New member

Hi all,

I've viewed this forum countless times, for years but only just joined.

My name's Gareth and I've been a maintenance engineer in a large factory for over 30 years. My role includes mechanical, electrical and control work but in recent years I've got more interested in machining.

Never had machine tools at home (except a bench-top pillar drill) but have just gone down the rabbit hole and bought a used WM180. It's as-new, has only been run for a few minutes and came with plenty of useful extras. I'm currently stripping everything and cleaning off the nasty lube, grinding grit and cast iron debris that they are supplied with. It came with 2 sets of 12mm tools (insert and brazed carbide) which are way above centre on the standard 4-way post. I took the post to work and machined the seat 3mm lower on our old Bridgeport.

Still haven't used the Warco yet but stripping it has generated a question which I'll post in the appropriate sub forum.

Thanks in advance for the help that I'm bound to need as I bumble along.

Cheers

Gareth

Welcome Gareth ! You have come to the right place, just ask, some one here will be able to answer your question. It is always helpful to state where abouts in the country you are. If there is a ME club near you joining will put you among like minded people. Best wishes Noel.

Thanks for the welcome.

I'm in Wirral, Merseyside.

Will post my query now.

Cheers

Welcome to the forum

H

Welcome!

You will always find help on here.

Try to find a Model Engineering Society,local to you, and join. You will find like mindeed folk, advice, help and possibly face to face demonstrations.

Since you are relatively new to lathework, may I suggest buying at least one book?

Firstly, you will find as ert of Zeus charts very useful.

You have a choice of books to choose from.

The "bible" has been L H Sraey "The Amateur's lathe" (Old and based on the Myford ML7 but still sedts out the basic principles.

"Basic Lathework" by Stan Bray

"Lathework" by Harold Hall (Both former editors of Model Engineers' Workshop)

Neil Wyatt (Curreent Editor ) has written a book on lathework, based on his experiences with a mini lathe and a Sieg SC4.

The March issue of MEW contains part 1 of "Notes for Newbies", which you may find helpful.

Now that you have a lathe, you will need, if you have not already got them, a bench grindedr (For sharpening HSS tools ) and measuring equipment

Minimum should be a 62 (150 mm ) calliper, Vernier, dial or digutal; take your choice.

If you have a 4 jaw chuck with the lathe, you will need a magnetic base and at least one DTI.

That will allow you to centre work in the four jaw, more accurately than in a 3 jaw (A good 3 jaw will probably hold concentric within 0.005" (0.127 mm)

The 4 jaw will also allow you to hold square, octagonal or irregular work, and if needed, deliberately set work off centre.

Gain experience of the machine, and confidence by doing small jobs. make small tools, A Tap Wrench? You will find a Centre Height Gauge useful, and a time saver; although we are no longer on piecework!

A Mandrel Handle is handy for cutting threads up to a shoulder or down a blind hole. Saves broken taps or stripped threads!

HTH

Howard

Thanks Howard,

I should have elaborated in my intro post - I'm a newbie to this forum but not to machining. I do have some experience on lathe and mill.

The engineering shop at my workplace has a Colchester Student and Bridgeport mill and I've used them occasionally for years. Basic turning and milling was a small part of my apprenticeship.

I have most of the basics - turning tools, Micrometers, calipers, dial indicator, DTI, mag bases, Zeus book etc but top of my shopping list is a bench grinder (then I can be not-very-good-at-sharpening-drills at home, as well as at work).

I've got Harold Hall's "Lathework - a complete course" and "Milling - a complete course" and both are great books.

I plan to follow HH's lathework book but the first thing I'll make is indeed a centre height gauge.

A mandrell handle I genius - I'd never heard of such a thing but after your post, I Googled them and quickly found vids on Youtube (one even of a handle on a WM180).

Many thanks again for the welcome and apologies if I undersold my machining experience.

Gareth

Apolopgies for under rating you!

Your inputs will always be welcome, and very useful to newbies.

We all had to start somewhere.

Howard

Hi Gareth welcome to the forum. As another factory service manager to another you usually work your way round problems and have seen silly things done in the name of speed etc. What factory did you work at. I worked in a toolmaking factory which was part of a group in the Delta plc. Now retired, I still get the occasional call can you just! but I make a few things in the garage.

David

"Can you just?" always struck fear in my heart!

Ususally it meant that bthe rquest cam from some one thinking that it was a ten minute job, when it was probably nearer to ten hours!

But such jobs, occasionally can be very interesting.

But if you charge for the time involved, be prepared for some VERY funny looks and dsibelief

Howard