stand alone lathe and mill vs combo

[bazmak]

Bench grinder you need a green wheel or diamond for carbide
I bought a cheap 6"dia and 4" wide belt sander/Linisher
and posted a thread on improvements to 9" dia.Saves a lot of work filing
A cheap 8" vernier caliper and 1" micrometer Digital are good enough to start
working to 1 thou.You will also need a dial indicator and magnetic base
The list is endless.Some items cheap is OK others buy good quality
No doubt you will be overloaded with advice.Dont try to get everything at once
Start a project and buy as you need it.Best advice is to make your first
couple of projects to making or improving tooling.No doubt this thread will grow expotentially

 

[Wizard69]

---->>>>Don't try to get everything at once

This is perhaps the most important point here.

Also one needs to understand ones intentions. If the goal is model making in a certain range of sizes then it is easier to say this is the size of machine to get and the tools needed to support it. If a persons interest are more general machining or wide ranging hobby wise then the lathe and tools required are much harder to nail down.

 

[ShopShoe]

I would add that you can gain knowledge of sources and types of some of the things you want by studying the websites or by getting catalogs from some of the industrial suppliers. In some cases a physical catalog makes easier studying than a website as online you may have to already know what you want in order to search for it.

SOME of the companies I have dealt with are below. Please note that the standard disclaimer applies. I am just a customer and have no other relationship with any of these sources. I am listing them as sources to find information, rather than recommending you buy from them.

FYI: If you edit your profile on this forum so that your location is shown (in as much detail as you are comfortable with), it will be easier for others to help you.

A random list of suppliers:

Grizzly: www.Grizzly.com

Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com

KBC: http://www.kbctools.com

MSC: http://www.mscdirect.com

Shars: http://www.shars.com

Little Machine Shop: http://www.littlemachineshop.com

Travers: http://www.travers.com

McMaster-Carr: http://www.mcmaster.com

—

For information on files:

http://www.nicholsontool.com See “File Guide” on the Menu Bar.

If you are looking at a small lathe that uses 1/4” tool bits, and are interested in learning how to grind HSS toolkits, Little Machine Shop sells a set of pre-ground bits and unground bits for you to practice:

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=4516&category=1208242246

Hope this helps,

ShopShoe

PS: I don’t think anyone has mentioned it yet, but a Community College or Adult Education program near you may offer introductory classes. Check websites for CC and High School Adult Ed. in your area. If you are only interested in knowledge and not interested in getting a formal degree these courses are often in the $50.00 to $150.00 range for 8 - 12 weeks (Plus materials sometimes). I have known people who sign up term after term and just use the shop with the instructor’s permission.

Also: find out if there is a Maker Space near you: some of these offer opportunities or equipment you may not have at home that can be used to augment your own efforts.

 

[atkinson582]

All I can say is WOW

I have so much to learn my head is spinning. thanks for all the references and suggestions guys.

Beyond all of that there is a huge number of guys doing some really impressive YouTube videos. Kieth Fenner is one, MrPete is another, OXTools and a bunch of others, have a good number of videos online. These guys fall,under the heading of really knowing what they are doing. MRPete has several hundred short videos that walk you through from the very beginning when it comes to machine shop basics.

Wizard69 I'll defiantly take a look at these YouTube videos

Cant see the advantage of going for 2 ton machines in a basement when you have such a long learning curve ahead

bazmak I defiantly have a lot to learn that's for sure .... this is what id like to get (what do you guys think?)

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2016/main/545?p=555

PS: I don’t think anyone has mentioned it yet, but a Community College or Adult Education program near you may offer introductory classes. Check websites for CC and High School Adult Ed. in your area. If you are only interested in knowledge and not interested in getting a formal degree these courses are often in the $50.00 to $150.00 range for 8 - 12 weeks (Plus materials sometimes). I have known people who sign up term after term and just use the shop with the instructor’s permission.

Shopshoe... good idea on the classes I'm going to check out my area


have a great weekend everyone I'm off to the races with my son