6 replies to this topic

[alan monro]

As well as looking at HI FI shops I am going to try to find engineering shops ,ones that sell metal lathe and milling accessories .
There should be a lot around the Virginia Washington area.
Parts are a lot cheaper there than over here due to the population difference 30M compared to your 300 Million .The old story , discount in bulk .
Looks like I will be taking an empty suitcase and returning with 2 or more full ones .
It seems that we will be taken a trip to New York to see our sons new in laws and staying a few days there,I think it is in Manhattan. We will be doing the old tourist thing ,I don't know if people are friendly and talkative there,but we will find out . want to ride the Subway , see Empire State Building and all that stuff . Hope they sell the nice hot dogs there.
Love to see a football game there but I don't know how we will be going time wise, maybe a baseball game??? I don't know if the games are seasonable .Our football is in the winter .Then Cricket in the summer.Don't like cricket
We will see what happens in the OctoberNovember..............Alan

[topgun]

What sort of metal working tools are you looking for?

[alan monro]

topgun, on 26 April 2011 - 09:26 AM, said:

What sort of metal working tools are you looking for?

Good day Ryan .
I am after cheap index able 8mm (5/16") lathe turning bits , borer bars , parting off tools , kneeler , centre drills , MT1 Live centre , 4 jaw chuck , for my mini lathe (seig c1) . I also want to suss out mini milling machines , accessories .
portable spot welders etc. Any electrical thing I purchase Has to run off 230 volts.
At the least I will be coming home with turning bits.
The last time I came home from overseas , the airline lost one of my bags . The one with a lot of goodies in it .I never got it back .
It might be better for the goodies to be sent by boat (cheap) Insured.
..................................Alan.

[topgun]

What sort of machining are you looking to be able to do? Have you looked at catalogs such as Enco and Shars? They normally have lower cost (quality too) machining tools, they aren't the best quality but certainly work just fine. Their Phase II? quick change tool posts seem to work fine, not an Aloris, but not the price tag either. Would you be interested in HSS tools? I've got a pile of HSS that I would be willing to get rid of. Let me look in my pile of tooling to see if I even have anything that is MT#1, little small for most things, I think the smallest I have is #2. They make 1-2 adapters but I don't know if you have the bed length to really utilize one.

Another place to look for good tooling is aircraft surplus places, but normally it is all big stuff, I've never seen anything small there. We have bought quite a few items out of Spirit and you can find ridiculous deals if you know what to look for.

[alan monro]

topgun, on 27 April 2011 - 08:22 AM, said:

What sort of machining are you looking to be able to do? Have you looked at catalogs such as Enco and Shars? They normally have lower cost (quality too) machining tools, they aren't the best quality but certainly work just fine. Their Phase II? quick change tool posts seem to work fine, not an Aloris, but not the price tag either. Would you be interested in HSS tools? I've got a pile of HSS that I would be willing to get rid of. Let me look in my pile of tooling to see if I even have anything that is MT#1, little small for most things, I think the smallest I have is #2. They make 1-2 adapters but I don't know if you have the bed length to really utilize one.

Another place to look for good tooling is aircraft surplus places, but normally it is all big stuff, I've never seen anything small there. We have bought quite a few items out of Spirit and you can find ridiculous deals if you know what to look for.

Thanks very much Ryan. My turning length is 6" that is using the 4"chuck and a solid centre in the tail-stock yes, i don't have much room ,but enough for what i need i suppose.
My cutting tool size are 8mm,5/16" i think.?
Yes , my lathe is just a baby with a 150 w motor ,but I Love it . It is very accurate .004mm (.00015)".I think.if my metric conversion is correct .
If you have any tooling that would fit I would certainly be interested .
Thanks again Ryan I will check out Enco and Shars ........................Alan

[Cablguy184]

You going to be able to haul alot of metal back on the plane ??? if you find what you are looking for ???

[alan monro]

Cablguy184, on 29 April 2011 - 10:47 AM, said:

You going to be able to haul alot of metal back on the plane ??? if you find what you are looking for ???

Good day Randal.
If it is too heavy I will send it by boat .A couple of weeks wait but that does nor matter ,....................Alan