"Jack Hayes" wrote in message
...
In my opinion the machine tool that you can make the most use of and use
to
complete some interesting projects would be a lathe. Depending on what
materials you want to work and the size of these projects a suitable lathe
could range from a 7X10 import to 13X40 old American iron. In my own case
I
first purchased a 9X18 import that was used, after a year or so I
purchased
a 11X20 Standard Modern. The idea of a cross slide vice and drill press is
not really a viable way to mill. A micro mill will be much better as long
as
the material and work piece size is suitable.

Jack Hayes



In all my searches, I see lots of lathes as well. I am not certain what I
would do with a lathe. Well, that is a bad statement. Perhaps I should
merely ask, what types of things, am I obviously overlooking that I would
fabricate with a lathe?

When I think of lathework, spindles and handles and such come to mind, as
would threading but I am thinking of it as a pretty "specific" tool
operationally, as opposed to something that could do many different things.
Maybe I am just not understanding the capabilities of a metal working lathe.
In my wood working shop, my wood lathe is the least used tool I have, (Have
been considering selling it off for space recently because of that.)