How long have you been doing this?
What machine in your shop do you use most?
What machine in your shop could you not live without? In other words, if you could have only one machine, what would it be?
Knowing what you know now, if you had to start over again, what would you buy first, second and third? Assume you need to wait a year between each purchase.
What is the one thing you wish someone had told you when you were first starting out, or that they did tell you that you wished you had listened to?
1. How long have you been doing this?
About 35 years
2. What machine in your shop do you use most?
It's a toss up between my Sheldon lathe and my Bridgeport mill. They both get used about equally. One week the mill may run 30 to 40 hours, the next week it might be the lathe. It all depends on the job at hand.
3. What machine in your shop could you not live without? In other words, if you could have only one machine, what would it be?
Most probably the Sheldon lathe. Most operations that can be done on a mill can also be done on a lathe. The difference is the ease and complexity of being able to do them. The mill excels at many operations that could be done on a lathe, but makes them easier and faster.
4. Knowing what you know now, if you had to start over again, what would you buy first, second and third? Assume you need to wait a year between each purchase.
Purchases in order: bench top drill press, lathe, bench top grinder, vertical milling machine, belt/disk sander, arbor press, floor standing drill press, hydraulic press, bandsaw, horizontal milling machine, second lathe, shaper, surface grinder, power hacksaw, etc., etc.
That's pretty much the order I bought thing in. One tool required another to support it, or the job was just easier on a dedicated tool.
5. What is the one thing you wish someone had told you when you were first starting out, or that they did tell you that you wished you had listened to?
I had good advice and counsel all along the way. Having had experience in the business I was familiar with what basic tools to start with. As time went on and I felt the need for additional tools I enlisted several former co workers to offer opinions, and assess potential purchases. I must admit I had advantages along the way that most hobbyists don't. I was able to purchase equipment when shops were upgrading or downsizing. I rarely had to go looking for machinery. Most of it was offered at more than reasonable prices.