Canadian Hobby Metal Workers & Machinists

I used AlphaTruckingCanada.com; friendly enough fellow, but a bit volatile. I didn't like how he interacted with a forklift driver at the tail end of the adventure. He's also talking about getting out of the business.

On the Victoria side I used South Island Lift. Adam was great and very accomodating.

Paul

As for the machine, it's doing ok. I'm still at fixturing and test cuts - I'm new to machining as well! I'd been shopping for something like the Craftex 601 (I have the 701 lathe), and this was a better machine at the same price point. There's some kinks to work out. I've alread replaced the shear pin in the R8 collet seat - it was sheared ;-)

Now I'm re-wiring the atuto-feed - the electric cable has much more electric tape patching than I'm comfortable with.
But my first tests in aluminium and steel tell me that I'm not going to outgrow this machine any time soon!

@PaulL said - I've alread replaced the shear pin in the R8 collet seat - it was sheared ;-)

That happened because someone before you didn't tighten the drawbar adequately. The pin is only used to stop the collet from spinning while you tighten the drawbar. It isn't supposed to play a role during machining. On the other hand, if someone crashed an endmill.....

Did you end up getting an adequate supply of replacement pins?

Both of you will do just fine! Can't wait to see your first projects!

Yes, @Tecnico air-dropped me enough to last through a few such accidents.
First project is lining up to be a decent rest for my grinding wheel. Freehanding lathe bits isn't getting the results I'd like to see

What does freehanding lathe bits mean?

Grinding the profiles with a spinning grinding wheel and a really awkward/floppy/sloppy factory rest. I'd like a rest I can mark accurate angles on to work from.