The Axminster Micro Lathe

I got an Axminster Micro Lathe for my 40th birthday, a couple of years ago. I thought it was worthwhile sharing what I know, so here are some tips (by the way, I'm completely self taught, and so very possibly everything I'm about to tell you is wrong - they're just my opinions)

Tips

• The manual is available here
• When your lathe arrives, don't bother bolting it to your concrete workbench, or whatever over-the-top technique is suggested in the manual. Just leave it bolted to the bottom of the packing crate, as it comes, and use it like that. Much easier!
• Use a permanent marker to write the numbers 1, 2 and 3 on the jaws of your chuck, and on the chuck itself, it'll make matching them up in the future much easier.
• The Axminster Micro Lathe looks very similar to the Clarke CL250M Variable Speed Metal Lathe. I haven't conformed this, but it's worth considering when thinking about buying accessories.

What to Buy

• A pair of safety glasses, and gauntlets, because you can't replace your eyes or hands, right?
• Buy a bag of fuses, as you'll blow one almost every time you stall the motor - which happens when you go in too fast. Use 1A 250V quick blow)
• Buy a copy of "The Amateur's Lathe" it'll tell you everything you need to know, even suggesting that a lathe can be your source of comfort and joy for the rest of your life!
• Buy a tailstock chuck, or how else are you going to drill central holes in your work?
• Also buy some centre drills, not every size, just enough to start your holes in the centre of the work. Ordinary drills aren't stiff enough, as least when you're working at 2mm sizes.
• Buy a parting tool, I can't grind my own tool steel thin enough.
• An Electronic Digital Caliper, to measure your work as you machine it.

What not to buy

• I bought a live centre, when I think I could have got away with the supplied dead centre.
• The tools available on the Axminster accessories page aren't much use. They're mostly for specialist use, and you can't sharpen them very much because only the tips are tool steel. You're much better off buying some tool steel blanks and a grinding disk from ebay.
• Anything harder than aluminium: I've failed to machine mild steel, and don't even think of machining titanoum. I've had a lot of fun with PTFE, Delrin and aluminium. I might have another go at mild steel now I'm better at using the lathe.
• A Dial Gauge, you can centre your work by hand by lightly clamping it in the chuck jaws and rubbing it lightly against the tool while rotating the chuck by hand