Thanks for the advice. I'm eager to start making stuff like bushings
and spacers for my 4x4 off road vehicle and motorcycle projects. I also
hope to be able to make a firearm, or at least the regulated bits :-),
from scratch someday.

I'm mostly a mechanic with some welding skills. I also have woodworking
skills, but, I've never used a metalworking lathe, milling machine or
other precision metal shop tools. I have a set of Mitutoyo micrometers,
Indise telescoping gages, a dial indicator gage and a nice Browne and
Sharp 0 - 12" caliper.

I am planning to use the American Gunsmithing Institute's lathe and
milling video courses to get started.

http://www.americangunsmith.com/mill_lathe.html