This is the kind of info I'd be completely without if it weren't for forums like this and people like you. I was checking out an Aloris BXA on ebay. It seems the used BXA's are going cheaper on eBay than the AXA's. I wonder if its simply due to popularity. Given your info I think I'll definitely go with an AXA. I was recently reading elsewhere on this forum that several members are satisfied with Shars Tool. Both on their chucks and their QCTP. I may hold out and see if I can get a second hand Aloris or Dorian but once I get the lathe running, I think there will be a priority to purchase enough tooling to get working.
As far as chucks. I have my eye on a few vintage Cushman chucks. I know these are made in the USA but being older are they worth it? I may do some searching elsewhere to see what other people think about them. The hardest thing is still finding a backplate with the right threads. I can't imagine I'd want my first attempt at a lathe project to be making my own backplate.
I think my highest priorities right now are the VFD, Chuck, and Toolpost/toolholders. But I know I need a few other things. Tool bits, dead center, etc. Where do you guys get those sorts of things? I was thinking of starting out with an indexable carbide set for ease of use without much experience grinding HSS tools. I was also thinking of just ordering all the smaller misc. stuff through the same place to save on shipping. How is Grizzly on that stuff? Is Enco cheaper? I know I could ask this sort of thing in the other forums but you guys have already helped me a lot!
As far as chucks. I have my eye on a few vintage Cushman chucks. I know these are made in the USA but being older are they worth it? I may do some searching elsewhere to see what other people think about them. The hardest thing is still finding a backplate with the right threads. I can't imagine I'd want my first attempt at a lathe project to be making my own backplate.
I think my highest priorities right now are the VFD, Chuck, and Toolpost/toolholders. But I know I need a few other things. Tool bits, dead center, etc. Where do you guys get those sorts of things? I was thinking of starting out with an indexable carbide set for ease of use without much experience grinding HSS tools. I was also thinking of just ordering all the smaller misc. stuff through the same place to save on shipping. How is Grizzly on that stuff? Is Enco cheaper? I know I could ask this sort of thing in the other forums but you guys have already helped me a lot!
I DO have a small parts washer. I had wanted to get one for a while now and when I bought my lathe decided it was the right time as I used it to clean all the small parts (anything other than the base, motor, and headstock went in it). I used a biodegradable water based solution which is soft and not harmful on the environment and on the skin and was able to wash all the grease off my hands before going to the bathroom and washing it 'properly' (without marring the bathroom with mysterious black spots..... hmmm ... wasn't me...). was it necessary? probably not. but it sure made things easier especially with cleaning the lathe in a shared basement with the laundry and other things that cannot come in contact with anything dirty. I also like restoring old woodworking tools and whatnot which was the original purpose for the parts washer. like Kenny said - it is mostly stored away unused, awaiting the projects that will require it at which point it's handy to have. the ongoing stream of solution really cleans off the parts nicely without having to scrub much, and then you can give an extra 'push' with the brush for some more persistent dirt, and or to speed things up. you can always sell it once you are done with the lathe if you don't have space/need for it. definitely not a necessity though, but 'nice to have'