Once apon a time

[Olliedog]

When I was an apprentice Elec fitter (35 yrs ago) I wanted a Lathe, now I am old I'm buying one (a C3), but, what will need to I to buy with it? What will I need till my next B/day that she will let me buy? Would you kind gentlemen assist me, items I have thought of are, cutting tools (basic set), a moving rest, rolling centre and dead centre. Why do I want it, what am I going to make, I am not sure but will have fun trying. Wish list for B/day is a 4 jaw chuck (not sure of the size), knirling tool, boring bar set, dial indicator, quick change tool post.
What else do I wish for or is there something I should get NOW.

[fkaCarel]

I hope your next birthday is soon. Next advice is to machine some jewellery. I scored high with titanium earrings. Things you need before your next birthday, and this is my personal opinion: cutting tools, you can't cut without them, centre drill and some drills, some taps, countersink and a chuck. A rolling centre is nice for long(er) things, but not in the emergency kit. The same for moving rest and dead centre. Measuring equipment, including the dial indicator, ranging from basic to total bankrupcy is also handy.

With a little fantasy a 4-jaw chuck, a little larger than your 3-jaw, can bring you half way into the milling department. It would be on top of my wishlist. I bought it before my quick change tool post. Buy the boring bars in size as you need them. A moving rest and a knurling tool fall in the category "buy if needed", they collect dust most off the time.

I wish you and SWMBO a lot of fun with the fullfillment of a half lifetime wish.

Carel

[ZipSnipe]

I would get a indicator as it is very important to get everything on the money. If ya have a harbor frieght around they have a very cheap cutting bit set for like 6$ just to start off with, ya definetly want to get some better cutters down the road , you,ll see the difference. I too wanted and got a 9x 20 lathe and it sat for nearly 6 weeks before I turned anything on it, now I,m turning a second pulley for my milling machine and I have to say I love the lathe, its really neat to see raw metal take shape and form, good luck !!!

[lakeside]

shop when the machine comes and buy what you need to make the part that your are working on at that time. You can buy all kind of stuff now but will you use it latter with tooling order they come with in a couple of days

[drummond1]

Lots of scrap material to practice on... Oh yeah and a machinist handbook (bible) .. Lotta neat stuff to read in there.. you can make your own cutters if you have a bench grinder..A lathe dog would be handy if you want to turn between centers also....A nice set of H.S.S drill bits too ... The list is extensive so I hope you been nice to the wifey... soften her up a bit.. she'll have to reach into her pocketbook... maybe take her to a chick-flick a week before the big day. Yeah,, thats the ticket... maybe take her to BINGO...laffin...Best of Fun.. Drum

[Olliedog]

Thanks guys I now have direction, Dial indicator 9to help set the machine up), a few cutters (for practice), Don,t buy to much cause you may not need really need it and it will just get rust, find a good scap metal dealer. Finally keep an eye on when a new chick-flick is coming out.

[ironDigit]

you sound like a hobby type a guy

then chekk this out if you got the time go true the whole site you won't regret it :

http://homepage3.nifty.com/amigos/index-e.html

i just buy my tooling as i need it thats the safest way i guess but too begin with is:
cutters,drillchukk,centerdrills,drills,taps,dial indicators live center etc etc etc etc etc

[Olliedog]

ironDigit that is a great site, seems with enough effort a guy could make his own tools, but will I feel I will send steel prices up