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What to get for new lathe
- Thread starter alan camby
- Start date
Alan, If you call them,They will guide you on the size. We have four of the Diamond Tool holders on a couple of lathes. They are the go-to tools.
Bobby
Bobby
Bxa or 200 series
CDCO has BXA tool holders for $9 (tool bit only) and $10 ( tool bit plus groove for boring bar). The slot is about 1/16 smaller than the holder that came with the machine but they easily take a 1/2 inch bit or bar and work fine on my G4003G. I bought six of the grooved holders and I could still use more.
Alan,
I am one of them who preaches HSS tools and learning to grind them properly. The reason is multi-fold. First is cheaper You can buy a ton of HSS bits for really cheap, second is versatility. You can grind any profile you can imagine, Third HSS is tougher. Carbide breaks and chips like glass and is very fragile, Finallly fourth, You cannot exploit the stronger points of carbide on hobby gear. Most smaller equipment does not make enough power or have the rigidity to take those deep high speed cuts that make carbide so effective. In general I tend to believe I also get a better surface finish with HSS too. Brazed carbide sets are nearly impossible to charpen and are so fragile that they generally are a waste of money for most new machinists. You might be better off getting several HSS blanks and a good work light, an inspection loupe, some Dykem, live and dead centers, a lathe dog and driver and a QCTP, then put in some hours just foolin around before you start buying expensive indexable bits and brazed. Also I would recommend a really good pair of TIG gloves that fit snug with no floppy cuffs to get caught, a few pairs of high quality safety glasses and some windex cleaner, a good quality interlocking rubber floor mat to stand on and a rag disposal container to prevent spontaneous combustion in your shop with oily rags. Down the road you can add a mist or flood coolant system as your experience and needs dictate. But the most important part to get and make sure you use is a sense of humor and having fun. Good luck, hope this helps!!!
Bob
I am one of them who preaches HSS tools and learning to grind them properly. The reason is multi-fold. First is cheaper You can buy a ton of HSS bits for really cheap, second is versatility. You can grind any profile you can imagine, Third HSS is tougher. Carbide breaks and chips like glass and is very fragile, Finallly fourth, You cannot exploit the stronger points of carbide on hobby gear. Most smaller equipment does not make enough power or have the rigidity to take those deep high speed cuts that make carbide so effective. In general I tend to believe I also get a better surface finish with HSS too. Brazed carbide sets are nearly impossible to charpen and are so fragile that they generally are a waste of money for most new machinists. You might be better off getting several HSS blanks and a good work light, an inspection loupe, some Dykem, live and dead centers, a lathe dog and driver and a QCTP, then put in some hours just foolin around before you start buying expensive indexable bits and brazed. Also I would recommend a really good pair of TIG gloves that fit snug with no floppy cuffs to get caught, a few pairs of high quality safety glasses and some windex cleaner, a good quality interlocking rubber floor mat to stand on and a rag disposal container to prevent spontaneous combustion in your shop with oily rags. Down the road you can add a mist or flood coolant system as your experience and needs dictate. But the most important part to get and make sure you use is a sense of humor and having fun. Good luck, hope this helps!!!
Bob
Hi Alan
I have various assortment of toolbits ranging from HSS thru Carbide brazed, inexible insert, to a diamond bit & holder, I have found that my 'go to' tool is the diamond bit & this is more or less permanently mounted on my QCTP on my WM250V-F lathe as it cuts anything that I have put in the chuck :thumbsup: Cast Iron,Brass,Aluminium, Mild steel, copper, bronze, although I haven't tried it on Stainless, yet! although I have no doubt it will cope but stainless being what it is & the need to plough through it I'm sure the HSS cutter tip won't last as long as with other materials but I haven't had the need to use stainless yet:shrugs:.
As for boring bars; the same selection applies plus a couple of small carbide boring tools (CNC centre coolant fed) that I picked up somewhere over the years, I prefer to use a 21/2" face mill as opposed to a single point fly cutter.. thump,thump, intermittant cut!, plus a 3/4" one as well, both with 90* indexible tips, am looking at getting another 21/2" mill with 45* tip angle. .
