Basic Tooling Recommendations

[mwest]

So a PM25 has been ordered...

I have:
1. Standard drills
2. An assortment of small end mills
3. A 5" vice
4. Parallels
5. 1,2,3 blocks
6. Edge finders
7. Calipers

Obviously missing a lot of the basics here:
1. R8 collets
2. A dial indicator
3. Scribe
4. Center drills
5. Etc...

Without sending me out for a $1,000 worth of tools what is the prioritized list of essential basics that I should try to acquire right away?

My first two projects will be:
1. Setting up the mill
2. Squaring up an aluminum plate and spotting two counter sunk holes for a my office door name plate

Thanks,
Matt

 

[GA Gyro]

If it were me....

A clamping kit (Matt has these)
Drill chuck mounted to R-8
An edge finder
A coaxial centering tool
A device to hold a dial indicator from a collet
A case of spray cans of WD-40
Rags

Things later on:
Boring setup
Rotary table

 

[brav65]

For your first project I would say you could get away with a clamping kit and a fly cutter. I spent way more than $1000 before I got my PM-25 and I wish I had waited as some of the things I have not used. I have had to buy others to complete projects. I would go with the minimal tooling need, then keep you eyes open for deals from Enco and on Craigslist. Matt has both the clamping kit and a set of R-8 collets. He has very good pricing and usually will ship for free with the mill.

Get a 1 gallon can of WD-4o and one of their new spray bottles. I got that set up and it is way better than the spray cans, and goes much farther. Go to HF with a 20% off and get a box of 2" chip brushes. They help loosen the shipping grease very well.

 

[T Bredehoft]

I don't see a test indicator on the list. You can't mount your vise with a jaw parallel the X movement without one.

 

[Doubleeboy]

A deburring tool would be nice. Also a round piece of stock, flatted on one side to help with first cut on ragged stock when setting up in vise. If that does not ring a bell check out you tube for how to square stock. I don't know why people are recommending the WD 40, a pretty dubious product IMO, maybe they recommend it for cutting oil, if that is the case, save some money and buy kerosene. If you are buying WD40 for cutting aluminum and don't like the smell you can get unscented lamp oil by the gallon for less money and it works just as well. I would also get one of the those spring loaded tap centering gizmos, about 10 bucks and very helpful on mill or DP to start a tap square. If not mentioned above I would get a wiggler center finder.

have fun
michael

 

[kingmt01]

Since you already know & listed 3 of the things I'll leave them out. Since kerosene was brought up. I've never used lamp oil but I take the smell out by putting some lime stone dust in the bottom of my container(probably don't want to shake it & get the dust in your work & machine). I read the other day to mix 90% kerosene to 10% light oil for aluminum & for steel 90% light oil & 10% kerosene. Now I'm not sure what is meant by light oil since I'd say kerosene is pretty light oil. I had some 20W at hand so I tried that & wow! It left a much better finish on aluminum. I keep some of the steel mix also but I usually use the aluminum mix on steel also. Works great for drilling & taking also.

Depending on what your doing what you need. You probably need clamps, drill chuck, taps, file, & some version of paper towels. Now there is much mite that you will find that is useful but start from there & decide what "you" need.