Lathe arriving – source some practice materials

[starjumpParticipant @starjump]

@JasonB Thank you, I hear you! I expect small scale tool-making will take up most of the first six months or more as look to do simple things to improve, I’ll try to fit some non-round stock in to the chuck and the order.

[starjumpParticipant @starjump]

@jasonb Thank you, I’m sure that you are right. As simple tool-making projects will probably take up most of my time for quite a period, I’ll invest in some square/hex stock and endeavour to use it in the 4-jaw chuck.

[starjumpParticipant @starjump]

Ooops! Sorry I’m now duplicating posts having lost some completely! Apologies.

[starjumpParticipant @starjump]

Can anyone suggest a free cutting steel that also welds please?

I did a Google search and EN3B came up as a mild steel that welds apparently the sulphur content makes EN1A difficult and the lead makes it near impossible to weld EN1APb.

I have no idea, but it does go against the grain to order steel that can’t be welded! (I have access to welding equipment at work and brazing equipment at home).

If it has to be then Harold Hall suggests marking the project stock with “FC” seems like a good idea.

 

Thank you again, Starjump.

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You can braze/silver solder EN1A

EN3 or EN32 are still reasonable to machine so go with those if you want to weld it too.

There are not that many Model Engineers that have the need to weld machined parts, but again depends what you are making. I have welded EN1A but not in safety critical uses but it stays together for say a fabricated engine frame

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