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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Gunsmithing
Help with selecting bench top lathe and vertical mill
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<blockquote data-quote="J E Custom" data-source="post: 2026442" data-attributes="member: 2736"><p>My only recommendation is not to cheap out. regardless of what brand you decide on, get one with the features I recommended. You can always find need for a bigger lathe with more features, but you ask about your first lathe and my recommendation was based on MY experiences with cheaper lathes of minimum sizes to do gun work.</p><p></p><p>No matter how far you want to get into gunsmithing If you chose the right features and dimensions, you will be able to do the job with a normal amount of set up time and trouble.</p><p></p><p>I went through 3 different lathes then the forth one finally had the features and precision to do quality work. I spent way more on the other 3 lathes and tooling before I bought the one I now use. $5,000 to $8,000 should get you everything you will need for quality work. Quality is only as good as your skills and equipment.</p><p></p><p>As for tooling, My opinion is the same. You get what you pay for. Inserts are becoming more and more popular but cheap inserts are more expensive in the long run because they don't last as long and don't make as good of a finish cut as the better inserts so you end up sanding or filing to get fine finishes and results in the process of less dimensionaly consistent. </p><p></p><p>I am retired and understand the cost problem, But it has been my experience that if I buy as good as I can afford, I save money over the years.</p><p></p><p>Just My opinion.</p><p></p><p>J E CUSTOM</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="J E Custom, post: 2026442, member: 2736"] My only recommendation is not to cheap out. regardless of what brand you decide on, get one with the features I recommended. You can always find need for a bigger lathe with more features, but you ask about your first lathe and my recommendation was based on MY experiences with cheaper lathes of minimum sizes to do gun work. No matter how far you want to get into gunsmithing If you chose the right features and dimensions, you will be able to do the job with a normal amount of set up time and trouble. I went through 3 different lathes then the forth one finally had the features and precision to do quality work. I spent way more on the other 3 lathes and tooling before I bought the one I now use. $5,000 to $8,000 should get you everything you will need for quality work. Quality is only as good as your skills and equipment. As for tooling, My opinion is the same. You get what you pay for. Inserts are becoming more and more popular but cheap inserts are more expensive in the long run because they don't last as long and don't make as good of a finish cut as the better inserts so you end up sanding or filing to get fine finishes and results in the process of less dimensionaly consistent. I am retired and understand the cost problem, But it has been my experience that if I buy as good as I can afford, I save money over the years. Just My opinion. J E CUSTOM [/QUOTE]
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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Gunsmithing
Help with selecting bench top lathe and vertical mill
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