Online buying tools? Advice needed please.

[busastars]

Right as a few of you know I am a bargin hunter

I need to finish off getting tool'd up. I cannot find second hand and will be getting a few items new.

The slip roller I have used was "Wyn's" Chester 20" Seemed well built, I may get the 16" version off ebay for about £139 delivered. RDG Tools do a 12" but with postage its the same price as the Chester but smaller.

I also need some tools for my lathe, ive seen 13mm / 1/2 inch shank cutting tools for £40 delivered but this company does alot of other lathe tools, could do with a Chuck MT2, and maybe a couple of different attachment angle plates etc.
The company is RDG Tools. Anyone used them?

Saw a few Sealy Tap & Die sets on ebay, did like the Sealey Ak3033, on ebay it is nearly £48 but a quick look on google and found it for about £30. Not sure if its an HSS set as I think thats what I want. Also trying to find out what the Bergen sets are made from.

Now who do you use for all your internet tools? As much advice as posible as im about to buy, would like to get all from one place if possible as I aim for discount on postage etc.

 

[JimM]

Haven't used RDG myself but they often get recommended on the model engineering forums so should be OK (Have used Chronos and never had a problem with them)

With regard the tap & die set, they won't be HSS at that price, think you'd be looking at 3x that for a decent HSS set

HTH

Jim

 

[Archie]

I've used RDG once for a couple of bits I wanted cheap. The service is good and the prices are pretty reasonable but the stuff is not top quality. It's not poor quality but it's nothing special so I guess if you want something cheap for limited use then it's a good place to go. Just go with your eyes open! Mostly I'd use J&L. In fact I think they had a deal on a box of drills, some end mills and a tap and die set in their last flyer. £99 the lot if I remember right. Though I wouldn't actually recommend the set of taps/dies they were flogging. It's one of the poxy ones with dies shaped like nuts. Is there a technical name for those?!

 

[reedx]

I've used RDG in the past but the odd thing has been a bit ropey.

For online stuff I now tend to use Arc Euro Trade

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/

Good prices and service, though some of the ranges can be a bit limited, and very helpful if you need to contact them.

Colin

 

[Paul.]

It's one of the poxy ones with dies shaped like nuts. Is there a technical name for those?!

Die nuts Archie, really only for cleaning up and recovering damaged threads.

 

[Archie]

Well I suppose that's logical! Thanks Paul.

 

[drivewasher]

Just loking at that site, can anyone tell me if the grinding wheels ans wire wheela (on a shank) should have the max speed in the description. I was wanting to get an air die grinder and wondered if it would be too fast for these?

 

[busastars]

Thanks all.
Just managed to get my hands on a Hanson Tap & Set very similar to the Snap on at a very nice price. Also just ordered the Chester 16" slip rolls.
Need to get some Lathe tools now, hopefully a friend is calling in today to give me some advice on what I need exactly.

 

[gavuk]

Hi ,there was a good discussion on lathe tooling ,in a thread with the name"you've gone and bought a lathe".a while ago,i stand by what i said in that thread still think for the money and versatility hss and a grinder is the way to go,tipped tools are very good and i do use the but if i had to tool up for home ,i'd buy hss first ....good luck Gav

 

[busastars]

Hi ,there was a good discussion on lathe tooling ,in a thread with the name"you've gone and bought a lathe".a while ago,i stand by what i said in that thread still think for the money and versatility hss and a grinder is the way to go,tipped tools are very good and i do use the but if i had to tool up for home ,i'd buy hss first ....good luck Gav

Thanks Gav.
Thats just what im trying to do, get setup first, learn a bit more then buy a little more as I need it or gain in knoloage. The tool I have in the tool post is a 3/8" so almost certain I will get the full set from RGTools to start with, they are about £35 delivered.

Ive been looking at the center in the tail stock and there is no markings on there, I am gessin it is a MT2 "any way I can measure it?", I want to get a cheap chuck and revolving center.

I will need a back plate, seen blank ones you can buy from about £15 but would then need it cut to fit, be nice if a Myford would fit but not sure what else will, need to figure out taking off the chuck, seems easy enough but waiting on a friend to come over to show me.

Also on the look out for some cheap angle plates etc and maybe a rotory table if it turns up cheap enough. Some one here reading this may have spairs lying round

Ops forgot to say its a Smart & Brown Sab but most of you know whay I bought

 

[busastars]

Right quick update. Got my Hanson Tap & Die set, Lathe cutters 3/8" cabide tip & Chester 16" Slip Roller.

Slight problem with the handle of the slip roller, it should be square and fit snug but is rectangle and realy loose, emailed them and getting it sorted next week (not a big problem)

Waiting on RGTools to get back to me with some costs on MT2 chuck, rotory center, center drills and a few other bits. Delivery has been bang on, Chester got back to me instantly and the Tap & Die's were nice and cheap

 

[Archie]

I bought one of those Chester slip rolls a while back. TBH, it was a total waste of money as it wasn't man enough for what I wanted it for. Nevertheless, one of the gears in the end broke soon after I got it. That's two that have shown dodgy build quality.... I've spoken to them and I can get a new gear but, even so, I'm not sure I'd buy from Chester again.