Machining

[zahc]

One of the worst things I ever did was being the head machinist for my department in college. We had some old hoopty lathe and equally small-time mill, but the fact that I learned to use them, means that I'm doomed my entire life to feel incomplete without machining capabilities. Not a project goes by where I didn't wish I could just have 15 minutes with a lathe or mill. It's just an astronomical leap in what you can accomplish. And all the hobby stuff that I need to machine is way too small-peanuts to have a machine shop do.

Right now I just need some spacers. 0.505 ID; 0.75 OD, 1.385 long. Such a simple thing would take minutes on a lathe. But if you don't have a lathe, well, that's just too bad.

[Jim147]

I know exactly how you feel. From high school until I blew out my back in '99, I was always in a machine shop.

Over the last couple of years I've had the money to buy a lathe and mill, but haven't come across one. I seem to only see them for sale when I'm broke.

I've used my drill press for more than one small lathe project.

jim

[kgbsquirrel]

I feel you. I've even gone so far as to contemplate some of those "mini" mills and lathes offered by various places, but I've seen others with them and they end up needing to rebuild large portions of the machines (bearings, gears and stops for the mill bed for instance). There's just so much you can do, and quickly, with a proper machine.

[CypherNinja]

Know what you mean. I've been wanting a lathe and mill in the garage forever, but everything from the floor, to the electrical, to the bank account gets in the way.