I've been teaching myself to turn with mystery metals and that CRS you get at the borg. It's been an informative, frustrating, and sometimes downright scary education. I saw mention of some magical alloy called 12L14 that was supposed to be easy to machine, so I ordered some from OnlineMetals. It arrived today so I threw a 1/2" diameter rod on the lathe, put in my dullest HSS bit and let her rip - this stuff cuts like butter! I got enough to make half a chess set and I can already tell that this is going to be fun to do. I wish I'd have discovered it a year ago. Now I need to find a type of brass or bronze that is just as easy to turn and I'll be set.