grumpyvette Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 how many guys have or at least want..some of the larger machine tools in their shop? HAVING a mill and lathe is a HUGE ADVANTAGE (theres links on lathe operation in these threads) now obviously many guys never get to the point in the hobby where they get into fabricating custom parts many guys get by with hand tools and maybe a drill press, but for those guys that might want to experiment or know they can make a better part, youll require a few tools like a decent TIG WELDER,or MIG WELDER , a MILL,DRILL PRESS,AND A LATHE your choices are almost endless and the chances of buying really good USED equipment , from a business that's moving or closing or upgrading,if you keep looking around and researching your options are excellent. theres a tendency to buy the least expensive tools when first starting out, but that's seldom a great idea, you sure don,t want to spend the cash for top of the line tools when your first starting out either because you can very easily spend many multi thousands of dollars on basic tools and required tooling and accessories, that you'll seldom use in many cases,so think thru your needs. but remember if you have the tools and acquire the skills there a great deal of satisfaction, in building custom parts and theres potential money to be made heres some basic choices,in the larger and more expensive shop tools many of us would love to own, your needs may be far different but you can do about 99% of auto related work with these tools, and yes I'm fully aware that for many guys this is just a dream list, and for some of the more skilled the list contains less than top of the line imports that are not ideal for more than hobby use. http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WD&Product_Code=907321 http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WD&Product_Code=K1855-4 http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-Speed-17-Floor-Drill-Press/G7947 http://www.grizzly.com/products/Milling-Machine-w-Power-Feed/G6760 http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WD&Product_Code=907422 http://www.grizzly.com/products/10-x-22-Bench-Top-Metal-Lathe/G0602 a basic working lathe , drill press and mill,suitable for a good deal of auto work can be purchased NEW at a reasonable cost, every shop needs at least a decent drill press, and a decent welder http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=970&p=2373&hilit=+drill+press#p2373 and HAVING a mill and lathe is a HUGE ADVANTAGE http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2198&p=5909&hilit=+milling+machine#p5909 http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=993&p=4129&hilit=+milling+machine#p4129 http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2198&p=5909&hilit=+milling+machine#p5909 http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=993&p=4129&hilit=+milling+machine#p4129 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators RTz Posted October 30, 2010 Administrators Share Posted October 30, 2010 how many guys have or at least want..some of the larger machine tools in their shop? Owner of a 2800 lb vertical mill, 1100 lb lathe, and a Millermatic reporting in. One of these years I add a TIG to the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted October 30, 2010 Author Share Posted October 30, 2010 (edited) Ive got 4 different types of QUALITY welders,(TIG,MIG,ARC,OXY/ ACETYLENE, ) and a 2500 lb mill, (with added accessories)and cheap drill press, and a 12 ton hydraulic press, a lift for the cars and a 2600sq ft shop,but its taken 45 plus years to get to that point but I can,t as YET afford a decent LATHE, but Im always looking for that great deal Edited October 30, 2010 by grumpyvette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad-ManQ45 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I have a Miller 175 MIG, a band saw, chop saw and a good drill press. I almost bought a bridgeport mill 5 years ago, but it was a little stiff in price for the condition it was in according to ,y friend who has one in his garage. Since he has one, and a lathe, I figured I'd buy other toys... Then I lost my good paying job and have been eking out an existence - especially since my wife lost hers too. Good thing I saved those bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I wish! Â I have had access to all of those tools in past employment positions, used them often, but miss them dearly now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I'm about 60% of the way there. MIG, Decent 17" drillpress, full access to a TIG and plasma cutter. The mill and lathe are in the plan, just not yet... If the right deal comes up though, I'm ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 110V Mig, 60 gal 220V compressor, cheap ass metal band saw, nearly useless drill press, 12 ton press, and a cheap belt/disk sander about sums up my fabrication equipment. The one I regret is a 1 hp 3/4" chuck 20" drill press that I bought from a factory that was closing down in CA and it was about 350 lbs, so I didn't move it up to CA. I gave it to a buddy and he still has it, then I moved up here and actually started fabricating parts, so now that I could actually use it I no longer have it. Bought it for $150, would probably spend $500+ to replace it. Water under the bridge I guess, at least it went to a good home. My friend is far more mechanically inclined than I am and I owed him big time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h4nsm0l3m4n Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 (edited) I may be the odd man out here but I've worked with a lot of mills, lathes and CNCs during school and I dont really see the need to have one. I've known several guys who graduate and spend some money on a used mill for their shop. What theyve told me every time is that they spend almost the same amount of money on all the extra stuff (good vises, good collets, good end mills, setup/fixturing tools, I consider a digital readout a requirement, etc). And thats to go with just one form of fabrication (milling, turning, sheet metal work, etc) if you buy a lathe thats another set of stuff. Plus the darn things are HUGE. Getting in place just seems like a huge enterprise, and if you ever move youd pretty much be forced to sell it and buy everything over again. If it were up to me I'd invest in a set of good basic set of shop equipment (good welder, compressor with various air tools, band saw, drill press, maybe a sander/grinder). Then procure a reasonable CAD package and learn to use it well. With this setup you can make very basic parts and brackets for whatever you are working on. If youre wanting to make more fanciful parts break out the CAD program and make friends with the local machine shop. They will make anything you throw at them for actually very reasonable prices. Theyll setup the machine, run your parts, and do an awesome job (I've never met a machinist that wouldnt bend themselves backwards to help me get the parts I want) all without moving 2 tons of equipment into your garage and forcing you to clean/service/stock it. You can spend your time doing what you love - working on the 1000 other things your car needs finished before its "done". An additional bonus is if they make 1 they can do more parts for not much more money, so youre building something cool you can get extras and sell/give them away and make other people very happy. I know some of you are excellent machinists and fabricators (I'm no slouch either) and you want to make your own parts.. Thats cool, if thats what you want to do just for principle, I do not want to split hairs with you. However I do feel that unless ALL you do is build custom parts you dont need to turn your garage into a machine shop. Save some time and support the local professionals, they need it now more than ever... Edited October 31, 2010 by h4nsm0l3m4n Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snailed Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I have use of the shop that employs me. It's pretty sweet actually. -Bridgeport -6foot south bend lathe -large vertical bandsaw from the 50s ~20" throat -large miter horizontal bandsaw 12 x 12 -metal beltsander 3 x 48 -10"disc sander -tube bender -tube notcher - air over hydraulic 90* -tube notcher - roughing endmill + fixture adjustable angle -Miller Dynasty 300 -Miller syncrowave 250 -Miller sp250 -Airco 250 -snap on plasma up to 1/2" -plasma or torch automated cutting table -big oxy fuel torch -frame jig -rotisserie -drive on lift -body shop lift -english wheel -2 gang drill press from the 30s -pullmax with several forming/shrinking dies -48" slip roller -9' slip roller -electric beadroller -4' box and pan brake -8' brake -basic bar/tube bender w/ dies -brake tube straightner -20ton press -fender roller -planishing hammer -4' electric over hyd. shear (cuts 1/8 x 4' mild steel) -beverly shear - the bigger one -wash tank -2x6x3 blast cabinet -transmission jack And a pile of air tools and body shop related tools. I'm pretty grateful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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