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I bought a Youngman Minimax tower, which I'm very pleased with. You will definitely need at least two outriggers, and the adjustable wheels pack. A bit more expensive than the generic scaffolds, but has the advantage that it's sought-after, and you'll be able to sell it for almost as much as you...

Simple for me - I'm never happier than when I'm in my workshop, focused on bringing something to life. The transferable skills gained just accumulate. My day job (which I also enjoy) is spent in front of a screen, so something physical gives balance. In a sentence, it's good for the soul.

One important thing about blades. If you haven't set the guides up properly, then feeding wood through too hard can result in the teeth getting unset. The guides either side of the blade should never come into contact with the teeth, but if the rear guide is too far back, then they will when...

The Chinese lathes are not so cheap these days, and with old iron, you'll need to be able to check for wear to the various slides and spindle. This means either having access to a friendly machinist or spending a few weeks researching what to look for. Judging from your initial post, you're...

Walk away asap. You've already identified several problems with the seller, and you haven't even received it yet! Ebay will definitely find in your favour. Something that suits your needs will come along.

I have the MT55, and it's been a game changer for me - I love it. But yes, I had kickback once resulting in flying saw and a gouged track. I put it down to inexperience more than anything else - I'd just bought the saw, it was cutting everything like butter and I did a plunge cut in some thick...

2.75" seems to be a standard column diameter for some of these older drills, for example my Meddings MB4. I bought an MF4 (floor version) recently for parts with a smashed table and faulty head. So if you're not in a hurry, it may be worth setting an alert for 'parts' machines. Make sure you get...

I started to reply but then rwillet posted and has covered pretty much everything. The only thing I would add is to manage your expectations. Looking directly, you will not see anything like the amazing photos that amateurs are able to achieve with long-exposure, rigid, tracked setups. You...

Nice. I wouldn't bother with a paint job either - original paint is far more desirable if you ever come to sell it. You can always wax over it to prevent rust. Clean up the grime and it'll look as good as it performs.

I feel Axminster have chosen to offer good service, with a number of retail outlets, and that costs. A couple of months back, I ordered a bandsaw blade on express delivery as I needed it for the weekend. I phoned them because it hadn't arrived on time on Friday - it turned out that the driver...

I agree it's all about condition. I bought a big old Meddings from a farmer and it needed considerable restoration to bring it back to spec. In addition to the checks above, I recommend removing any chuck and checking the Morse Taper. You can do it with your finger - it should feel smooth and...

I love watching Doubleboost - very skilled, modest and funny. I've learned so much from him.

I trust you're not referring to me? If so, I have no agenda - I love Festool stuff. From what I remember, the guy who did the comparison used it mainly for job site work that needed frequent left-handed cuts, and the issue was that it was hard to reach the trigger using the same hand on such...

Very nice, thanks for posting the pics, and nice to see you've already put it to work! There's a bit of a learning curve associated with insert tools. Carbide inserts tend to be blunt for steel, and sharper for aluminium. They tend to chip rather than wear in lathe use, but the chips can be...

You are going to have some fun!! And yes, don't forget to post some pics. Good work.

If you're looking at Boxford-size lathes, consider a Raglan 5" with accessories. They are a very fine lathe - super-expensive when new - but tend to be very inexpensive now. Accessories are in the hen's teeth bracket of availability, so avoid ones that come without.

By all accounts they are fine, desirable machines, and were on my list when I was looking - a step up from the AUD etc, with a much larger spindle bore. I believe they were developed in several iterations though, so check the bore size, centre height and chuck mount match what you expect...

Mmmm...Colchester Chipmaster or Harrison M300.....(dribbles)

I think Fergie is referring to the smaller Myfords like the Super 7 here, due to their desirability for model engineering. I wouldn't say it's true of the larger ones like the 280 or 254 series, both of which were considerably cheaper than a Boxford of similar spec/vintage when I was purchasing...

There's a lot to be said for going this route - not least the shipping, warranty, availability of spares and the knowledge that they haven't been abused (as well as Inspector's points). In the UK, Warco seems to be the supplier of choice, for their large range and good aftersales reputation. I...