Should I start a Smithy fund?

I recently received an order from MidwayUSA and they included an advert for Smithy machine tools. I will probably send in the card for more information since it is postage paid. I am not in the market for anything right now, but in the future I may well be.

So, should I start saving up for one? I will probably go with the top of the line as that is the sort of person I am. I would also want to be able to make any and all gun parts from scratch. This would require being able to work all metals used in firearms including the hardest steels (including stainless) and even Ti.

# I recently received an order from MidwayUSA and they included an # advert for Smithy machine tools. I will probably send in the card for # more information since it is postage paid. I am not in the market for # anything right now, but in the future I may well be. # # So, should I start saving up for one? I will probably go with the top # of the line as that is the sort of person I am. I would also want to # be able to make any and all gun parts from scratch. This would # require being able to work all metals used in firearms including the # hardest steels (including stainless) and even Ti.

They are glorified and over-sold pencil sharpeners.

An expert machinist could do things with it, but would choose another tool.

You can buy a small lathe and a real mill for about the sum or not much more money, if you know where to look.

Scott

<machinist for 30 years>

Go over to misc.survivalism and look up 'gunner'. He is a machine tool and CNC tech and can give you the low-down on metalworking stuff. Try rec.metalworking too.

I bought a Smithy Granite 1324 at the first of the year and am very pleased with it. The through hole in the lathe head is large enough for all but the larger bull barrels. Being a combination machine, the milling part is not as strong as a regular milling machine would be but is certainly strong enough for all gun part situations. As for machining the hard metals, that is a matter of the type and quality of the cutting tools you buy plus knowing the correct 'feeds and speeds'. I'd suggest you lurk on the rec.crafts.metalworking group for a while and ask opinions there.

good luck, Phil

> ...

Save your money and use it to take a machinist class at your local college first. Then cruise Ebay for some bargains.

I would have to say check out products by Sherline and Taig before laying out the hay for a Smithy. I believe the Smithys are made in Taiwan and identical machine tools are sold under different brands. (Enco, Harbor Freight, etc.)

If you wish to become involved with machine tool work, then there are three machines you simply cannot be without. A Bridgeport vertical mill, a small-medium engine lathe, and a surface grinder. If one wants to become 'really' versatile, then add an 'engraver' to the list. The 'engraver' is , in reality, a pantograph

Look at the things which get built every day in the Tribal Territories of Pakistan. If you bring the rupees, they will make it for you... while you wait. Mostly handtools too.

# Save your money and use it to take a machinist class at your local college # first. Then cruise Ebay for some bargains. # # There are several Yahoo groups on machine work (7 x 10 lathe group and the 9 x 20 lathe group, HF 10 speed mini mill group - these may not be exact but good enough to search the group listings. There are more Chinese/ Taiwanese mills and lathes than you can hit with a handful of stones - Harbor Freight, Grizzly, Emco, Enco, Lathemaster, Taig etc. Do a Google search for the machine type (mill or lathe) that you are looking for and you will run out of time and patience before you track them all down. Best advice is take your time. Oh yea, just about everyboy on these forums says to stay away from the multi-function machines because you no sooner tear down a set up and you need it again. I have an Enco lathe and, like all of these type of machines, it needs some improvement to make it accurate -not expensive but why should you have to, right? Later,