In my view, and it is how I started (with almost no background), the best way to learn is to make chips. The books will be useful to give you the basics and as sources of reference material as you gain experience.

Get some free cutting brass, or aluminium bar with good machinability (buy it from a decent supplier – not the scrap bin or the local DIY superstore) or possibly EN1A steel and make some chips. Make something simple to start with.

I will pass on the advice I got early on, from Jason B of this parish, that on lathes of this size use the very sharp CCGT 060202 carbide inserts. They are specified for turning aluminium, but work brilliantly for me on my little Taig for turning almost anything.

A set of LH, RH and boring bar holders for these inserts almost eliminates the need to learn to grind HSS tools initially, and cut a big piece of my early learning curve where it was not clear if the issue was my lathe technique or my ability to grind tools well enough. With a new insert on centre, if it doesn’t work its your technique!

Once you are confident with your lathe technique, then start to try grinding HSS when you need it for a specific purpose. At that point if your technique lets you down it’s most likely to be your grinding of the tool.

PS a can of WD40 for cutting aluminium, some cutting oil helps on steel and nothing for brass.

As Peter says CCGT inserts will work well on a unimat3, certainly do on mine and if you get a 6mm square holder will be exactly on ctr height. That eliminates two big problems a beginner faces which are grinding tools and setting then to the correct height.

Just a 32 hydraulic oil will do, sewing machine oil is a bit light to me, something like this

Although some info in old books is still relevant they are in need of updating. You hardly see mention of things like ER Collets, Carbide and all the advice is base on lathes with belt or geared drive. No sign of modern benchtop machines in most of thre old publications though you wil find at least one of the often suggested make smention of Whale oil but I doubt many will be wanting to put that on their slideways.

I also suggest getting on and making some chips, pick a simple part for your loco and have a go, any problems or how to go about it ask here

On 22 January 2026 at 15:29 bernard towers Said:

Personally I would forget about tc tips on a small lathe and use hss and grind your own it’s a skill easily learned. …

Sorry Bernard, not true.   Took me ages, and I’m still not good at it.

Beginners should know:

• Grinding is a skill that not everyone picks up quickly.
• Grinding requires a £grinder.
• The grinder benefits significantly from a solid tool rest, but those on inexpensive grinders are likely to be flimsy, making it necessary to beef it up.  More work!
• Carbide inserts have several advantages over HSS:
  • No need for a grinder or to learn how to use one.
  • I suggest beginner time is better spent learning to cut metal on the lathe than sharpening tools.
  • Not necessary to reset tool height when inserts are changed.
  • Good for harder materials, including cutting HSS
  • Inserts reduce the need for a Quick Change Toolpost. I don’t need one.
• At least 80% of my cutting is done with Carbide inserts.  HSS is valuable for specially shaped form tools or to get a better finish on  difficult alloys.  I have HSS, but prefer inserts because they are less fuss.
• Easier to decide if HSS is worth having after learning the basics.   No need to go straight into HSS – it might not be needed at all…

Old books are great up to a point, I recommend Sparey’s “The Amateur’s Lathe”.   Just be aware it was written in 1950 so no modern stuff.  Modern books include Jason Ballamy’s Milling for Beginners and Neil Wyatt’s The Mini-Lathe.   Though some of the Workshop Practice Series are badly dated, most are still good.

Be aware that many internet videos are made by people who know more about making videos than cutting metal!     I’ll leave it to others to list the good publishers!  Watch critically, do not assume they’re safe or authoritative.

I learned by reading Sparey and the Model Engineering magazines, cover to cover.  Articles on things I have no intention of making often describe techniques that apply more generally.  I also own an extensive technical library, but it’s not necessary for starting off.   And by making man different things, starting small and working up.  I learned a lot from building Stewart Hart’s PottyMill Engine and Jan Ridder’s CoffeeCup Stirling from stock.   Others build kits, especially tools.   This forum is brilliant at answering questions and ideas.

Have fun.

Dave

If I was new to machining, given some of the above advice, I would give up.

This has always been a frequent and difficult question. The old evening classes were used by those, like me, who wanted access to lathes etc with supervisors there to give advice and fill in the day’s crossword. Clubs would give you help but they are busy places.

Our Club has given this a lot of thought and been running weekend day sessions for the young (and not so young) with each making a 16mm steam loco. It has been a great success. Outside such intitatives I think the only real solution is local mentoring. At least you will only pick up one person’s bad habits. I am not a fan of YouTube.

JA

Check Harold Hall’s web site for ideas and techniques for machining. Lots of tools and accessories that you can make for the lathe.  http://homews.co.uk/page617a.html

He also has published a few reference books for learning how to use a lathe and mill.  Making accessories for your lathe is a good way to start and explained in the book.  (search for a supplier)

Firstly let me say that I am a confirmed user of HSS tools, however having been recommended to use CCGT inserts for certain materials by Jason and others, they are very good for most materials and even at speeds and feeds normally associated with HHS.

I don’t see any reason for a beginner not to use them while they are learning how to use their lathe. As their skills improve and they require more specialised tools they can learn how  to make their own tools.

The main downside to carbide inserts is that they are rather expensive compared to HSS.

Andy

On 22 January 2026 at 19:24 bernard towers Said:

Dave if you can’t grind a rh lathe tool by now you are in the wrong hobby

Bernard demeans himself with a tart unjustified assumption. I do very well thanks. 🙂

More importantly, when we’re trying to help a newcomer, Bernard fails to explain why a beginner should start by learning to grind HSS What’s the advantage to a beginner of starting by learning to grind HSS?  Reasoned answer please, not another famously terse fact-free conclusion.

Unless Bernard provides a good reason I conclude his advice is bad because it wastes the beginners time and money.  Plus it’s based on the incorrect assumption that grinding is “a skill easily learned”.   And going on to say anyone who can’t grind is in the wrong hobby is also wrong.

Dave

“why a beginner should start by learning to grind HSS”

It depends on what the personal objectives are. There is no _need_ to grind HSS at the start anymore but I have enjoyed learning about tool geometry, how different metals deform and create chips, difference between dull and sharp, and even developing manual dexterity while struggling with a poor grinder. I think these skills all still add value. I don’t think there is one right way to develop knowledge and skill.

If developing knowledge and skill is not a high priority compared to just rough turning to size and ‘making things’ then certainly use replaceable tips. And for milling… learning how to sharpen milling cutters is probably a long way down most priorities.

In priority order, I learnt what I know from: 1) books 2) doing it (successes and mistakes) 3) internets 4) direct from other people. It is a shame that ‘direct from other people’ isn’t as easy to get.

I use 1/4” tool bits on my Unimat, cos I happened to get a box of them at a car boot sale. Really tiny boring bars are made from 2mm graver blanks.

I don’t use a parting tool on the Unimat, A junior hacksaw is faster and less traumatic.

Biggest upgrade was to make some brass gibs, but the lathe functioned adequately for many years with the plastic ones.

Dave

@paul1956 I also came from woodworking and woodturning to metal bashing. I spent many a day playing on the lathe and mill along with some book reading.

Yes I agree learning to grind HSS is a bonus when you need a tool to do a certain job where buying a carbide tool will never get used again. Some people pick it up quite quickly and others don’t, in my eyes as a very new to metal work there is no right or wrong as long as it is safe. You will know this from woodturning when a lump of wood 12″ diameter flies off the lathe (yes it happened to me due to an unforeseen crack gave way the only thankful thing was, I was wearing a full face mask.)

I have just completed my first model with much learning and asking questions where needed.