Lathes

[Mitch]

I never owned a lathe, but my in the know friend recommended me to look into a Smithy 3 in 1 if i was to purchase one.
Thoughts!

[DaWizard]

What are you going to use it for?

[Mitch]

Some of the same stuff you guys do

[DaWizard]

So you are going to build live steam engines and fart around making tools and tidbits. Ok

www.littlemachineshop.com

I also recommend getting a Mill too since these guys don't have a combo mill lathe. Be sure to get something with a digital read out, you will use that most of all, or you will wind up using analog dial indicators. Both work, but the DRO is better.

[Mitch]

No steam engines just general tooling around
I'm kinda in the same boat as Mike V

[Mitch]

Thanks Wiz

[George Miller]

Depends on what you are going to use it for. How big a swing ,4 jaw chuck, 3 jaw chuck, do you want a face plate.
Mine is a old tool room lathe. My expence with one does it all is not so good, but it might be ok for a lot of jobs. But a old name brand tool room lathe will last and do very good work.( ps just make sure all the screw slots are in line.)

But you will need a nice little Bridgeport mill. You can do a lot with a good Bridgeport mill.

[Mitch]

Thanks George

[DaWizard]

You can't go wrong with a Bridgeport mill. I can do just about everything I do on a Bridgeport, including turning parts.

It's all in the setup !

A skilled machinist on a Bridgeport is a wonder to behold!

I learned a lot from a skilled machinist who totally built from scratch carburetors on a Bridgeport while I worked for him on his lathes. I only wish I could remember the big company that stole his idea.

[Mitch]

Doing some more reading the 3 in 1 may not do as good as a job and your spending more time switching things around, with space limitations

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

JUST THINK, with all the BIG expense, etc, of building a LATHE, the final, actual work is being done by an ITTY-BITTY, POINTY BIT!---AMAZING!!!!
KDad Brainboggled