Shop tools, any suggestions?

[Bob Steele]

Just a few comments regarding shop tools.

You need to distiguish between precision tools and general tools.
Precision can be gained by using general tools to cut to shape and various less expensive means such as grinding or filing or reaming to get to final shape. This, of course, takes a great deal of time. It used to be that apprentice machinists were given a file first and various pieces of metal to shape to size... this gave them a great appreciation for the ways of metal. It is still a valuable exercise. The larger precision tools (metal lathe, mill, shaper, etc.) require skill to operate them properly. If you have a machinist that will work with you to teach you, they can yield tremendous results. They are not easy machines to learn to use without a teacher.

General tool work can be done with simpler tools. They are much easier to master because the tolerance in the cutting/shaping mechanisms are greater.

A lathe and a mill are wonderful tools but please don't just look them up in the catalog and then budget for them and expect to use them...
Figure on doubling the cost ( for less expensive models ) just for the tooling, collets, mills, tables, vises, hold-downs...etc...and find someone to teach you how to use them safely.

If you wish to get a single beginning precision tool that is reasonably well made...and fairly easy to use...but in a smaller size... you might take a serious look at a tool called the Mill-Drill... it functions as both a limited vertical mill and a drill press for about the cost of a better drill press... a mini mill drill runs in the neighborhood of $500 and you can expect to spend about 500- 700 on small rotary table , precision vise...tooling etc... its not a bad place to start... this type of tool is also small enough to carry with you to events... if that matters to you...

One set of items that no one seems to be mentioning are measuring tools...get a couple of good sets ... when we work in metal or plastic we should be thinking in the neighborhood of 1000's of an inch...and this requires specific and quality measuring equipment. At the very least get a couple of the cheaper digital calipers... they will last about a season of hard use..


Well I hope this helps. Many of us have a "catalog" mentality when it comes to machines and tools.. It is much better to acquire a single good tool and then get the necessary accessories to use it, AND to acquire the knowledge from a teacher....then to have a whole shop full of fancy machinery.

thanks