Thanks for the warm reception gentlemen. I have a few projects going on in various stages of confus...err, completion and I will definitely post up the pix when they're a bit farther along.
As luck would have it, I started a combination surface plate/buffer-polisher stand last weekend and just as I started remembering a bit of SMAW welding technique, I got 2 phone calls to do some work for CASH that'll stop that project cold for a bit.
I've been wanting to purchase an 8" machinist's level and a 2 1/2" R-8 flycutter from CDCO and the extra cash will allow me to go ahead & order them. John's flycutter sharpening thread I found here has me keen to add one to the toolchest.