Thread: Metal lathe
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Old 10-21-2017, 10:03 AM
billfunk29 billfunk29 is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 319
Default Homeshop machinist

This forum may prove useful:
http://www.homeshopmachinist.net/

Personally, I would look for an old Atlas or Southbend before I got a China lathe. Get as much tooling as you can with the machine. Expensive to buy one at a time.

I have used a lot of domestic and import machinery. If you do get an import, plan to work on it right out of the box. Sharp corners and crappy handles can be fixed. I have found the basic iron to be adequate.

I have hand scraped several machines and Mid 20th century iron is the best. You can really feel the difference as you scrape. That said, you can still learn a lot from a cheap import tool.
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