I recently bought some more toolholders for my QCTP at our national annual exhibition (Harrogate for our UK members) which brings my number up to 17..& I am still looking at getting some more.. always the same scenario.. mmm! should have got some more when I was there :thinking:, as with other members QCTP are much more convenient, off & on as needed & no resetting centre height once set, until as & when you need to regrind a tool. I have also bought a ER 25 collet set, 1-16mm range which I use all of the time, apart from when I have the face mill in, again as an afterthought.. should have got the ER30 set, 1-20mm range..oh well! I'm always full of afterthoughts :thinking: always trying to save a few pennies here & there & end up telling myself.. should have !
So Alan that's my two cents worth for what it's worth, enjoy your machining :thumbsup:
Cheers
George
I have various assortment of toolbits ranging from HSS thru Carbide brazed, inexible insert, to a diamond bit & holder, I have found that my 'go to' tool is the diamond bit & this is more or less permanently mounted on my QCTP on my WM250V-F lathe as it cuts anything that I have put in the chuck :thumbsup: Cast Iron,Brass,Aluminium, Mild steel, copper, bronze, although I haven't tried it on Stainless, yet! although I have no doubt it will cope but stainless being what it is & the need to plough through it I'm sure the HSS cutter tip won't last as long as with other materials but I haven't had the need to use stainless yet:shrugs:.
As for boring bars; the same selection applies plus a couple of small carbide boring tools (CNC centre coolant fed) that I picked up somewhere over the years, I prefer to use a 21/2" face mill as opposed to a single point fly cutter.. thump,thump, intermittant cut!, plus a 3/4" one as well, both with 90* indexible tips, am looking at getting another 21/2" mill with 45* tip angle. .
I recently bought some more toolholders for my QCTP at our national annual exhibition (Harrogate for our UK members) which brings my number up to 17..& I am still looking at getting some more.. always the same scenario.. mmm! should have got some more when I was there :thinking:, as with other members QCTP are much more convenient, off & on as needed & no resetting centre height once set, until as & when you need to regrind a tool. I have also bought a ER 25 collet set, 1-16mm range which I use all of the time, apart from when I have the face mill in, again as an afterthought.. should have got the ER30 set, 1-20mm range..oh well! I'm always full of afterthoughts :thinking: always trying to save a few pennies here & there & end up telling myself.. should have !
So Alan that's my two cents worth for what it's worth, enjoy your machining :thumbsup:
Cheers
George
Thanks again guys for all the help.
) I will probably order a Diamond tool holder in the next few days. Watching the video's has me drinking the Kool aid.
Today I fired up the lathe for the first time to make some metal round.
Yesterday I finished installing my mounts for the feet. You might have seen them in the Project oof the day thread.
Today I tried threading for the first time. I do have to give credit to video's by Tubal Cain. My first try turned out great.
I used a "E" brazed carbide tool. My first 2 passes were a little rough so I changed the rpm from 70 to 200.
The nut fits great and the threads are smooth. Was very pleased with the way the 1/2"-20 threads turned out. Probably should have had the work piece a little closer to the chuck but was a little scared of crashing on my first attempt at the power threading.
BTW the material is 1/2" W1 drill rod.
Thanks for looking.
Alan
) I will probably order a Diamond tool holder in the next few days. Watching the video's has me drinking the Kool aid.Today I fired up the lathe for the first time to make some metal round.
Yesterday I finished installing my mounts for the feet. You might have seen them in the Project oof the day thread.
Today I tried threading for the first time. I do have to give credit to video's by Tubal Cain. My first try turned out great.
I used a "E" brazed carbide tool. My first 2 passes were a little rough so I changed the rpm from 70 to 200.
The nut fits great and the threads are smooth. Was very pleased with the way the 1/2"-20 threads turned out. Probably should have had the work piece a little closer to the chuck but was a little scared of crashing on my first attempt at the power threading.
BTW the material is 1/2" W1 drill rod.
Thanks for looking.
Alan