Newbie getting in over my head?

[NP317]

Careful Harold, or you will begin to catch up to me...
RussN

[Harold_V]

Not possible

Chuckle!
Well, I thought I'd hit bottom, but I seem to just keep digging.

H

[Bill Shields]

At least it is with a hand shovel and not a jackhammer

[nessism]

What thickness sheet metal for the back splash? .071" okay?

Rotex mill any good? Seller wants $1500, which seems like too much. But...this is So Calif, where everything is expensive. It's a dedicated vertical. A number of similar horizontal units were converted back in the day.

Screenshot_20230128_012238.png (1.13 MiB) Viewed 903 times

[Bill Shields]

I think it is a bit much...

[nessism]

I think it is a bit much...

I agree, but what small mills should I target that can be had for less? Are the Chinese drill/mills worth considering?

[Bill Shields]

Do not know exactly.

Suggest something with an R8 spindle and more z height would be my recommendation.

I have an ROC mill...built 2 steamers with it, and is ok but just that.

Suggest avoiding round column if possible.

Do not be in a hurry

[nessism]

I'm lagging on getting this machine up and running, proper like. I've got DRO parts I'm working on installing. And learned tonight, that the 3 jaw chuck is jacked up and doesn't close properly. I'm going to bust that thing down and see what's going on with it this weekend.

One other thing that's bothering me is that the stand is TALL. I've got casters on it currently, which will come off, but that will only drop the machine 3 inches or so. Guess I'll see how it feels once the casters are off, and the unit leveled in its home. I can imagine a lathe stand project in my future, though.

[Bill Shields]

And how tall are you?

If you stand at the lathe with your elbow at a right angle...are the lathe controls right there?

I am 6'1", have a bad back and raise all of my lathes so that I do not have to bend over so far to focus on the chuck/ work.

But then... that's me

[Inspector]

Rather than make a new stand nail together a platform of boards. Three or four 1" or 2" thick pieces laying on the floor out from the lathe with 1" boards across, 1" gaps between them. Don't paint them for better traction. It will raise you and be more comfortable to stand on for long periods. Stand them up to sweep underneath.

Pete

[Bill Shields]

soft rubber padding helps - I have some of these 'puzzle pieces' of rubber that interlock to make however large a work area.

because they come apart into 12" squares (approx), they are easy to take outside and 'shake'.

out in the big shop, we have them on top of the 'raise me up' pallet to get to a working height of a series II bridgeport.

[rmac]

And learned tonight, that the 3 jaw chuck is jacked up and doesn't close properly.

Can you give more detail here? What exactly do you mean by "doesn't close properly"?