Finishing off my shop for machining

[jorge0136]

I have been slowly accumulating tools over time and have come to the conclusion that I need to pick up two last big items. A lathe and a mill. Up until now I have most of my machinist worked contracted out and well I am thoroughly tired of it. So as far as machines what do you guys suggest? I have heard that older machines may be "reliable" as in they will spin and cut etc.... but can be inaccurate. Anywho, don't have the money scraped together yet to go out and buy anything yet, but in the nearish future I will be there. Thanks.

 

[Rickracer]

Craigslist is your friend. A couple friends of mine have equipped an entire jetski machine shop out of Craigslist listings. The one brother spends a lot of time on the machine shop forums to find out what's good equipment, and how to best set the stuff up, like their CNC bridgeport has a couple of proprietary control boards that only work with the manufacturers monitors, and it's got a bad board and a bad monitor. They are changing it over to a Windows based control system that will be MUCH less hassle to operate, and MUCH MUCH less expensive to repair.

 

[blksmith19]

You are better off with older quality built machines than with the new cheap imports.
Learn as much as you can before going to look at older machines, so you know what your looking at and what to look for to identify a wornout/abused machine versus a good well taken care of machine, or find someone who knows and take them with you to look when going to buy.
You can buy a machine that was built 50-60 yrs ago that will be more accurate and out live you and the cheap stuff being made today.
Unless you can afford to go out and buy a new bridgport, which it doesn't sound like you can so finding a good used one is your best bet.
This is my opinion but I own and have been around old machines my whole life, my grandfather was a machinist and I have his tools some of which he bought as far back as 1940 and are still very accurate, more accurate than some of the "better" quality mic's and calipers that I have bought in the past few years.

blksmith19

 

[jorge0136]

I will have to make a friend of a machinist and keep looking at craigslist. Thanks a bundle gents.