New boy says hello

[TomG]

Yes, you do need a good 12" combination square, but not for $150. The best Starrett makes is a C33H-12-16R, which has a forged steel head and a satin chrome 16R rule lists for $146 new. I would definitely recommend getting the forged head over the cast head because when it gets dropped, it won't be damaged and it will last you a lifetime. I would also suggest that you visit the PEC TOOLS website because they offer the exact same thing for $79. In fact, if you have the money, they offer a three piece set with the center head for $109 and a four piece set with the center head and protractor for $179. Good quality tools like Starrett for less than half the money.

While you are there, they also make very nice rules and every machinist needs a 6" and 12" flexible rule with 3R graduations (16ths, 32nds., 10ths, and 50ths.).

Welcome aboard.

Tom

[EdK]

(01-29-2016, 09:32 PM)TomG Wrote: I would also suggest that you visit the PEC TOOLS website because they offer the exact same thing for $79. In fact, if you have the money, they offer a three piece set with the center head for $109 and a four piece set with the center head and protractor for $179. Good quality tools like Starrett for less than half the money.

And you can get them even cheaper here.

http://stores.ebay.com/Taylor-Toolworks/...=212293561

Ed

[Old Minger]

Thanks gents I appreciate all the advice. It's a minefield out there if you don't know your a%*e from your elbow!

So when it comes to blame I would just like to point the finger at Tom G. I recently inherited my Dad's lathe and was going to sell it, but I couldn't bear to part with it so decided to keep it and have a go at the black art of metal working. During my research I stumbled across Tom's website and I was hooked, so many thanks Tom, I'm sure I'll be cursing you daily. 

I have only some basic tooling and next to nothing when it come to measuring instruments so I'm starting from scratch.

What will I be making? I'd be happy just to turn the lathe on and not send the tool crashing into the chuck, I'm sorry but I'm that new. Ultimately I'd like to be able to make something like Tom's Knurling thingy and a have a go at the many interesting projects out there.

It's going to be a long journey and I'm looking forward to it and I hope in the process I can pass a little of this knowledge on to my kids, let's face it the world doesn't need any more software engineers.

So once again thanks for the inspiration and all the advice, I'm glad I found you guy's.

Cheers

John

PS.

I'm on the Wet Coast, Vancouver, BC.

[TomG]

Lol, there's not much cursing around here, but this is one of our favorite emoticons.

It's good to hear that I got you hooked.

Tom

[Dr Stan]

Vancouver is not far from Bellingham WA. Go to Bellingham, get a P.O. box and have it shipped there.

Also get a copy of "How to run a lathe" published by South Bend Lathe Works.

[Sunset Machine]

That money would be better spent on other stuff I would think. Calipers, micrometers, depth gauge, QCTP, bandsaw (!) ... I could probably count on one hand the number of times I've used either of my combo squares, the pieces scattered and probably lost now from lack of use.

[Dr Stan]

Before I overhauled my mill all I had was a horizontal band saw and a drill press. If I hadn't had my combo square set I would have really been up the creek without a paddle, let alone a canoe. Each of us will approach projects differently, but I consider layout and hand work very important as it was the first 2 week phase of the US Navy's 12 week long MR School. I still have the drill pointer gauge I hand made as the first project, using a combo square, a scribe, a drill press, and a file.

[Sunset Machine]

A weld/fabshop - certainly. A wood shop too. I remember making weird picture frames with one. So it boils down to.. what kind of metalworking? I was assuming machine work for some reason. You just don't use something graduated in 16ths there. Your friends will laugh and your family will pretend they don't know you.

[wawoodman]

But on the other hand, I was told (by a carpenter) that the only purpose of the 100ths scale was to file your nails...

[Sunset Machine]

I needed to mill something and remembered why my combo's are in pieces - I use the ruler to square a vice to the tables so often that I completely forgot where it came from! Just lay it in and gently close the jaws, then eyeball the overhanging ends to the t-slots. You'll get .005" over 12" pretty easily, and darn quick.