machine tools and stock metal

[littlerickParticipant @littlerick]

[littlerickParticipant @littlerick]

Got my lathe/mill and a few basic tools… HSS turning tools 2 sets… Live center, couple of regular centers, drill chuck and arbor a fly cutter and a few crappy drill bits.

Anyone got any cheap old tools they want to part with… Looking for milling tools, tapping and lathe tools. In fact anything cheap. Dont want to spend a fortune while i'm learning… already broke a couple of drill bits and killed a parting off tool.

Figured I would spend the money on decent gear when i stop breaking stuff!

[littlerickParticipant @littlerick]

Oh and i forgot to have a rant about the silly prices of metal… is anyone selling any at a price that justifies turning it to a pile of swarf in the quest of knowledge!

[Anonymous]

Personally I'd buy quality cutting tools from the start. Sure, you're going to break some, I managed to badger a centre drill recently on what should have been a simple hole in hot rolled steel. The centre drill may well have broken because it was a no name, el cheapo, one bought years ago when I didn't know any better. On balance I think that the extra cost of quality cutting tools far outweighs the frustration caused by using cheap cutting tools. It's only too easy to blame oneself for poor machining when starting out, when the problem is in fact a poor quality cutting tool.

Regards,

Andrew

PS: I think there was a thread a while back by 'Wolfie' regarding poor finish when milling; all sorts of involved suggestions as to cause were propounded, if I recall correctly the problem was simply caused by the use a cheap end mill which was poorly ground.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Oh and i forgot to have a rant about the silly prices of metal… is anyone selling any at a price that justifies turning it to a pile of swarf in the quest of knowledge!

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Scrapyard metal.

Ask for roundbar squarebar and plate

I learnt most of my stuff on it… until elf&safety banned people here

Your own local scrapyards may still allow access and it saves you a packet

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

I agree with the advice given above. If there is a local scrapyard near you, visit and see what you can get. Where I live there are a few machine shops doing welding, oxy/acetylen cutting, turning etc. I usually are able to get offcuts cheaply. It isn't always possible to get any info about what steel grade the offcuts are, but for learning purposes mild steel should be Ok.

Regards

Thor

[littlerickParticipant @littlerick]

tried scrap yards…. new rules wont let them sell metal to joe public for some reason…. went to 3 yards and all told me the same.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Littlrick, the forum does have a "Wanted" section could you place your requests there, it may also help to state what machines you have to save people offering you MT4 or Int 50 tooling for a minilathe and X1.

Go to a steel stockholders and buy 1m of the commonly used sizes. Same for non-ferrous.

J

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Scrappies are your best bet, earlier this year I fell lucky & picked up a batch – 17 kilo – of brass round & square for £50… couple of months ago managed to get 7 kilo for £25 & 5 kilo of aluminium for £10. You can check daily scrap prices on 'tinternet, but brass prices are creeping up

Cheers

George

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

tried scrap yards…. new rules wont let them sell metal to joe public for some reason…. went to 3 yards and all told me the same.

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It varies from council zone to council zone and depends on the level of dogma your council can afford

Well worth checking around because you can get some amazing sizes and shapes for buttons

[JoParticipant @jo]

Join a club: Most have annual sales and bereavement sales which are about the cheapest place to pick bits up from.

And don't miss out on the boxes of rubbish that most members would not touch with a barge pole. I have had 50p boxes that given time to sort through have had tens of pounds of quality tools hiding in the bottom. And most bits of rust that turn up are hiding a nice bit of BMS..again dirt cheap. Sadly members have woken up to the price of brass…

Jo

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Yes, club exhibitions are good places sometimes. As luck would have it the St Albans & District MES is having an exhibition at the end of the month. But don't come before midday so I can get a bargain before the rush.

[littlerickParticipant @littlerick]

I suppose i need to get out more.. been a computer junkie since 1983… Got a large social circle, but its all online… I should look for local club. In middle of nowhere, but close to Boston, Sleaford and Lincoln if anybody got any info.

[Author]

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