Beginner from Notts UK

[Swesson]

Hi my name is Simon. I've been doing some browsing on this forum and would love to take up model engine making/building as a hobby. I have no real machining experience although I have worked with full size engines for many years. Over the next few months i would like to start to purchase some machines to start to practise with. I think I will have a budget of around £1000 to buy initially a lathe and a mill. Maybe you guys on here will be able to guide me a little as to what to buy or avoid.

 

[Herbiev]

Hi Simon. Welcome to HMEM. Some of our UK members could possibly advise on the best places to buy you machines.

 

[bazmak]

Hi Simon,plenty of used Myfords around or go for a new 7" chinese lathe or mill
either way first get your practice on refurb or mods.Theres a whole world out there
and you can spend a lot of time and effort making tools/mods before you start
making anything. BAZMAK

 

[AussieJimG]

Welcome Simon, I hope you enjoy the forum.

Jim

 

[Niceonetidy]

Simon,

Take a look at this website for an example, atlas lathe, always check tooling, that will cost more than the lathe if it's missing. Watch eBay, that is the best pace to get a bargain, especially if someone is selling up. Try and buy an older British machine if you can, it will be more reliable and rigid that a low cost chineese. Some of the smaller Colchester lathes go reasonable. Again, a small British mill is good, but some Asian mills are good for hobby use.

http://www.stationroadsteam.co.uk/miscellaneous.htm

Welcome to a lifetime of engineering fun,

Cheers

Colin

 

[Niceonetidy]

Simon,

Also locate your nearest model engineering society or club, there are loads in the uk, they will always welcome someone with interest. Also most of us have surplus toolis etc that would be willing to share with someone starting out on a limited budget.

Cheers

 

[Swesson]

Thanks everyone for the welcome and thanks colin for the advice. That website looks very handy I'll keep my eye on it.

 

[Swesson]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251234901154?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Any thoughts?

 

[Woodster]

A little small for what you want to build with it. You can get a Chinese mini lathe for £400 and a separate mini mill for £470. Check out toolco and amadeal for the best buys. Also chester, Axminster and warco, SPG and arc eurotrade.

 

[Swesson]

Thanks woodster I'll have a look

 

[Woodster]

I picked up an AMA280V from Amadeal yesterday, £630 inc Vat. All metal change wheels/pulleys, ground V beds etc. All in all a very nice little machine! I spent the last 3 weeks finding the best kit for my money as i also had a limited budget. Try to get as many extras as you can, like a 4 jaw, steady, drill chuck etc. Make a list as you will find that supplier A has a cheap lathe, but supplier B has a cheaper mill so you will be better off buying from separate dealers. If you can, go and view the machine and look for small bits of surface rust etc as you can get a few quid off and get some stuff thrown in! Even if its just a few bits of HSS tool steel. You can pick up a small bench grinder from Argos for £25 to make your tools with. You could easily get both machines for about £900, but then you've got to spend a fair few quid on tooling. Offer to pay cash and see what freebies you can get.
Good luck with your search!

http://www.warco.co.uk/12-metal-lathes-metalworking-lathe-machine
http://www.chestermachinetools.com/conquest-lathe-super-3966-p.asp
http://www.toolco.co.uk/
http://www.spgtools.com/viewtool.php?pid=22
http://www.amadeal.co.uk/

 

[Swesson]

Metric or imperial that's another question, I'm hoping that eventually I'm going to be building a 4cyl ic engine and maybe one day a v6/8/12 I am going to be buying the plans for these engines because there's no way I'm clever enough to devise my own. Which is the most common measurements that plans come in?

 

[Woodster]

From what i've seen, imperial is more common for drawings, but you'll find metric tools easier to get in the UK.

 

[Tin Falcon]

SWesson:

First of all welcome. Browse though some of the sticky threads on the various sub fora. I have pastes several threads for the beginner. such subjects as selecting a starter engine. selecting a lathe and getting started in model engineering.

the unimats are nice little machines.

The downside of convertable machines is it take time to reconfigure and dial in the machines when switching back and forth. I agree older domestic machines are nice if 1) found in good condition. 2) found at a reasonable price #) found when you are wanting to buy.

I started with a mini mill and mini lathe. these are not bad machines but do need some TLC out of the box and depending what brand you buy some upgrading.
Tin

 

[Swesson]

Think I've decided, it's going to be these-
http://www.spgtools.com/viewtool.php?pid=22
http://www.amadeal.co.uk/acatalog/Mini-Lathe.html
Just need some money now. Contributions gratefully received

 

[Tin Falcon]

when I started out I made IIRC something between 50 and a hundred pen and pencils sets that more or less paid for my machines some were given as gifts and some were sold but it all helped. I had my lathe for a couple years before I bought the mill.
Tin