quote:

Lawndart:

Here's a deal for you; why not pay me room and board and a small stipend and I will come out during deer and elk season to show you how to do all this stuff. maybe even throw in one of the local gals (decent looking and lonely) to keep me from getting bored. With your checkbook and my experience, we could really make a team.

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JC,

this is the single most important piece you would never think of
Spindlesquare - trams your mill in seconds, and allows you to tram TO the surface of the work... for interesting things like barrel dovetails
$150
http://www.wttool.com/p/1289-0600

this is the mill you want, $2600 delivered and can be LATER upgraded to cnc
30x12x5 TRAVEL with a 40x9 table -- you do NOT want a round column import, and this thing is like the PERFECT gunsmith mill.

http://www.industrialhobbies.com/Products/square_column_mill.htm

~4000, i would look for a 15" lathe, as they generally have the through hole and WEIGHT to be accurate. I would look for a leblond/nardini. 15x60 would be fine, and a SHORT bed (36 or 48) wouldn't hurt, and generally goes for less money. monarches are amazing lathes, but the through hole tends to be smaller

add 500 for shipping

welder .. me, I would get a CHEAP tig welder,
like this -- i have a big thermal arc, and nearly NEVER go above 60amps for gun related stuff.. and 3/8 is usually only 120 amps.

(thermalarcs START at 1800)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7624...9&fromMakeTrack=true

i would then buy a hobart TRUE mig welder


http://cgi.ebay.com/HOBART-HANDLER-180-MIG-500506-CART-...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
785 - includes bottl and regulator that can work on both welders...

bout 1100 bucks for a tig and mig, which of course can do stick as well, so you have all major processes covered

you'll also need a torch, even if just pony bottles..
500 total

surface grinder -- this would be the LAST thing I bought, and harbour fright ahs them for 699!!

i would, however add
"import 6" cnc vise" for the mill. $129 from wholesale tool. will drop with into the mill table

TWO 1/2" boltdown kits 40 each

123 blocks - 40 bucks

starrette 12" precision level, $200 ebay

hand full of machinist jacks, 4 bucks each

tslot scraper 5 bucks

harbour freight coolant pump, get 2, 50 bucks each

and of course collects, boring bars, chucks... so probably right at 11K to fill your shop

put aside 1000 for misc tooling

what I would get before a surface grinder is a BIG baldor pedestal grinder, 10 or 12", and a big buffing only buffer/arbour... and the set of wheels and grits.

oh, yeah, while the surface grinder would be cool, a $229 6x48 belt, 12" disk grinder from HF, with a replacement motor, kicks butt for installing pads and varius off hand grinding work.

on chucks, get jacobs, a 0 to 3/8 KEYED, and 1/2 keyless.. and a JUNKER 3/4" keyed, as a through away, as you'll want that from time to time.

oh, and one of the best "have it around" are a set of edge finders and a coax

jeffe

we band of bubbas
STC Hunting Club

http://www.weaponsmith.com

quote:

Lawndart

Before you decide on a phase converter you might want to give Tom Burgess a quick call or write him an email. He can tell you about the troubles of not having the right type of phase conversion.

You might want to consider these folks.

http://www.phaseperfect.com/

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One area no one seems to have touched on is power requirements. This can be a real headache unless it is thought out in advance. 3 Phase power is not readily available at most homes. Therefore, us home machinest types have to make decisions about how to run equipment that quite often has 3 phase motors. There are VFDs, RPCs, static converters and of course the swap to single phase to consider. I went with a RPC (rotary power converter bought not built) as my solution. I sized it large enough to handle the largest machine I would have and am quite happy. Other methods work also. This is just something you need to look at and consider. Lighting is another issue. Can't have too much (you can always turn them off). Wall plugs are the same. I have them at 4 ft intervals in my shops. So there's a few more thoughts to ponder. Also wire to code, then an insurance adjuster can't blame you if something happens.

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Get Mark Strattons book and CD. A must have. Okay you need the machines and the power but his book is priceless. Well it does have a price, lol. How about a great bargain, better term to use. I could go delete the other stuff I typed but it would take too long.

Chic Worthing
"Life is Too Short To Hunt With An Ugly Gun"
http://webpages.charter.net/cworthing/

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The only thing I would add to all of this is to try to find a lathe that not only has micrometer-settable automatic way "stops", but one which also has automatic micrometer- settable crossfeed stops. My next-door neighbor has a beautiful little Canadian-made 13x40 lathe with both those and it is so handy I have dreamt of "volunteering" him as a test pilot for "smart" missles just so I can buy it from his estate sale! (Besides that, he has 6 big milling machines and 8 or 9 lathes with beds up to 14', so he doesn't need that little Canadian doll anyway.)

Jealousy? Envy? You bet!

Government size is, by its inherent nature, inversely proportionate to the freedom of its citizens.

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Originally posted by 22WRF:
Vapo

That is a nice looking Mill. What is it. Where is the DRO. What did you have to give for it, if you don't mind my asking.

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Not only that, but if you worked for Minimum Wage you wouldn't be able to support Lois in the manner she has become accustomed to.

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Lawndart I have a Bridgeport (US Made I believe) Mill for sale. I can get the particulars on it and picture if you are interested. $3500. May have some other stuff too. Let me know: kbebout@bellsouth.net