From: null@void.com   
      
   "Jim Wilkins"  writes:   
      
   > "Richard Smith"  wrote in message news:m11poywd34.fsf@void.com...   
   >   
   > That said - "pulling in favours" is proving so time-consuming that it   
   > would be much cheaper paying all the delivery charges, and paying   
   > commercial rates for machined parts.   
   > ------------------------------------   
   > That is why I watched and waited for bargains on older (1950-60's)   
   > machine tools that were still good enough for home projects if not   
   > commercial use. They can still do accurate work when needed, it just   
   > takes more time and understanding their remaining strengths and   
   > limitations. The accuracy limit is how closely I can measure since I   
   > can take light cuts to intended size +/- 0.01mm or a little better. I   
   > send very little work to a nearby custom fabricator with full sized   
   > equipment, the last was trailer hitch welding that exceeded my skill   
   > and confidence level.   
      
   I thought about that - is it time to have my own machine-tools...   
      
   Build a lean-to for solid fuel - empty the outbuilding as much as possible.   
   Board out the rafters and put lighter rarely used things up there.   
   Buy a compressor and park it 4/5ths the way up the wall not taking up   
   floor-space.   
   Lathe, maybe a mill, in.   
      
   I got a lathe as a kid.  But my dreams were bigger than all of my   
   {abilities; mentoring; pockets; etc; etc.}   
   I can see it now and forgive myself a lot.   
   Now I have a range of abilities, something in my pocket, and small   
   dreams.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)