Hello, this is my first post to introduce myself. I did an apprenticeship in the early 60's as a toolmaker. Then a fairly varied career in machining from very small to very big. I bought my first home machine, a Myford 7 with some fabulous attachments, around 1970. Then a Fobco Star ½" drill, which I still own, there are no marks on the table either. I started taking on paid work which escalated and over the years built into a fair sized machining business specialising in small high precision instrumentation. I have watched the evolution of CNC machines almost from the beginning, making my first lathe by converting a standard machine and ending up with a shop full of machines capable of amazing speed and accuracy. Now I'm retired and looking to go back my beginnings. I did consider another Myford but occasionally you need more capacity and so I bought a Smart and Brown 1024 VSL with a vast range of accessories but no readout, I want to go right back to basics.

Could I just add my comments on the discussion of which lathe to buy. I had never heard of a "mini lathe" until I heard it here and I regarded my Myford as a small lathe with a terrific performance. Anything smaller than that I would say is an instrument or watchmaking lathe but people certainly seem to be getting very good results with them. The one thing I would add to the discussion is to consider the machine weight. Some of these small lathes are almost handbag sized! If you want to machine stainless you need a machine as heavy as possible but I do appreciate that for most people size and cost is a big issue for what is, after all only a hobby.

I also have a Deckel universal milling machine which is also well equipped.

I'm sorry this has gone on so long, if anyone is interested I'm happy to answer questions. I'm off to make some swarf now,

all the best, Devonboy

Thanks Old Mart, I thought my Myford was brilliant and so well made. I made a good living from it for quite some time. They are extremely versatile and quick to set up. I still have some parts in my cabinet that I made around 1970. They are in bronze, components for the old divers helmet. I used to make them in batches of 25 or so.

If I can work out how to post an image I'll put one up.

I'm so sorry that they have gone the way of so much British industry.

Bob