November 2020

Yes, lots of bits are needed, so first thing is a massive web search for information. This led me to some important sites, the first one being lathes.co.uk , which contains absolutely the source of all Boxford knowledge. A lot was learnt there, and I recommend any other new (or potential) Boxford buyer goes there first.

Then, of course, I had to find a forum or two to find those people that ‘know’, and here two sites have proved useful. The first is the users group, an ex-Yahoo! messaging site that is near as dammit a regular forum. Lots of knowledgable people there. Highly recommended. Another place that’s a honey-pot for home users of all lathe types is the Model Engineers Workshop forum, so a broader range of people, great for more general advice and guidance (and the associated magazine is good, too!).

This is my lathe at its new home, awaiting cleaning and assembly:

So far I have acquired, via help from the members of the user forum, the saddle clamp, the compound slide, the tailstock and the cross slide nut. I’ve purchased, via eBay, the chuck jaws, the cross slide, the isolating switch and a 9″ 4 jaw chuck. More on all these bits later.

The two main suppliers of lathe parts are RDG Tools and Chronos, mostly selling items from China and India, plus various second-hand parts suppliers, like Home and Machinery Workshop (local to me in Kent, but not used yet). The lathes.co.uk site also supplies spare parts, so worth a hunt there, too.

From Chronos I have the necessary tool post to suit the wedge-type quick change tool post I bought from RDG. More on the choice of those important bits also later.

I’ve also started buying the tools I will need, including the basic turning tools, dead centres, collet chuck set, milling bits, tailstock drill chuck, centre drills, chuck key and a catch plate. Getting there in terms of bits of lathe at least!

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