Hello all,
A quick note to introduce myself to this great site.
I have always had a fascination in making things but it has not been until recently I started to build a 'proper' workshop. It started out by buying a mini lathe to make fittings for model boats, but after turning (pun intended) large amounts of brass into swarf it was the process of machining and the problem solving that really got me hooked!
My first really useful project (and one I'm secretly proud of) was a version of Harold Hall's tail stock die holder, even if the taper turned out to be about morse 1 1/2!
Any way flushed with success (but not cash) I started to build my workshop by adding a X1 mini mill from Arc Euro, who have been helpful. Adding to this I have bought various other tools, some not so wisely (one of these a small rotary table that seems very hard to fix anything to) and some useful such as my indexable cutting tools (wish I bought some spare bits!).
Perhaps the biggest lesson so far is what I didn't buy such as a four jaw chuck, live centre and steadies - I think a real indicator of my lack of knowledge. Talking of that being a child of the 60's I still struggle with those funny thousandth of an inch things!
Well enough from me, apart for a big thank you for the inspirational projects on this site that are giving understanding and insight to fantastic hobby!
Incidentally I name my lathe Franky after my late father who always wanted a model engineering workshop but didn't quite get there.
Regards Hal
