The Home Machinist!

Anything that makes the machine easier and more convenient to use, get it.

Another vote for the stick lube. My 4x6 bi-metal blade is at least 6 years old. Have a new blade, too lazy to change it.

Nothing to help with the Cx info, but for cutting aluminum you might try ATF as a lube. It's a trick used when hand porting aluminum heads using carbide cutters to help keep the aluminum from gumming up the carbide burr.

I did look around and from what I saw it'd be cheaper and more fun to buy stock and make your own. Good practice on milling.

I hadn't thought of soft jaws (amateur LOL) but I did think the two piece jaws would have several benefits. I think I did OK for just under $200.

Q - are the master jaws made to some sort of standard dimension that allows other mfg outer jaws to be fitted?

All sounds very much like my G0519. To hold the spindle for tightening the draw bar, I just made a spline wrench out of a big washer and a piece of 3/8 steel rod. I have not had anything come loose in a collet yet. On the Z fine feed - that also sounds typical from reading other mill/drill user comm...

Hadn't done much lately with this - but I did get tired of trying to dial in a chuck that would not dial. The jaws need grinding and I don't have a mount for a Dremel or the time right now to make one. 20% off and free shipping bought a 6" direct mount "Interstate". It runs right at ....

FWIW - same runout issue with my Enco 12x36. The supplied 4 jaw was so far out their tech guy sent me a direct mount. I kept fiddling with the supplied 6 inch 3 jaw + back plate but I lack grinding capability right now, and the farther you got from the jaws the worse it got. Bought a nice Interstate...

As above. Not an expert by any means, or even a decent machinist. The minimum on a mill/drill IMHO is a square column unit. I have a Griz with a 1 HP 3 phase motor, runs off a VFD from 240V single phase shop power. It's a nice tool. It's got a good work envelope. But it's limited in accuracy in all ...

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I just bought an angle drill press vice because I got a 20% off Enco and free shipping one day only. Let me know when the meetings are scheduled. I propose a basic meeting agenda/3 step program. Step 1 would involve searching craigslist, local classifieds and the local free sales paper to identify t...

Kinda cool video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJia60qK7-c