Hi all

Have been lurking around for a bit and decided to join up so I can access the knowledge on this site.

I have no pre-conceptions on what I'm going to be building, but will be starting small and perhaps working up.

Bought a Unimat sl lathe (to start) and am busy stripping it and cleaning it up.

Unfortunately snapped the cross slide whilst trying to strip it down, so will have to see if I can repair it.

Everything else is ok.

Looking forward to annoying everyone with mundane newbie questions.

Thanks for the replies Brian and Jim.

I live near Selby in North Yorks.

I may have found a repair method using low temp aluminium/cast/monkey metal welding rods. I've ordered one and there looks like there's enough metal to get a good key, so may work. Not a huge lot of stress where it is, and I can pre stress it before I do the repair. If not a new unit from the states. $15 for the unit, $45 postage (ouch)

Oh well, paid next to nothing for the lathe itself, so I've learnt a lesson, these units can be fragile. I could always split it and sell it for spares to fund a more modern unit if I have to.

Thanks Neil.

All old paint now soda blasted off.

Decades of gunk removed.

Bits in ultrasonic as I write.

Painting tonight in light green hammered.

Deciding whether to brush or airbrush.

It's tiny, so spray would probably be better so brush marks don't spoil it.

It should look good when it's done, fingers crossed.

Hi Martin.

Intend going to the show.

I presume there are lots of stands to buy tooling etc?

Don't think the wife will be happy being called a piggy bank LOL