So you guys that do a lot of work, what tools do you have in your arsenal. I'm looking to pile up my inventory and not quite sure to save up for next. I don't do anything heavy so I don't need a plasma cutter. I keep coming back to that mini metal lathe at HF but I have no idea how to use it or what to make. Kind of want a desktop CNC machine that can do aluminum but I think those are 25k.
I might look into a tubing bender or pipe notcher next.

Thus far I have
Chop Saw
horizontal bandsaw
drill press
mig welder
tig welder
18" sheet metal brake. Need better dies though.

Edit: Forgot a few
Ryobi bench grinder. 1 side for tungsten only
18v Ryobi tools, hand grinder, drill, sawzaw, fan
10.8v makita impact and drill
18v dewalt drop light and drill
12gallon craftsman air compressor

MIll

Lathe

bandsaw

chop saw

plasmacapable of severing 1and 1/4inch SS

Dynasty 200DX TIG

HObart handler 135MIG

60 gallon compressor

full auto body supplies

8500 watt generator for poweroutages

bunch of tables and benches,mower, snow blowers and anything else you might find in a garage or shop
oxy/acetaline torch

grinders, buffers etc..

about any handtool you'd need

bunch of custom tools for one off jobs

turboglenn said:

MIll

Lathe

bandsaw

chop saw

plasmacapable of severing 1and 1/4inch SS

Dynasty 200DX TIG

HObart handler 135MIG

60 gallon compressor

full auto body supplies

8500 watt generator for poweroutages

bunch of tables and benches,mower, snow blowers and anything else you might find in a garage or shop
oxy/acetaline torch

grinders, buffers etc..

about any handtool you'd need

bunch of custom tools for one off jobs

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Im gonna live in ## garage I dont have one but I got all the basic hand tools

Why not get a HF mill and convert to CNC?

That and a CNC lathe (again, HF unit converted) are on my list for the future.

Miller 211
Lincoln 100
Dewalt Chop Saw
JD2 Model 32
Shrinker/Stretcher
Throatless sheer (bench mount)
Couple drill press's
Bead Roller
60 Gallon comp
4 post lift
Engine hoist, trans jack
Powder coat/paint guns
7 roll around boxes FULL of anything and everything.

Tig is up next on the buying list, then replacing my plasma r.i.p.

snowborder714 said:

Why not get a HF mill and convert to CNC?

That and a CNC lathe (again, HF unit converted) are on my list for the future.

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I was just looking that up literally. Didn't find a "kit" to convert it. How are they once converted? Figured it would be about 1k when it's done which isn't bad.

DSM Jeff said:

Shrinker/Stretcher

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What's that?

Gamble97 said:

What's that?

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Not mine exactly but, Shrinker/Stretcher Combo Set-Two BodiesTwo Jaws

I do a bit of sheet metal work. Got them several years ago along with a heavy ass stand. Great for doing wheel tubs and drive shaft tunels on mini trucks


Also, anyone have any good info on Mills? Whether it be HF set ups or finding some older used units. I was able to use one at school years ago and always ment to read up on them and take some notes incase I could come across one.

I know there's at least one or two companies out there that offer conversion packages. I have never used nor seen one in person. Hal has both of them and has cut some pretty cool stuff.

Just do a search on HF mill conversion kit and see what you can come up with.

I have one of the 7x10 HF lathes. It's nice for doing little aluminum bushings and such. I haven't used it to turn anything steel yet. It's good to have around, but it really makes me want a bigger lathe now.

Could you turn DG upper hats with that size, P? Or would you need the 8x12? Just trying to figure out what you'd need/want to turn with a larger lathe that's useful for these cars.

I am in the process of building a small desktop CNC mill for my senior design project. It will be used as a teaching aid for students, so it is designed to cut wax blocks. I am planing on building a larger beefier machine for myself in the summer.

snowborder714 said:

Could you turn DG upper hats with that size, P? Or would you need the 8x12? Just trying to figure out what you'd need/want to turn with a larger lathe that's useful for these cars.

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It's pretty limited in size. I can't remember the exact capacity of the chuck, but I believe it's somewhere in the 2-2.5" range. I haven't done anything larger than 1.25" yet.

EDIT: Yup, looks like 2.5" OD is the largest diameter.

99gst_racer said:

I have one of the 7x10 HF lathes. It's nice for doing little aluminum bushings and such. I haven't used it to turn anything steel yet. It's good to have around, but it really makes me want a bigger lathe now.

