Member postings for Matt T

We're in! Bit of tidying up to do but the lathe is bolted down

The frame is in. We've hung it back 50mm from the front edge of the worktop to allow for clamps etc

Dalboy, i had a look at those heaters. A 40w heater left on 24/7 even at today's electric prices was working out at about 2.50 a week, which is quite affordable and a good investment to keep the tools safe. That's said I do subscribe to Dave's thinking that removing moisture may be a better option than simply trying to keep it suspended in the air. I may end up with a bit of both, I feel like having a heater in there wouldn't hurt, especially on cooler mornings/days just for comfort. A small space like that should heat up quick with a body in it.

Hi Roger, thanks for the advice. To be honest I'm in no rush to buy a mill so when I come around to it I'll probably already have no space left. One thing I was woefully unprepared for was that buying a lathe would be the cheap part of this project! While the single most expensive item, all the other costs are beginning to add up.

I think I've got everything I need to start making chips by Monday, including metal and plans for a machinists hammer. I bought a set of preground HSS tools for now. My dad has a contact for machinist tooling from earlier in his long engineering career so he's going to help put me in contact with him soon.

I'm also on the lookout for a group to join or a local friend! So if anyone has any recommendations in the notts/derby area I'm all ears

Thanks Howard,

Ill talk to my dad when he arrives on Saturday and see about moisture. I think a space heater of sorts could be work around (albeit costly with the energy prices these days!)

Managed to get some floor paint down. I had planned on touching it up on Sunday after we repoint some of the brick work but I used the whole tin it'll mostly be hidden anyway so I don't think anyone will notice.

Excited to get my worktops fitted Saturday hopefully. They're arriving tomorrow with a load of timber and I can't see the better half letting me keep them in the hallway for a week

Bazyle, cracking shout, there's a small carpet shop at the top of my road. I'll call in there and see what they can offer

Dalboy, thanks, I'm sure they would be ideal for storing the taps/dies/drills and reamers I'm sure to collect!

Howard, moisture is still a major concern for me, if I had enough space I would have batton and insulated it but I'd lose too much width. There are 2 vent bricks on the back wall, one high and one low. Would these be sufficient? I can add a hood to the outside. What's the best way to insect proof? I could pin some narrow mesh over them? I'm thinking screen door style.

Hoping to get a coat of floor paint on later, all depends if I can sneak out of work early enough before and fit it in before a dreaded first aid course tonight

Well it won't win any beauty contests but it's certainly a bit lighter in there now. I expect most of the walls will end up covered with something anyway.

The window has frosted glass but I'm tempted to drop some cloth over it that I can roll/pin up while I'm in. I'm not sure if that will deter thieves or encourage them? I've already had the cat converter nicked from my car so I'm acutely aware that people will take things that are bolted down....

Dalboy, i was considering those kinds of drawers, I just wasn't sure if they would be substantial enough when loaded up with tools. Are they sturdy enough?

Rooossone your dad's tools look great! I'm a bit of a fan of the feel of wooden handles so I was thinking of putting wooden handles on my files, as I've had it drilled into me that handles on files is non negotiable with a lathe.

Floor painting Friday, I've left the bottom two rows of bricks to paint with the floor paint, no particular reason (other than this is where I also put concrete sealer up to) I just like the aesthetic of floors that lap up the walls.

I will have to dodge the enormous armoured cable snaking around the wall, a consequence of having our consumer unit moved into a more convenient location.

Hi all,

Thank you for so many replies and so much helpful advice. It's definitely given me plenty of food for thought. I settled on the Warco Super Mini Lathe as I felt it was the only size that could comfortably fit in my space. I'm aware that I will outgrow such a small lathe in time but hopefully we will have moved by that time and I'll have a little more space!

I planned the worktops around a kitchen as I heard there was some success in using these kinds of lathes on kitchen worktops as and when needed. Pretty sure I'd be sleeping on the sofa if I dared try that! I opted not to install kitchen cupboards under my worktop as I wanted to build a solid frame for the worktop to sit on, I've bought plenty of 3x2 to build it on, might double up on the legs, but I do plan on putting drawer units of some kind underneath the bench. It's quite a short room so hanging anything off the ceiling is pretty much out of the question.

Jack and others mention ventilation, this is a concern for me. There is a window in the room but it doesn't open. I could look at changing this as otherwise there is only a few airbricks to bring fresh air in. The door is very close to the back door that I plan to leave open while I work in there but it's unlikely to create a draft significant enough to clear dust so I'll definitely have more of a think about that. I do own a small portable dehumidifier that we ended up with after a pipe burst at 3am, so I could run that if I get concerned about moisture.

Rooossone those mats look like an excellent idea! Previously I had put carpet tiles down in there, I removed them because they weren't really my style, pretty sure my primary school classroom had the same ones. I'd neglected to think about the floor underfoot aside from painting it but standing there for a long time could be uncomfortable. One or more of these could really help so I'll definitely look into that!

Thanks again all!

Hi all, after many months of discussing at the other half she has agreed to me converting our brick storage room into my first little workshop (emphasis on little). Honestly I think she'll just be happy to have the dining table back .

Previously I've only worked on steam toys, but i recently realised the dream of owning my first lathe, so I'm very excited to start on my first "proper" steam engines.

It measures 1930mm x 1250mm so it really is small, I plan to have an L shaped worktop up the right hand wall and across the back and from my sketchy plans I think I'll have enough room for my lathe and in future a mill and small bench grinder.

Ive cleaned and sealed up the floor with concrete sealer. Surprisingly it stays very dry in there, I've had my other tools out there a few years and they've been fine. Regardless I still plan to paint the exterior brickwork with some water repellent (but vapour permiable) paint to make sure things stay dry. Im painting the inside with some brick paint and floor with floor paint to brighten it up a bit before my dad comes to help me fit the worktop at the weekend.

If anyone has any advice for working in such a small space and how to make the most of it I'm all ears!