Hobby metalworking machine,great buy!
- Thread starter (Ronin)
- Start date
The book. I'm trying to figure out how to get more use out of the little machine. - dan
These aren't a bad combo - a fairly good lathe combined with a fair milling head, but still a loooong way from being a great tool. I'm going to sell mine and get 2 separate machines, which is what I should have done in the first place.
NavyShooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- XMU Local .303
I've got one of the little Sherline 4400's with the milling attachment, and am leaning towards going bigger, I'm just keeping an eye on the local marketplace for a decent priced used machine. I had a friend of mine go in with me to Busy Bee and he showed me some of the flaws that detract from their products. (It was a while ago, so I don't recall all of 'em)
Anyhow, I'm leaning towards seperate machines, and for a mill, I found that a local company has a CNC Knee mill for about 7K. I'm wishing I had 7K to play with.
Unfortunately, that 7K turns into over 10 by the time you add taxes, and the brick-n-brack that you need to run the machine.
I'm thinking if I can find me a nice condition used lathe in the 1K range with 24" between centers (ish) and a 6" swing, I'll be happy for now. I missed one that was on for $850.....
Anyhow, seperate machines are better in my opinion too, but I'll make do with my Sherline combo for now, and upgrade later, when the visa isn't screaming about Christmas shopping...
NS
Anyhow, I'm leaning towards seperate machines, and for a mill, I found that a local company has a CNC Knee mill for about 7K. I'm wishing I had 7K to play with.
Unfortunately, that 7K turns into over 10 by the time you add taxes, and the brick-n-brack that you need to run the machine.
I'm thinking if I can find me a nice condition used lathe in the 1K range with 24" between centers (ish) and a 6" swing, I'll be happy for now. I missed one that was on for $850.....
Anyhow, seperate machines are better in my opinion too, but I'll make do with my Sherline combo for now, and upgrade later, when the visa isn't screaming about Christmas shopping...
NS
I would have done the same..but i'm limited to 115 volt,or i would have gone with 2 bigger 220 volt separate machines.
It's great for what it is i mean,and the limited space and voltage an apartment offers
Any machine tool purchase involves compromise. Any lathe is better than no lathe, and if you can do good, accurate work on these light weight hobby machines, you are on your way to becoming a good machinist.
James V Howe wrote the bible of gunsmithing books in the 1930's. In the 2 book series he mentions the equipment of the worlds best barrel maker, Harry Pope. He basically calls harrys lathes glorified wood lathes ( which is accurate to a degree, they were old treadle lathes that he motorised) and says that even then they might be worth $50.00 all together.
What he and I are saying is it is the machinist, not the machine that determines the quality of your work. Alot of the asian tools and accessories are incredible value for the money. Busy Bee does seem to have much better quality stuff than they used to.
James V Howe wrote the bible of gunsmithing books in the 1930's. In the 2 book series he mentions the equipment of the worlds best barrel maker, Harry Pope. He basically calls harrys lathes glorified wood lathes ( which is accurate to a degree, they were old treadle lathes that he motorised) and says that even then they might be worth $50.00 all together.
What he and I are saying is it is the machinist, not the machine that determines the quality of your work. Alot of the asian tools and accessories are incredible value for the money. Busy Bee does seem to have much better quality stuff than they used to.
Think of the quantity of quality work Pope could have done, had he invested in the tooling that was available at the time.
If you have a need for a tool and don't buy it, soon you find that you have paid for it and don't have it. -Henry Ford
He was a remarkable man, and a hell of a gunsmith.
Cheers
Trev
If you have a need for a tool and don't buy it, soon you find that you have paid for it and don't have it. -Henry Ford
He was a remarkable man, and a hell of a gunsmith.
Cheers
Trev
Machining !!
Nice Hobby Machine , I have never set up a Shop at home because i have allway's had access to Machine tool's at work , I bought a barrel Blank at a gun show a couple of year's back I turned the contour on a Cnc Lathe and fluted it on a 4 Axis Machining centre , Crowned the end at the same time as well , I have a REM 700 action and a McMillian Stock , Some day I will have to put it all togethier and see how it all works
It's amaseing the way the Machine Shop Trade has advanced , When I was An Apprentice I learned on old Flat belt Machines and Had to grind my own form tool's , Now with CNC Machines you can do incrediable Thing's , The Controll's are Conversational and programmong is simple , You can buy Indexiable insert's with tool Geometry that will machine pretty well any Groove / Thread / bore / contour that you could imagine .
Enjoy your new toy
Nice Hobby Machine , I have never set up a Shop at home because i have allway's had access to Machine tool's at work , I bought a barrel Blank at a gun show a couple of year's back I turned the contour on a Cnc Lathe and fluted it on a 4 Axis Machining centre , Crowned the end at the same time as well , I have a REM 700 action and a McMillian Stock , Some day I will have to put it all togethier and see how it all works
It's amaseing the way the Machine Shop Trade has advanced , When I was An Apprentice I learned on old Flat belt Machines and Had to grind my own form tool's , Now with CNC Machines you can do incrediable Thing's , The Controll's are Conversational and programmong is simple , You can buy Indexiable insert's with tool Geometry that will machine pretty well any Groove / Thread / bore / contour that you could imagine .
Enjoy your new toy
