<about 3" centre height, 18" between centres). Including milling. If you
< have a vertical slide on the saddle (and, better still also a vertical
< milling attachment), there's little you can't do that you could do on a
< milling machine. Sure you'll have to work slowly and take light cuts, bu
< you can do it.
One popular lathe/mill was the unimat. used to cost back around '68
about $400USD.
Thanks to brothers and father, the basement at home was a full machine
shop with a southbend 6"x28" lathe, drill press, welding and forge.
Milling of small parts was done clamping it to the crossstock or
headpeice.
< Metal casting is also possible at home. You can make the pattern on the
< lathe, make a mould using foundry sand and melt the metal either in a
< coke furnace, or preferably an electricly heated one. Not trivial to do,
< but not beyond what some people will try. In fact I must have a go one d
My favorite source for metal was Volkswagon engine heads as the aluminum
alloy was very machineable and melted well using a propane/air forge in
the back yard. Parts were sandcast. Dad showed me how to make masters
and work the sand. Also used to do lost plug plaster casting for finer
parts (plaster formed around a wax form that is melted out). Also did
copper and bronze. Steel was welded, cut and formed using gas and arc
equipment.
It's all pretty easy once you know how. Wish I had access to that now.
Allison
Received on Wed Aug 26 1998 - 22:21:02 BST