Beginner

[BigE120]

So I recently purchased a small bench top lathe from Amazon not knowing a whole lot about this type of machining. I have worked with lathes in the past but the machine was setup properly before I used it by a retired machinest. The machine came with tooling and I have no idea how to tell direction of the motor per which cutting edge to use, and which cutting edges I use for threading. I’ve tried YouTube but the people on there want to look smart and throw all these terms at me I’ve never heard. I don’t know what “swing” is or the size of a bed etc. I’m just trying not to get hurt, or screw up any of my stuff as I’m about $600 bucks into this deal. Also I’d like to know if these machines are accurate enough to make gun parts! ie. Barrels and such. If pics would help I can post some later. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[matthewsx]

Hi and welcome.

Download a copy of

How to Run a Lathe (1934) : South Bend Lathe Works : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

How to run a geared screw cutting lathe. No Copyright renewal found in Stanford or LOC online databases. Book provided by Bay Books & Prints of Bigfork,...

archive.org

It’s old but covers all the basics. Read it and you’ll start to understand the terms the you tubers are using.

Be safe above all.

John

 

[ChazzC]

Welcome from South Central Pennsylvania!

 

[SouthernChap]

Welcome to one of the more expensive hobbies you'll encounter. The money you've spent so far? The only way you'll avoid spending that again, and almost certainly a fair bit more is if you stop right now!

Anyway, time for you to post a couple of pics of your new possession. Don't be shy, pictures of machine tools, whatever they are, make up a good part of the air the members of this forum breathe!

As for the terms, like any technical pursuit, there's a vocabulary that you'll learn and get used to. It's a lot quicker to say "swing" than "the distance between the ways and the centre axis of the spindle".

 

[hotrats]

Welcome! This is a hobby you'll enjoy. While I've owned a mill and lathe for around a decade, I'm still very much a beginner.
Check out these links to Mr. Pete videos on youtube. His videos are very informative, and he touches on most all aspects of shop work in these videos.

#1 MACHINE SHOP TIPS tubalcain playlist #1 thru #100

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

www.youtube.com

#2 MACHINE SHOP TIPS tubalcain playlist #101 thru #200

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

www.youtube.com

#3 MACHINE SHOP TIPS tubalcain playlist #201 thru #300

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

www.youtube.com

 

[Eddyde]

Welcome to Hobby Machinist and the Hobby! Yes we love pictures here, so please post some when you can.
Gunsmithing might be a stretch for a "mini lathe" but it depends on what you have and want to do, some tasks might be possible.
I second John's recommendation on reading "How to Run a Lathe". It is the most concise book on learning basic lathe operation.

 

[Makintrax73]

Look up BlondiHacks on YouTube. Go to the lathe skills playlist. Start watching.

A 7in mini lathe, which is what I assume you have, isn't going to be the first choice for gunsmithing by any means. But you can certainly learn the basics and develop some skills if you stick to it. Mostly the forum steers people away from these machines because often times a good used 9" South Bend or similar can be found with tooling for the same money.

Good luck and have fun with it.