Let's See Your Lathe

[Rickabilly]

(08-20-2012, 03:05 PM)SnailPowered Wrote: I am literally starting from scratch. I know virtually nothing about machining but I think I'm basically jumping in with both feet lol. I have been interested in it but didn't realize until recently that a home shop wasn't a $100K initial investment. I actually would like to have a machine shop and be a stay at home dad after I get out of the military so this is where I will be starting!

I hope you can acheive your goals but just a word of advice, think about a specialty area of machining if you want to make any kind of living out of it,

I speak from experience when I say general machining is a cut throat game where some folks will lose money for three years out of a four year contract just to make a little in the fourth year and only do slightly better than break even, complete madness I know, but I have seen it, along with the more common case of shops going out of business working for less than break even thinking they are working their way out of debt but only serving to reduce everyone elses chargeout rates.

But if you've got a specialty that no-one else can do, then you can set your own price, the only trick is finding that specialty.

And as a hobby you will be lucky to find any other more rewarding pastime.
Regards
Rick