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.
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.
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.