Watch some of the sets of indexable tools as they have some very obscure tips. Try to keep to one or two tip shapes
I would go for 12mm unless you intend doing a lot of heavy work and buy individual tools rather than sets which tend to have ones you will seldom use.
Assuming you are looking at indexable tools then I would go in order of most used:
R/H turning, this will turn along the work & face CCMT type tip
Parting
6mm &10mm boring bars CCMT, 16mm is nice for deeper holes
Through turning to use the other two sides of an 80deg tip
L/H turning handy for facing larger items and working away from the chuck
Most of mine are Glanze but also have a look at Greenwood who are usually there
Edited By JasonB on 13/01/2013 19:59:30