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mondeoman
Original Poster
6,770 posts
135 months
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If you wanted to set up a workshop at home to make small batches (10-20 at a time) of parts/components, mostly steel and aluminium, what tools/machinery would you consider as necessary, nice to haves and what manufacturers would you go for? Most parts steel/aluminium tube (up to 50mm diameter) with holes and slots, steel/aluminium plate (up to 2mm thick, say 1' square max) with holes and some folds.
So far I've got:
a pillar drill (necessary) a band saw - preferably floor standing horizontal (nice to have) vertical mill (necessary) lathe (nice to have) bench folder small MIG welder (necessary) surface plate (nice to have?) work bench with vice (necessary) Bench Grinder (nice to have)
Anything else that I should look for?
In terms of manufacturers I'm looking at Sealey, Draper, Clarke - any others?
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TheD
2,483 posts
68 months
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Paint Box Cleaning area/Box/Tray Heating Ventilation Fire equipment Spotlights
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PGM
1,537 posts
118 months
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Urinal.
Sink.
Or a combination of the two.
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mrdelmonti
1,226 posts
50 months
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Air compressor, useful for running tools and cleaning stuff.
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mondeoman
Original Poster
6,770 posts
135 months
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PGM said: Urinal.
Sink.
Or a combination of the two. Good call!! 
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PGM
1,537 posts
118 months
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mondeoman said: PGM said: Urinal.
Sink.
Or a combination of the two. Good call!!  Joking aside a sink is a good idea for washing oily hands with swarfega! Saves countless tellings off! Our wireless internet works in my garage and I have an old laptop in there which is great for the radio and looking up workshop manuals or just general google problem solving. And pron.
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mondeoman
Original Poster
6,770 posts
135 months
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mrdelmonti said: Air compressor, useful for running tools and cleaning stuff. Not a bad idea... can always use that on the car as well.
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allegro
650 posts
73 months
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Kettle biscuits pipe bender scantly clad ladies calender (a must) 
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5potTurbo
3,279 posts
37 months
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Ventilation's been mentioned, but depending on how much woodworking you'll do, a dust extraction system. The calendar's a MUST though. My Dad has a selection in his workshop, the dirty old git! 
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Streetrod
4,984 posts
75 months
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I would want a 5 Axis CNC milling machine, I have no idea who much they cost but they have to be the coolest tool in the world and probably the most usefull
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netherfield
1,157 posts
53 months
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GnuBee
774 posts
84 months
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mondeoman said: If you wanted to set up a workshop at home to make small batches (10-20 at a time) of parts/components, mostly steel and aluminium, what tools/machinery would you consider as necessary, nice to haves and what manufacturers would you go for? Most parts steel/aluminium tube (up to 50mm diameter) with holes and slots, steel/aluminium plate (up to 2mm thick, say 1' square max) with holes and some folds.
So far I've got:
a pillar drill (necessary) a band saw - preferably floor standing horizontal (nice to have) vertical mill (necessary) lathe (nice to have) bench folder small MIG welder (necessary) surface plate (nice to have?) work bench with vice (necessary) Bench Grinder (nice to have)
Anything else that I should look for?
In terms of manufacturers I'm looking at Sealey, Draper, Clarke - any others? Calipers, Micrometer(s), Dial Indicator + stand As it's aluminium buy one of those bulk WD40 containers it's an excellent coolant/lubricant Someone mentioned a compressor - would be useful and you could use it for mist or just air blast cooling on the mill You may not need a bandsaw and could compromise with a cut-off/chop saw if you're just using it for cutting stock to length For the mill you're going to need a proper vice, some parallels and don't underestimate the cost of tooling Which mill and drill are you looking at? There's nothing particularly wrong with Sealey, Draper and Clarke but I'd stay away from them for machine tools. Stuff like the compressor, basic tools etc they're ok for Can we see the part(s) you're going to make?
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GnuBee
774 posts
84 months
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Streetrod said: I would want a 5 Axis CNC milling machine, I have no idea who much they cost but they have to be the coolest tool in the world and probably the most usefull Start at £30k for a used but not completely worn out machine and work your way up from there - buying the machine is the cheap part of 5 axis the cost is in the software, tooling and consumables.
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mondeoman
Original Poster
6,770 posts
135 months
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Some initial selections: Here’s the drill Bench grinder Band SawNot sure if the available bands have a fine enough cut though, need something that can cut 1.6mm plate and 1.2 – 1.6mm wall tube without stripping teeth and 24tpi isn’t fine enough if memory serves. Mill As this doubles as a drill, could be a good bet. Only need to do 10mm and 12mm slots, drilling 4mm to 20mm Bench folderIn terms of handtools I’ve got a fairly decent set inc. micrometers, but I will need some files, an marking gauge and a bucket of blue! Clarke MIG welder I’ve already got, angle grinder and hand drills. I’ll even treat myself to a spanking new vice  Its all metalwork – I’m no good with wood  Its all tube and sheet fabrication – and I’ve found the biggest cost isn’t the materials, it’s the finishing. Powder coating is OK, still more than I was expecting but chrome plating is comparatively bloody expensive (this could be ‘cos I only asked for one-offs for a couple of prototypes, hoping it’ll be a lot cheaper for larger batches).
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LooneyTunes
2,433 posts
27 months
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Got a nice meaty supply of electricity already there?
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PaulHogan
2,397 posts
147 months
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mondeoman
Original Poster
6,770 posts
135 months
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LooneyTunes said: Got a nice meaty supply of electricity already there? Yep - used to run a big electric pool heater, air-con, sauna, about 2kW of lighting and an electric shower.
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mondeoman
Original Poster
6,770 posts
135 months
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PaulHogan said: First aid kit That'll be SWMBO  (ex-nurse an all that...)
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Crafty_
4,516 posts
69 months
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That sheet folder will struggle to do 2mm if it does at all.. (ask me how I know..). Mine has stripped the clamp threads, I can fix it, but its a pain. It also flexes in the middle when doing thicker stuff. I would look at getting a proper floor stander. Will cost lots more though.
I'd also look at getting a tig over mig - neater welds and if you buy the correct type it'll allow you to do aluminium too. You can do aluminium with mig but its not easy or neat. If you do go mig avoid SIP machines like the plague. Go find your local welding shop, take their advice and buy a decent machine.
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Simpo Two
54,215 posts
134 months
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I'd spend a bit more on the pillar drill. Cheap ones have poor bearings and skate on metal rather than cut where you want them to.
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