Hello all,
I am certain that this trhead has been posted before, I have not been able to find a similar question/thread that is recent.
I am new to the hobby. I just finished learning how to do some advanced basic skills - threading, etc... My maker shop is closing it's doors and I am concidering purchasing a new lathe and mill or a combo. Elsewhere on the forum I have gleaned that Precision Mathews makes a great tool. I often see repeatative warnings to stay away from the chinese manufactured tools. Are all of Percision Mathews tools made somewhere other than China?
I see Smithy machines have a very well advertised combo mill/lathe. I do not see many "Pro" Smithy threads or suggestions. Why is this?
I would love to have a full sized engine athe and a 2 ton mill but that is just not possible regrding space of finances. I do not want to spend $1500-2000 on a enrty level machine and regret that I short changed myself. $5000 is a stretch but I believe that is what I will need to spend to get what I want. The combo tool is attractive because it seems that for a lower price I get a machine that will do what I need for my hobby. I am making aluminium toys (lightsabers) that are T6061 and rarely exceed 16" in length. I do need to be able to do threading, compund cuts, and radial work on a rotary table, I picked up a used 8" rotary table. I am searching for a tail stock to use the table on a mill.
I have a small work shed 12x16 and plan to house the tools and set up a small workshop. The shed is not insulated, am I asking for trouble with rust related to humidity and exposure to the flux of outdoor weather?
Any help, guidance, and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Clint
I am certain that this trhead has been posted before, I have not been able to find a similar question/thread that is recent.
I am new to the hobby. I just finished learning how to do some advanced basic skills - threading, etc... My maker shop is closing it's doors and I am concidering purchasing a new lathe and mill or a combo. Elsewhere on the forum I have gleaned that Precision Mathews makes a great tool. I often see repeatative warnings to stay away from the chinese manufactured tools. Are all of Percision Mathews tools made somewhere other than China?
I see Smithy machines have a very well advertised combo mill/lathe. I do not see many "Pro" Smithy threads or suggestions. Why is this?
I would love to have a full sized engine athe and a 2 ton mill but that is just not possible regrding space of finances. I do not want to spend $1500-2000 on a enrty level machine and regret that I short changed myself. $5000 is a stretch but I believe that is what I will need to spend to get what I want. The combo tool is attractive because it seems that for a lower price I get a machine that will do what I need for my hobby. I am making aluminium toys (lightsabers) that are T6061 and rarely exceed 16" in length. I do need to be able to do threading, compund cuts, and radial work on a rotary table, I picked up a used 8" rotary table. I am searching for a tail stock to use the table on a mill.
I have a small work shed 12x16 and plan to house the tools and set up a small workshop. The shed is not insulated, am I asking for trouble with rust related to humidity and exposure to the flux of outdoor weather?
Any help, guidance, and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Clint