Yeah, the real key to this is that there IS a learning curve attached, no matter what machine you buy. It is not actually as simple as wave the cutting tool past the stock, and a perfect part appears.
As to buying a "real lathe and a Bridgeport" Meh.
A real lathe depends entirely on what work you have for it, and can range from small enough to carry in one hand, up to the size quite large enough to chuck up the Bridgeport in and turn it to chips, so that is really crappy advice without some expanding upon.
Bridgeports are a pretty good generic milling machine, but many of the generic clones are better tools, and there are a whackload of better milling machines out there.
Bridgeport mills are a pretty good and pretty flexible (both from the terms of being adaptable to many different jobs, and from being not the be-all in rigidity) tool. But they are not necessarily THE answer.
They are too big for some to deal with, too small for some work, and may or may not be the 'right' machine.
Cheers
Trev
As to buying a "real lathe and a Bridgeport" Meh.
A real lathe depends entirely on what work you have for it, and can range from small enough to carry in one hand, up to the size quite large enough to chuck up the Bridgeport in and turn it to chips, so that is really crappy advice without some expanding upon.
Bridgeports are a pretty good generic milling machine, but many of the generic clones are better tools, and there are a whackload of better milling machines out there.
Bridgeport mills are a pretty good and pretty flexible (both from the terms of being adaptable to many different jobs, and from being not the be-all in rigidity) tool. But they are not necessarily THE answer.
They are too big for some to deal with, too small for some work, and may or may not be the 'right' machine.
Cheers
Trev
