What Machine Tools Are You Buying and Why?

[David2011]

That Sanford is a beauty. Sounds like precision washer and spacer would be the most common use.

While it’s “a” common use, it’s hard to say that it’s “the most common“ use. One less common use that I’ve seen is in fitting an aftermarket safety to a Mauser 98 bolt. Without a surface grinder it’s a very difficult job. Any time you need to make a very flat surface or remove a very precise amount of metal the surface grinder is king.

In our gunsmithing class there were three types of precision machines. There were lathes; 8 old South Bends and a new 14x40 Enco, two new Enco knee mills and an old surface grinder. I don’t remember the brand but it was very much like the Sanford above both in size and style. There were a pair of Baldor buffers, a blasting cabinet, a hot bluing room and a heat treating furnace along with the usual smaller tools that any shop would have. With those tools about the only limit to what could be done on firearms was the imagination of the students and the skills of the students and the instructor. One student built a pair of Remington falling block rifles in the class with color case hardened receivers. One was for a donation to a charity and was auctioned off for $3500.

Sorry for drifting off subject so far; just trying to illustrate how much can be done with just a few carefully selected machines.

 

[th62]

I've just sold my pedestal drill I bought back,in 1985, so I've ordered a new one. This one is slightly larger than the old one with a 92mm column and a 52mm quill. The old one had an 80 mm column and 50mm quill. I've also ordered a cross slide vice to mount on the table, similar to a Wilton.

 

[Aaron_W]

I initially came to the machining world with almost zero knowledge. I had experience with woodworking, but my metal experience was limited to a year of high school metal shop. Mostly sheet metal, gas welding and soldering.

I became interested in getting a lathe to make scale model parts and after about a year of researching options I ended up buying a Sherline lathe. With the lathe in hand I quickly found a mill would be handy and ended up getting a Sherline mill. Now I was set, I had all the machine tools I'd ever need. After all I was in this to support my model building, that was my hobby, not machining, not machine tool rescue and rehab.

The little Sherline machines were doing the job, but I was just making a few small basic parts. I wanted to grow my skills, to try something more challenging, to expand from the few basic operations I was doing and have to learn more things to complete a task. I ended up buying a set of plans for a small basic steam engine, plans only, materials sourced locally.

That was all fine and well, but some of the parts pushed the limits of my small machines. Cutting small bits of aluminum or brass by hand was fine, but now I was working with steel, and some larger brass stock. Cutting that with a hacksaw got old fast. With the aid of a 25% off coupon the cutting problem was handled with the addition of a HF 4x6" bandsaw.

Soon I met that devil Craig and his list...

I soon had a new hobby related to machine tools instead of just having a couple of tools for a hobby.. I was enjoying learning, and absorbing information like a sponge. I also like having the ability to make and repair things.

With new confidence I wanted a bigger lathe, something that I could use to make the odd repair part for one of my old cars or something around the house. I had also (through this site) found helpful enablers, both online and locally.
I ended up getting a good deal on an 11" Powermatic / Logan lathe. It was functional, but a project. I got it working well enough, I'm still working on tightening things up, an on going game of wack a mole.
With a bigger lathe, I needed a bigger mill. Again my local enablers came through, and I got a nice (not at all a project) Clausing 8520.

Welding and other metal work were added for my old Land Cruiser and fire engine.

I've gained an obsession for small lathes, adding several. Maybe a bit of looking for perfect but that is more of an excuse. Maybe a bit of Pokémon fever (got to catch them all).
The other machines have been more nuanced. A bigger, better quality bandsaw because I've started using my welder a lot more. A small Diamond horizontal mill because it adds some capability (plus it was a deal, in great shape and honestly just a neat piece of equipment). A little Atlas shaper, again it was a deal, and no shop is complete without a shaper.

At this point my machine purchases are a combination, of needs, I like fixing up old things, too good a deal to pass up, and the occassional "I just want it".
There is also quite a bit of an educational aspect, how do I know I don't need it until I've used one. I have a strong personality streak of I have to see for myself. I have lots of life experience proving to me that just because other people think a certain way, doesn't mean that works for me.
I'm still learning, and evolving. My machine purchases are fewer, more directed, and (usually) better informed now.

 

[Mikesfab]

I recently sold my McMillan Drill Mill as it was (IMO) too big and cumbersome for the small work I was doing on it. It's early life was spent in an Apprentice workshop at a steel mill, so was well used and abused. I'm in the throes of purchasing an Optimum BV20AL benchtop mill/drill. Very much looking forward to something with more accuracy than I had.
Mike.

 

[Cadillac]

My whole life I’ve been making things/stuff. Went from building everything out of wood buying all the tools to do so. Was given a Bridgeport with a lot of tooling which expanded my world into metalworking. Shortly got a 10x24 lathe which showed me I needed a bigger lathe for what I do. Got a 14x40 which had been a great fit for me.
I wanted more precision so I picked up a surface grinder. I wanted better finishes,I wanted to build tooling. Then you want sharp tools and be able to make what you need so I picked up a tool and cutter grinder.
Im in the process now of building a cnc plasma table so I can cut out stock faster, expand my capabilities. Build cool stuff!
Besides the 2 lathes and Bridgeport everything else was bought at auctions. Auctions have been very good to me on all levels.
I buy my tools and tooling to support what I make and do. I buy more tools to expand what I can do. So really I’m teaching and investing in my future and my sons who enjoys working with me in the garage. And hopefully is paying close attention because it will all be his one day!