Greetings

[roots twistParticipant @roots-twist]

Just joined up.

I’m just getting started really so no idea where I might go.

Could anyone help me with where to buy mill/lathe tooling in the general Yorkshire area? I’d like to find somewhere real and physical that I could go to and have a look around rather than anything web-based. Does this even exist anymore?

Cheers.

C

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Not sure you will find what you seek – in the modern world we live in ! A copy of Arc Euros catalogue might help It has pictures and the prices are fair. The staff are helpful. They have been around many years and are used by many on here – including me ! For the lathe don’t bother with tipped tooling, buy HSS. You can shape or sharpen it easily with a bench grinder, yor may get bundles of used cutters on the bay, 1.5″ or longer and a suitable size for your machine.  Welcome to the party, if you have questions someone on here will be able to help ! Noel.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Hello and welcome; depends on where you are in Yorkshire I guess
Sheffield Tooling Company is one possibility, though I’ve not used them since they were Rileys
Perhaps not the cheapest around, so check on pricing.

Cromwell Tools are in Sheffield

Phoenix Steels are useful for some more specialist materials, again Sheffield

MA Tooling, also in Attercliffe Sheffield; I’ve not been in for a bit, and they were having a major re-organise las time I visited, so I don’t know what they will have on display. Associated with them is a roving market stall which visits exhibitions, shows and Autojumbles all over the area. Some new, some used, & lots of oddball clearance lines.

I’ve no idea if they accept visitors, but C R Tools, took over the business of The Tap & Die Company, who you will often see mentioned on older topics and recommendations on this forum
They seem to have taken over all the old stock, and sell it along side their own products.

Bill

[JAParticipant @ja]

Don’t be afraid of using industrial suppliers. You could try Rubix (used to be Buck and Hickman). They have branches in Sheffield and Leeds and were always very helpful but expensive even when I got a 10% discount from work (they did not sell rubbish).

However I feel your best bet is to make friends with some model engineering club members. Clubs are always disposing the workshops of deceased or very elderly members. The quality of the items are very variable and can be very good. Frequently money is less important than the fact that the items are going to someone who will make use of them.

JA

 

[JA]

On JA Said:

Don’t be afraid of using industrial suppliers. You could try Rubix (used to be Buck and Hickman). They have branches in Sheffield and Leeds and were always very helpful but expensive even when I got a 10% discount from work (they did not sell rubbish).

However I feel your best bet is to make friends with some model engineering club members. Clubs are always disposing the workshops of deceased or very elderly members. The quality of the items are very variable and can be very good. Frequently money is less important than the fact that the items are going to someone who will make use of them.

JA

 

I forgot to mention MSC are worth looking at and registering for an account.
Their monthly Advantage offers contain some genuine bargains of good kit

Bill

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

RDG/Myford are in Hebden Bridge.

Colin

[roots twistParticipant @roots-twist]

That’s a fair amount to go on. Thanks for your input.

 

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Welcome to the Forum

Before yoepu buy either a Lathe or a Mill, have you decided mwhat you are going to produce on them?

You will have difficulty making a 7 1/4″ gauge loco using a C1 or Peatol sized lathe, but equally, a machine capable of swinging 12″ is not ideal if you want to Make watches or small clocks.

You can do small work on a big lathe, butb the reverse is much more taxing!

By all means, buy a machine that seems a little larger than you at first think that you need, but don’t go OTT.

The motto has to be “Horses for courses”.

Find and join a local Model Engineering Club.

Members may let you see their machines, even use them,  and help you decide what you need.

A friend had a go on my 12″ swing lathe, but he bought a C1 for his O Gauge model railway work

A new machine will have the advantage of a warranty and technical back up in case of problems, but might need some fine tuning for optimal operatiom.

A secondhand machine may have been looked after, but equally well may have wear, or might have been abused. If you are unsure rake someone knowledgeable with you to check the machine. Preferably, try it out.

Whatever you buy, it will have backlash, and being a hobby machine, do not expect the precision of a toolroom machine costing twenty times as much.

Excellent work can be made on a hobby machine, but more care and skill is required.

Good Luck with your search!

Howard

[roots twistParticipant @roots-twist]

Thanks

I bought a mini lathe from Warco some time ago. I’ve already made a few parts for work (just top hat spacers), the goal now is to make something functional. I still have no idea what. Does anyone have any pointers for good starter projects? I have access to a mill also.

Cheers.

C

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

The modern mini lathe is about the same size as the “standard” Myford.

FANTASTIC work has been made on Myford 7 Series lathes and on mini lathes.

There are lots of articles by users of both types of machines, about what thye have made, and about modifications that have been added. Leadscrew Handwheels, Rear Toolposts, extra changewheels etc.

OK, you won’t make a one third scale traction engine or even a 5″ gauge loco (Cue people proving me wrong!) but the possibilities are enormous.

The limit is your imagination.

Go for it!

Howard

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