heart beat or an arhythmic pattern speeded up the diagnosis.
Currently I have in my mancave. A partial restored Meddings 'Drilltru" drill press. A metal cutting bandsaw or at least it does now ! A Myford ML2 lathe that WILL WORK.....eventually it is not totally original, but close to. In the corner sits a modern DC pulse TIG welder.
I will post some pictures......when something actually works as it should.