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+--- Forum: Lathes (http://www.metalworkingfun.com/forum-11.html)
+--- Thread: Total Lathe Newbie Here. (/thread-3933.html)
Total Lathe Newbie Here. - Swarf_Newbie - 09-24-2018
Last used a lathe in 1980, as an apprentice engineer, so I have forgot just about everything I learnt!
Just bought a cheap Chinese 8x16 job, so please bear with me as stupid questions will be incoming!
Cheers.
Roy.
RE: Total Lathe Newbie Here. - terrywerm - 09-24-2018
The basics will come back to you quickly and it will go better than you expect.
RE: Total Lathe Newbie Here. - Hawkeye - 09-24-2018
Welcome, SN. The first thing you should plan on making is scrap. Put a piece of mild steel, aluminum or even plastic in your lathe and try everything you can think of to reduce it to chips.
The most important factor, after a sharp cutter, will be cutting speeds. After I learned that lesson, I made up a chart to help me. It isn't the final authority on the subject, but it works for me most of the time. Nothing wrecks a sharp cutter faster than the wrong cutting speed.
Have fun with your new lathe.
RE: Total Lathe Newbie Here. - Dr Stan - 09-25-2018
There are a lot of good videos available on YouTube. Look for Tom's Techniques a member of the forum who has put together some of the best teaching videos I've ever seen.
Another good source of info is the Machinery Repairman 3 & 2 published by the US Navy. It's available as a free downloadable PDF.