New lathe

[tinkerer]

I just bought a 7X14" lathe. Haven't gotten it yet, but it'll be a learning experience LOL I've never used much in the way of metal working tools except cutting & welding torch & a grinder. I always took wood shop & auto shop in school & drafting. But never took metal or machine shop. I'm a whiz when it comes to wood, but metal is something else LOL

[Gas_mantle]

I was in a similar situation to you a couple of years ago, I had never used a lathe but bought a little 8x16 machine to try and make small engines :-) It was the best thing I ever bought and only sold it recently to upgrade to a bigger machine.

Everyone will have their own opinion as to what tooling an accessories you'll need but for me I just bought a cheap bench grinder and a dozen bits of HSS blanks to make my own cutting tools. Armed with a few bits of scrap bar stock I just turned random sizes with homemade tools and just played around with feed rates etc till I saw what worked. With the tool bits some worked and some didn't but I just kept guessing and regrinding - eventually you'll get the hang of things.

I'd just spend a week making swarf and maybe trying to turn to a specific size then look at making a simple wobbler engine.

[b.lindsey]

Congrats on the new acquisition. Once you get the metalworking bug, it's hard to let go of, though there is still a place for the brown stuff too

Pics please when it arrives.

Bill

[Pete49]

Just consider the metal lathe like a wood one. it makes thick stuff thinner just pretend its hardwood.
Pete

[Flyboy Jim]

I come from a woodworking background myself. I've really been enjoying learning metal machining. The only downside is that I find myself measuring the cuts on the table saw with my micrometer. 

Bill is correct. Metal machining does get to be somewhat addictive.

Jim

[tinkerer]

Thanks guys I'm really looking forwards to making little ones out of big ones LOL I've always loved working on my wood lathe. My wife just laughs when I talk about "playing" with my power tools & the lathe in particular. But I've always been lucky. If it had to do with tools? I could do it they just come naturally to me. I've a self taught silversmith & lapidary too. I have plenty of grinders & a good drill press & a band saw I can at least cut aluminum & brass on. So I'm well on the road. I just ordered a cross feed table for my drill press. So some minor milling operations I should be able to do. I also have a good friend that has a large lathe & Bridgeport mill I can call on for advice & help. I have experience in pattern making too, I made the casting patterns for the front suspension on a road race sports special he built a few years ago. May do some casting of my own with my forge burners.LOL.

[Ian S C]

I wouldn't recommend using a drill press and cross feed table for milling specially if the chuck in the drill press is fitted to the spindle via a taper, Jacobs into the chuck, and Morse into the spindle, the sideways action of milling will cause the tapers to fall out, I know 'cause that's how I started.
Ian S C