Thanks to all for the information and
the encouraging words. As a result, I've joined the Gingery list,
and looked up some of the info. I'll also check a few of the
places out that I haven't been to yet. In the next couple of
months I hope to reconfigure my shop space which should make more
space available for machines, but I still won't have a lot of
space.
I also have air tools and a large compressor ( = noisy); I make a
point of not running between 9pm and 9am and otherwise the
neighbors don't see to mind, so I'll hope it stays that way.
Mark
On 11/15/12 3:48 PM, michael kolchins wrote:
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?
Mark, since you have used machine tools in the
past I would suggest a lathe larger than a mini.A 9x20
would be the smallest I would consider in your place.I
have a 7x12 Cummings and a 10x22 Grizzly. I started on
the mini-lathe and learned a lot. After a couple of
years I decided that a larger lathe was needed.I use
the 10x22 about 95% of the time.The mini-lathe is used
infrequently but comes in handy for some work.When I
bought my first lathe I had no experience working
metal,I think for me starting with the mini-lathe was
a good idea.
Being that you
have some experience,even though it was in the
"distant past" you could save yourself some money and
buy a larger lathe to begin with.Naturally the size
work you do will determine what lathe you need.
I've made a few
shop tools myself,most before I had a metal lathe.I
have made a Panel saw,Wood lathe ( had to buy the
spindles though), a beam saw, sash saw and a treadle
lathe. I still have the wood lathe and the panel saw.I
sold the treadle saw when I got too old to keep the
treadle going. The beam saw never worked to my
satisfaction so I took ?it apart after ?a few
years.The sash saw ran off a 15 hp gas engine.I used
this saw to mill logs less than 16" in diameter and
under 10'-0" long.A neighbor complained about the
noise. Police officer came around one morning and told
me to turn the engine off.
I did turn it
off.The officer asked me a lot of questions about the
saw and then asked me if I would sell it to him.
I wound up
selling him the saw ,after I finished sawing my logs.
mike
?
Hello,
I have a major interest in home shop
machining, partly in support of automotive
hobbies but also just for fabrication
purposes (small equipment, tools, models,
etc). For some weird reason I can't
explain, I am also interested in making my
shop tools (yeah, even lathes, milling
machines, etc) but have to be tempered by
reality so I can otherwise get things
done. I have yet to buy or build a lathe
but have extreme interest in picking one
up near term. I've been looking small
(Unimat, Sherline, Taig) to large (9 or 10
inch swing...yes they get pricey) and
would be interested in any advice on the
best choice for a first lathe. I've been
buying books from Lindsay Publications for
more than 20 years...and yes I know they
are going out of business in Feb 2013. I
have their "last catalog". I also have
some vintage Southbend publications. In
the distant past, I've done quite a bit of
fab work--lathe, milling machine, shaper,
welding, all the other typical tool
suspects and so am not a complete novice,
but have been a way from it for quite a
while as well.
Mark
Knoxville, TN USA
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