First metal lathe advice

[Dalboy]

I would buy HSS blanks and make your own as many set half of the tools will not get used. I got a set when I brought my lathe (OK, I got a couple of sets, one being insert type free after a bit of bargaining)
As for the lathe, I did buy one oversize for what I will need, but have learnt in the past that it is better to buy a little bigger than what is needed.

 

[BentonTool]

I would buy HSS blanks and make your own as many set half of the tools will not get used. I got a set when I brought my lathe (OK, I got a couple of sets, one being insert type free after a bit of bargaining)
As for the lathe, I did buy one oversize for what I will need, but have learnt in the past that it is better to buy a little bigger than what is needed.

Agree with all stated...
To quote a dear machinist friend:
"You can do small work on a big lathe, but you cannot do big work on a small lathe"...

 

[kinsella]

Colleagues, this is my first lathe. I keep meaning to put it on eBay now. I upgraded to an ML7, but she was ideal as my first training lathe. It's a Haighton Cadet. (Moderators, sorry if I've broken any rules by posting.) I bought it for £400 if I remember, but I'm happy to let it go for £350. Private message me if you want to try it before you buy it. I'm happy for you to come take a look. But it was a great forgiving training lathe. I think it's a watchmaker lathe. I turned stainless, steel, ali and brass. The stainless had minor cuts, but it did it fine.

I got it originally as it was compact, and my workshop was smaller; I just picked it up and put it on a shelf under my workbench.