Lathe / mill questions

Keep in mind I'm thinking about strictly hobby use only and have never
run a lathe.

Any feedback on this one?

Is there any reason why one of these wouldn't be a good choice for
someone on a limited budget, with very little room to spare?

Will one of these work for steel, brass, and aluminum?

Will one of these hold up long term when used light duty for hobby use?

Anyone have any suggestions for something close in price that has about
the same features?

I bid on an old Craftsman lathe on ebay last night, it went for more
than I was willing to pay for a used lathe only. for a little more than
the used one + shipping, I can get this combo unit.

I don't need a lathe or mill. This is strictly a want, and with my
garage in the process of getting cleaned out better than any time in the
past 10 years, now is the time to make it happen.

Light cuts and slow feeds , rigidity is the problem with small machines
like this one (and mine!). It looks like the only crossfeed is on the
compound (the part that swivels) , so it's not likely to be powered . I
don't see any comments on feed rates , must have change gears because
there's no quick change box . I see the crossfeed dimension is short , may

It doesn't look like it has a provision for a power feed (which also
means it looks like you can't cut threads with it, Les) at all.

Les , check this one out . More than you wanted to spend but it looks like a
better machine than the one you posted . And it cuts both metric and sae

Woulda been nice if I'd included the link , huh .

Yeah, that's the one dp pointed out. Very nice, but with transportation

WOW did he make that penny with that ???
A guy could make plenty of extra money in his spare time.
Hell you could even take old quarters and whittle em down to new dimes !!

kickstart #127

costs on a bus soon to be in transit and a possible purchase of an RV
generator this Sunday, it's more than I can do.

I know that feeling . I'm just a little short of enough to get the mill I
really want , both in money and available space . I've been trying to
convince myself that the sieg X2 model will do what I want and buy
the big one later . Still haven't decided , but I can think of at least six
things I want to make , and most of them would be do-able on the small mill
, but much more difficult . And then the wife pops up with if I wait a few
months ...

I'm gonna keep an eye on the Dunlop/Craftsman lathe and if it stays
within reason, will try to get it. If that fails, I'll probably wait
awhile and see if I can swing the Grizzly.

You know that you can fabricate a vertical mount to put a small x-y table
and vise on most small lathes ... might be a way for you to get into it ,
with a used lathe . Good thing about used benchtop machines is that they
often come with at least some tooling . If I had to buy the tooling new that
came with mine it would have cost more than the machine .

Me, fabricate? Heh... I've wondered what it would take to fabricate a
basic combo unit, buying some of the pieces on ebay. Can't be much more

That's why I was saying go hang around and see how things are done.

You'll end up with a used 5/8" drill press laying on it's side with a
live center in a tapered sleeve jigged to the press's table and a $70
compound slide bolted to the workbench holding a tool bit.

Or rob the cheap drill press of any useful parts, mount it on a piece of
handy 6" square tubing that happens to be taking up space in my garage,
add a live center and that $70 compound slide you mentioned... I figure
the 6" square tubing should keep things pretty stiff, it has 3/16" thick
walls.

If I was to try that, might as well figure on adding a mill attachment
at some point.

Don't get me started, or I'll be out in the garage trying to make it
happen...

difficult than this...

Les , if you want to go that route , I have the complete set of Gingery
books , from a backyard aluminum foundry to a complete lathe and mill . They
can be pretty , or they can be ugly , cosmetics is up to you . But they will
do the job ...
Let me know if you want the books .

I'd have a rough time trying to go that route. By the time I had a fire
hot enough to melt the aluminum, I'd have to stop for some reason or
another. Probably pay for one quicker saving pennies than casting my own

Oh, come on.

"The Slug Lathe"

What's the hurry?

Ok, but I'm not painting my garage green.

parts.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0516

threads .

Doesn't mention tool size either. Lot of missing info.

