Noob looking for help

[Arich0908]

I want to machine small parts for my 2 stroke engine.
Would a Metal Lathe be good.
I dont even know where to start . Are there some sticky's here I can read.
A point in the right direction would do me some good .
Thank You ,
Anthony

[TroyO]

I like the metal lathe, but I'm probably biased... it's all I have (For now).

What kind of parts, and for what kind of two stroke?

A lathe can make pretty much all of your round parts. Your rectangular/square type parts will probably need a mill.

A 7x or 8x lathe could probably handle a lot of round stuff for a small motorcycle type engine. But it may not have the capacity for a larger model. (Think YZ80, not YZ250...)

But, if you were thinking like model airplane/RC car engines you are probably set!

[blades]

A lathe is used for used strictly for round parts, unless you become an advanced user and add a milling attachment. Even then, milling capacity is very limited, and not really advisable until you become more advanced.

A mill is used for anything other than pure round parts, or to add machined features to round parts.

Before you can successfully make parts for your engine, you will have to learn the difference between a mill and a lathe, and determine which machine will serve you best. My guess is that you probably want a mill, not so much a lathe.