It's my birthday and can't decide what to get

M

mickri

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Hi all,
It's my birthday this month and I have been going back and forth on what I should buy for my birthday. I just can't seem to make a decision. Kind of narrowed down to some micrometers, a 0 to 1" and a 1" to 2", or an 8" rotary table. Do I buy cheap chinese off fleabay or look for older American made. I have recently seen some nice Starrett and Brown & Sharpe micrometers at some very reasonable prices on CL The rotary tables I have seen on CL look to be well used. For information my mill/drill's table is 8.5" x 28.5" to the outside edges of the table. Or should I look for a decent milling vise. Swivel base, fixed base, should it also tilt. On the rotary table I would definitely want both vertical and horizontal. What about a tilt function on the rotary table. So many choices I can't make a decision. Help me out.
 
Go with the RT.
Consider one which will accept index plates, a tailstock can also be helpful.
While not critical it will open opportunity in the future.
If you are mounting on an import machine, then an import RT is fine.
Hand mics can be picked up anywhere at much less money.

Daryl
MN
 
Happy Birthday :) Now everyone start humming the birthday song...:)

If it were me I would skip the tools and get a massage or fly to someplace warm and hangout on the beach baking away my aches and pains I seem to be getting the older I get....LOL
 
Or spend the day at the shooting range, that's always fun making noise :)
There is an online auction up here with all sorts of tools ending today, you can get a lot of American made "fun stuff" on there too...
 
Well I have my own 50 yard range on my property and I spent 7 years cruising south of the border on my sailboat so I'll cross those two off. I might go back to Mexico some day. Life was easy and the living was good down there. Cheap too. And my mom is turning 100 this August so I hope to have a few more birthdays to come.
I am seeing hand micrometers in the $15 to $25 range on CL. I'll check fleabay again. Rotary tables are all over the map on price. I don't have an immediate need for anything right now but know that I will need them in the future.
I know Brown & Sharpe and Starrett make good mic's. What about Sears Craftsman mic's? Other good brands? Brands to avoid?
Same on rotary tables. What brands should I look for? Avoid? And what features should I look for. I can see a use for a pointer that I can move like you can adjust the dial on a lathe. A tailstock would be good also. Are they table specific or is any 8" tailstock compatible with any 8" rotary table? What about work holding options? What should I look for?
Decisions, decisions. Help me out.
 
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