My Next Tool..

[Tom Orrow L]

Alright lads, so I've been thinking about what should be my next purchase for the shed/garage/workshop thing which is soon to be expanded into a double garage (hopefully)
I've got myself a nice Miller TIG set, a Hypertherm Powermax plasma, SIP compressor, pillar drill, metal cutting bandsaw, evolution mitre chopsaw & i've got plenty of hand tools like spanners, socket wrenches, drills etc..

I'm considering my next purchase which I'd like which would be of a general useful nature, nothing specific.. just nice to have.
I'm consider either a notcher, a lathe if I can find one suitably sized, a mill or some sort of press.
Another option is getting another small MIG as i've sold my last two and am now regretting it, hope @lbulloc2 is enjoying them as he had them both off me

Any ideas chap's? i'll consider anything.

 

[Welderpaul]

Money burning a hole in your pocket?

 

[daleyd]

Lathe would be my choice, a press secondly (or make one...)

It all depends on what work you envisage doing I guess

 

[addjunkie]

Lathe, mill then press.....all depends on your budget really

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Money burning a hole in your pocket?

Hahaha, hardly.. I just like having something to save for

Lathe would be my choice, a press secondly (or make one...)

It all depends on what work you envisage doing I guess

I'd love a lathe but you've seen then size of my garage/ workshop Dale, do you reckon a half decent one would fit in there?

A press would be used mostly trying a bit of damascus steel making once I've finished my propane forge.

Lathe, mill then press.....all depends on your budget really

No specific budget as it's something to save for and buy as and when i'm ready.. just kind of need ideas for what to get & then I can know how much spondoolies i've got to put away every month

 

[daleyd]

Lol mines no bigger Tom, and I have a motorbike, tumble dryer and freezer in there as well! I keep thinking of ways to fit more things in, I would have thought one of the smaller ones (Myford size) would fit (with a bit of creativity)?

 

[MattF]

The list of tools/machinery to lust after is an endless quest. Personally, my next preference would be a shaper. Even a hand operated one would do me. The amount of times I'm doing something where one of those would come in handy....

 

[Kram]

Lathe gives you the most options... it will do the work of a pillar drill if you have limit space sell that to make room. With some extra effort on set up it will do milling well - I would only consider a separate machines if I was doing bigger work or using them enough that a lot of time would be wasted on setup (about 15 mins each time).

Id also sell the compressor, and saws. Footpump and hacksaw or slitting saws on lathe will do the job, much more space

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Lol mines no bigger Tom, and I have a motorbike, tumble dryer and freezer in there as well! I keep thinking of ways to fit more things in, I would have thought one of the smaller ones (Myford size) would fit (with a bit of creativity)?

Aahh I suppose so, I'm actually thinking of expanding into the garage that's attached to my house which would free up a bit of extra space for a lathe.
Maybe an ebay search for some secondhand lathes is needed :P

The list of tools/machinery to lust after is an endless quest. Personally, my next preference would be a shaper. Even a hand operated one would do me. The amount of times I'm doing something where one of those would come in handy....

Ooh yes, one like this one would be quite nice

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Lathe gives you the most options... it will do the work of a pillar drill if you have limit space sell that to make room. With some extra effort on set up it will do milling well - I would only consider a separate machines if I was doing bigger work or using them enough that a lot of time would be wasted on setup (about 15 mins each time).

Id also sell the compressor, and saws. Footpump and hacksaw or slitting saws on lathe will do the job, much more space

Yeah I hear that the lathe'll do side milling and work the same as a pillar drill which is nice, can't sell the compressor as I need it for the plasma cutter & I find the bandsaw lovely for cutting box section, kind of a necessity for most of the work I do (fences, frames, etc..)

 

[Bill Edwards]

The list of tools/machinery to lust after is an endless quest. Personally, my next preference would be a shaper. Even a hand operated one would do me. The amount of times I'm doing something where one of those would come in handy....

I take it you are aware of this: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/hand-operated-bench-shaper.57376/

 

[MattF]

I take it you are aware of this: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/hand-operated-bench-shaper.57376/

Aye, I'd seen that one. Doesn't quite rock my boat that one though, for some reason. It's not just 'cos I'm a tight git; Honest.

 

[ukracer]

The list of tools/machinery to lust after is an endless quest. Personally, my next preference would be a shaper. Even a hand operated one would do me. The amount of times I'm doing something where one of those would come in handy....

I had one and sold it. I could never get to grips with it but I have always hankered after a milling machine....I did have a drill mill one day but it was a waste of space.

 

[MattF]

I had one and sold it. I could never get to grips with it but I have always hankered after a milling machine....I did have a drill mill one day but it was a waste of space.

Personally, I've always yearned a shaper over a mill. Most likely 'cos it's a more sedate tool.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

That shaper from Hugh looks nice but its a fair way from me, don't think I could fathom the drive up there.

 

[addjunkie]

This would sit quietly in the corner

http://www.bedetools.com/page25.html

 

[bigbadbugga]

This would sit quietly in the corner

http://www.bedetools.com/page25.html

Everything on that site is POA, horrible way to sell in my opinion.

Just put the price up

 

[Maker]

Definitely a lathe.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

*Cough, cough*......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Manually-...662637?hash=item33ad599a2d:g:Nr0AAOSwf-VWVxQm

 

[brightspark]

ive seen nice powered shapers going for 150 quid not 2 large niether and single phase