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That's the one I want. No idea what to do with it, but I want it.

I have an older one of these PATRIOT MACHINE that i am in the process of trying to get rebuilt. I have used it on a few projects and it works well. If I ever look into buying another mill setup I would probably look into another one. Most people aren’t too fond of the three in one machines and would prefer a separate mill and lathe. Mine doesn’t have as much of a mill overhang as the new ones do but for what I have used mike for it works well. And the price isn’t half bad.

i use a plasma cutter with a 10x20 table capable of cutting 2.5in thick steel. im cutting some 3000gt caliper brackets to see how they turn out. if anyone needs any parts ill be more than happy to make some.

I'd like to comment on the HF CNC conversions..there's several seriesofconversions all ranging from cheap to high dollar, the main reason i haven't and won't convert yet is i feel it's best to have two mills before going CNC on one.. I learned from tool and die workthat manual operated mills are used about 70times more than CNC units are (cnc's are mainly for production work and njot for making a piece here and ther that you may need or modifying something)

the time that goes into writing g-code or even havingit made from a CAD drawing and then going into CAM with it is VERy time consuming and say you just need to make a few grooves in something that might take you 10minutes on a manual mill, well that same piece would turn into an hours worth of work or more, sure there's pendants that let you "jog" and make cuts that way and there's some that you can still utilizye hand wheels but insome the electtric generated fromoperating the motors that run the wheels by hand when the machine is powered off can fry expensive electronics..

belive me I am more than halfway towards my CNC conversion but like i said it makes more sense to keepa your mill manual at least untill you have morethan one unit and can dedicate one to CNC and one to manual operation

2 Tool boxes
Beer
Dip
Engine hoist
Compressor
Chains
Standard sockets/ratchets
GEARWRENCHES!!!!
25 13mm Sockets
0 12&14mm Sockets
Aux cord with speakers for PANDORA
Pull out couch
Toyota and Clutchmaster banner
Pinup girls
No real girls
Rust always all over the floor
Parts to build 6 other different makes of cars including AE86's, Supras, 3000gt VR4'$, Talons etc.
Any random time there are atleast 3 goons running around being stupid.
Die grinders, dremels, razors, lots of razors, 10 jack stands, 2 jacks, heat, bay door, snacks.


I like my set up.

Alright, I'll be "that guy". I don't see any of the following on the lists above:

• Shop air filtration
• Respirator/masks, face shields/eye protection, gloves (PPE in general)
• Vacuum/cleanup (some people spend tons of effort and money on plumbing air, and nothing on plumbing vac for some reason)
• Fire extinguisher
• First-aid kit, eye wash, etc.

Just sayin'.

(Give thought to emergency stops and positioning of certain equipment, too. If it spins, crushes, shears, or burns, you might want to think about what you'd do if your "Kiss the Cook" apron or new Guido chain got caught in it.)

-Buzz Killington

(And agreed with Glenn re: CNC conversion. If you have two mills, go for it. But I suspect you'll be incredibly annoyed that you can't just bang something out quickly because your only mill is now computer-controlled and a pain in the ass to operate manually.)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Word.



I like the way you think.

Glasses and gloves are the gist of my safety equip, but I don't have much in my shop.

I have a huge assortment of glasses hanging up. Clear, tinted, yellow, orange. Always be sure to wear some type of eye protection.
Also have a shop vac to vacuum up aluminum and metal shavings.
I have a fire extinguisher. Although it is expired I'm sure it still works Gotta get a new one
And plenty of welding gloves. A few pair of mechanic gloves mostly left gloves as the others disappeared and 2 boxes of rubber gloves.

I have a ton of hand tools but not much else exciting............OH but I do work here

Glenn, I do agree with you. If you need to do something simple or something you don't plan on making more than 1 or 2 of, then manual would definitely be the way to go. But if you're good with CAD, I think some programs that integrate with certain CAD programs make converting to g-code easier. Plus, this would make more complex parts or ones you need more than a couple of easier.

There's always pros and cons of using more technology that you have to think about.

seattleshawn said:

I have a ton of hand tools but not much else exciting............OH but I do work here

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My uncle Lennie Lay works there.


That building is insane big, pictures don't even describe.

What place is that?

Just a shot in the dark, but I'm guessing it's Boeing's Everett plant.