Roger , you're right . I looked again , the leadscrew is manually operated
by that crank on the right .

mean changing set-ups and losing your zero on larger diameter stuff .

I'm trying to eyeball the pic and figure if that 16 1/2" swing is a
misprint...

Best bet is to put your hands on one and see what you think . Kinda like
askin' which bike is best ...

Putting my hands on one won't tell me anything, having never run a lathe
or mill. I don't expect first class with what I can spend on one, but I

South Bend has a great book... "How To Run A Lathe". Tickles me every
time I read the warning about rolling up your sleeves and removing
your necktie before going to work.

do want something I can learn on.

Problem is, you'll spend as much or more on the add-ons to do the
things you want with it. You'll want a 4-jaw chuck and a live center.
Then you'll want a tailstock chuck. Then a collet holder and a set of
collets. Then a dividing attachment... on and on. Are these
available for it?

You'll need to spend some bucks on good measuring tools whatever
machine you have.

You know, I was going to recommend the little EMCO (no, not Enco,
dammit) Compact 5 like I have (5" swing, 13" between centers, plus has
a milling head), but checking the current prices on Blue Ridge's
website, I probably have at least $3K in it and the accessories at
today's rates. That doesn't include the measuring stuff I bought
while I was working at the screw machine shop in St. Louis.

Don't forget you'll need a high quality *calibrated* dial caliper to go
with it , gotta maintain our standards , donchaknow ...

Snag I may have missed a memo along the way but this is the third time I've
seen you make a snarky comment about calibrating precision measuring
instruments. Is there something in your vast knowledge base that makes you
think this is a waste of time or is this an inside joke that I missed?

Old machinist's joke: Q, "What's the diameter in thousands?" A, "What do you

Welllll there was a thread a while ago wherein precise measurements were a
focal point . I'm tweaking someone's nose ... because anyone with *any*

Aha...got it.

because anyone with *any*

machine shop experience knows that a caliper is an approximate tool . I use

Well I got about 30+ years experience and I disagree with that (won't tweak
ya though). I can measure within .001 with my Starrett dial indicator
inside, outside and depth. Within .005 or more I just use a scale. har har

Yep, same here. Do it everyday.

har ... guess we'll just disagree about indicators.

Hell I just eyeball that much

I guess it's the way we were taught . I do know the one I have is a cheap
one , and is only good for "close" . Starrett is an order of magnitude
better ... and I have no doubt you can get that close . I just don't trust
'em , and would rather use a mike .

I would to Snag. And there is a HUGE difference between the el cheapo
calipers and the $200.00 Mitutoyo or Starret.

And there ya have it . You have professional tools , I have a home hobby
tool . My mikes (0-1 , 1-2 , 2-3 , 3-4) all came from military excess (dad
worked civil service for the USAF - at HAFB) , and I have no doubt about
them . Could use a calibration , but last time I checked them against a 2"
standard (as a starting-point reference) they were all within .001 . Close
enough for what I'm doing .

I don't know what "brandname" they are but you should be able to "zero" them
with a standard. Look on the barrel for a small hole right below the
spindle, this can be spun with a tiny spanner to zero them against a known
length. Hope that's clear. If ya need a spanner LMK, methinks I got a spare
one somewhere's inna garage.

I got Mitutoyo , Starrett , and Brown&Sharp stuff . I know how calibration
is done , just don't have the appropriate certified guage blocks . The 1-2
mike has a 2" standard , but it hasn't been checked against a traceable
standard since about 1978 or so . They're all in register with each other ,
and that's all I need for now . I'd bet I'm within a half a thou , even
after all these years . I guess I could borrow some guage blocks from my
buddy Bill the machinist ...
Isn't it about time for another round ? Oh Shirley !

I'll get this round since I butted in

mine to get within .025" or so , after that it's a mike .
I do know the value of calibration to a known standard . And when I need
that kind of accuracy , I will use calibrated instruments .

want it to be?"