Re: Machine tools for maintaining your cars?
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:57 am
If you loiter on eBay, there are still great bargains to be had with machine tools. The relatively cheap availability of electronic single to three phase converters means that a whole raft of industrial machines can now be used at home without paying a fortune for a three phase supply. Often three phase machines trade at a significant discount to single phase equivalents. Although we are coming to the end of it, over the last few years many schools have removed their machine tools - I am not sure whether it is 'elf and safety' or whether there is no demand for practical skills anymore. My own lathe is a 3 phase ex-school mid 70's British 'big iron' lathe and is a pleasure to use. Depending on the phase converter you buy, you can run multiple machines - so I am on the lookout for a nice three phase upright mill.
As for a compressor, I couldn't live without it. Clarke (Machine mart) in the UK make some very questionable quality tools, but if you pick and choose, some stuff isn't bad. The Clarke full polish professional spanners are not up to snap-on standards, but aren't bad and cost a fraction of the snap-on price. Their compressors are also pretty good. Stay away from the hobby range, but the 'air industrial' range is good value and OK quality.
I have had the following compressor for 10 years, always on, never a problem. It has a 3HP motor which is right at the limit of a 13amp fuse, so I had to wire it directly into a spur as it would blow the plug fuse 1 start in 10.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/se16c150-air-compressor
As for a compressor, I couldn't live without it. Clarke (Machine mart) in the UK make some very questionable quality tools, but if you pick and choose, some stuff isn't bad. The Clarke full polish professional spanners are not up to snap-on standards, but aren't bad and cost a fraction of the snap-on price. Their compressors are also pretty good. Stay away from the hobby range, but the 'air industrial' range is good value and OK quality.
I have had the following compressor for 10 years, always on, never a problem. It has a 3HP motor which is right at the limit of a 13amp fuse, so I had to wire it directly into a spur as it would blow the plug fuse 1 start in 10.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/se16c150-air-compressor