Make or buy - shop tooling, etc

[tominboise]

I want a tool post dial indicator holder. I see a few available on Shars & Amazon for around $50. I found a few DIY videos and could make a holder and buy a DI to go in it. It would end up costing about the same between buying an indicator and some raw stock. I would end up with some extra aluminum raw stock, so I would have some material to do something else with in the future. Should I just buy the complete tool or buy the raw stock and indicator and do some machining?

 

[GeneT45]

It's all about abilities and priorities. If you have the ability, and it looks like a fun / interesting / fast project - go ahead and make it. If you can afford the commercial unit, and there are projects you'd rather be working on - do that. No right or wrong answer here, just what's right for you.

GsT

 

[jwmay]

Should I just buy the complete tool or buy the raw stock and indicator and do some machining?

Yep. Dealers choice. You own the deck now.

 

[brino]

When I get the time to build something instead of buy it, that's what I prefer. I find it also helps to better understand the tools use and limits. Plus I love my shop time.

However being in the "before retirement" phase, money is usually easier to find than time.....

Brian

 

[RandallsRaceShop]

I agree with Gene T45.
I do love making my own tools though!
Speaking of indicator holders...I think it's about time I made my own for the mill spindle (Indicol style...sort of.?.?.?).
Now, I could buy one & have it in the very near future. I prefer to make one because I have that sense of pride that I made this badass piece of tooling I'm about to use. Plus it's cool when someone asks "where'd you get that?" & I can say "I made that!"

It's kind of why I started this whole journey of hobby machining. For continued learning (I'll never know it all) & to make cool stuff.

Whatever you decide is always the right answer.
Have fun & be safe.

 

[MrWhoopee]

Look around, there are probably better/cooler designs than the one you can buy. If you're going to make one, make it better.

 

[tominboise]

I thought one of the reasons to buy a lathe and milling machine in the first place was to be able to make stuff like this. So I will order some aluminum bar and get started.

 

[woodchucker]

I thought one of the reasons to buy a lathe and milling machine in the first place was to be able to make stuff like this. So I will order some aluminum bar and get started.

I think you are better off using Steel. 1144 would machine easy.

 

[mmcmdl]

I thought one of the reasons to buy a lathe and milling machine in the first place was to be able to make stuff like this. So I will order some aluminum bar and get started.

Great . When starting out there are tons of projects to keep you going . Tools , tools to make tools , fixtures , anything to make things easier to do in the house , machine improvements etc . The list is endless .

 

[SouthernChap]

If you do anything that makes having a lathe or mill worthwhile, you will spend a non-trivial amount of time making tools, tools to make other tools, fixtures, and parts that serve to enable some other machining operations.

Some of these will look like one-offs but, occasionally you may find you're able to abstract some higher level principles and make a tool, fixture or part that's generalised enough to be used for something other than just the one-off use.

When that happens, you will strut around your workshop (and probably elsewhere too!), chest puffed out, like you are some kind of machining god!

Make sure you enjoy those moments to their full, and also when inevitably you mess something else up and scrap a few hours of work on some other project, remind yourself of your machining divinity; it'll help tamp down the rage and self-loathing.