"Hopefully, a never ending thread" ... why are you saying this in your title? Why would you hope or with that this thread never ends? :)
It was all looking fine up until that one picture. Do all you Texans work naked in the heat? Yik.
For 99.9999% of all my measuring I use six inch digital vernier calipers and a six inch steel ruler.
I believe theres a few of us here as excited as you are about the new acquisition. Bet the wife is tickled pink about the goings on. Well maybe she will be if you save enough for a bunch of red roses.
Does the lathe come with a four jaw chuck? They do come in handy at times as well as a dial indicator on a magnetic base.
Never heard of strapless T-shirts?
Nope. I've never heard of strapless T shirts. Have you seen the other half of the picture?
Can’t say I did. Do I want to see it?
LOL. No.
Yes a 4 jaw chuck comes with and the dial indicator on a magnetic base will come too.
Ig you are in the Dallas area, you should stop by CDC Surplus in Richardson. They sell lots of quality tooling (a lot comes from local aerospace companies) for very affordable prices. They are closed Sunday and Monday and at at 3:00 on Saturdays. There is also a Harbor Freight a couple of blocks away.
Don’t forget to forgive yourself when you screw up. I usually start with “Oops, $H!T” and then move on to more profound polysyllabic expletives before running down and turning philosophical. In the end you still just have to go on. A cookie helps.
And remember to always leave the key in the chuck before starting the motor (but after writing me into your will) J) Flying chuck keys can be and eye-opening, trouser browning experience.
Meh, it’s a pretty low power lathe, it wouldn’t kill him, just hurt him. Which would be detrimental to your inheritance. :bigsmile:
My 1hp lathe deposited mine helpfully, but loudly, into the chip pan the couple of times I made that mistake.
My friend’s little Harbor Freight lathe deposited his into the sheetrock wall the first time, through the window the second time, and a square ricochet into his nads the third time… some people have a hard time learnin’… A hunk of metal bouncin’ off his dangly bits seems to have improved his lathe hygiene… or he’s too embarrassed to mention any later Flying Chuck Keys of Dooooom… Speaking of which, always wear loose fitting clothing and a necktie before operating a lathe… but after writing me into your will. Somewhere out there is a video of some idiot being decapitated by a spiffy necktie caught in a big mill.
Maybe get yourself a springloaded key that you can’t leave in the chuck 
Not wearing rings prevents your fingers left in the chuck.
I know a guy that built a 5'x10' flatbed cnc router table out of wood and it was accurate as hell too.
Nice work Justin!
You really need to start a whiskey fund. It will help sooth the nerves as you learn what not to do. Above all - HAVE FUN....I admire your abilities!
08/03/15 - Now there's a little more light in the work shop.
The lathe should arrive Thursday before Noon Central time.
Other parts are coming daily. It's getting even more exciting every day.
i hope someone makes a movie of ’lil justin jumping around when the lathe is delivered 
That will be his wife jumping around because she will not have to hear Justin complain about finding things to do! LOL
Plus she gets the remote back for the TV :)
Don’t forget the safety glasses in all the excitement 
Looking forward to seeing you work your magic with the new machine. 
After shirtless pics and somebody wants a picture of “lil Justin” dancing around … did I miss where this thread was renamed?
Fifty Shades of Justin: Rebel with a Lathe 
EDIT: wow, and those more recent posts just continue the theme …