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!