Thirty years ago , when I was in machine shop school, I had a Atlas lathe that was worn out. The back gears, back gear shaft, and mounts were missing. Most of the threading gears were missing also. After I made some parts and got it working I found it was not every good lathe. Ever since then I have wanted a good lathe and mill. While the economy has been bad the company I work for has cut way back on employees and has wanted to sell off equipment. Like a IDIOT I let them sell a MAZAK Quick Turn 8 (a little old but in very good condition)for next to nothing that only needed a controller board ($1,000). So, I woke up and traded some vacation for a mill (MSC Supply company - Bridgeport clone) and \"worked off\" a JFMT - Pilgrim Lathe 13x30. The lathe is about 15 years old but the mill is all but new. All it has been used for is tapping parts. I put them in my basement so I had to get a Phase converter. I built a 5HP rotary converter to run my drill press. Oh, I forgot, the first thing I got from work was a pretty big drill press. Go to http://www.practicalmachinist.com/for all the info you need on building a rotary phase converter. Great site! Anyway, for all three I have spent $0.00 . The moral of the store is \"You can find a bargain if you wait around for thirty years or so.\" The only drawback to that strategy is you might get old and die before that bargain comes around. Also, while I was going to machine shop school & working in a foundry they got in couple of railroad car loads of square tubing and flat steel. I loaded a large crate with pieces and bought them for scrap price. From that I build a cut off saw with a motor out of an old shoe sewing machine and a band saw. They only have one speed but they cut…
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