Top 5 Must‑Have Tools Added by LatheMatters Readers to Their Metal Shops

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Here are five popular items our readers are adding to their metal shop. These are especially great items for anyone new to metal turning.

1) Mini Metal Lathe

If you are looking to add a mini metal lathe to your shop, these two by Vevor are popular among our readers right now:

VEVOR Mini Metal Lathe Machine – 7” x 16”

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VEVOR Mini Metal Lathe – 7″x14″ Benchtop Metal Lathe

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2) Tail Stock Drill Chuck with Morse Taper Arbor

Not all new lathes come with a good drill chuck. And sometimes older lathes need an upgrade. Here are a couple of options that have worked in either case:

Mini Metal Lathe Tail Stock Drill Chuck with MT2 Morse Taper Arbor

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KingTool Drill Chuck Set with MT1 and MT2 Morse Taper Arbor

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3) Center Drill Bits Set

Center drill bits start holes at the end part of any workpiece. Without a center drill bit, the drill will wobble and go off-center. Check out these center drill sets:

7 Piece Center Drill Bits Set

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5 Center Drill Countersink Lathe Bit Mill

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4) Boring Bar Set

After center drilling, a boring bar bores a hole in a piece of metal. A boring bar is more precise than freehand drilling. Here are popular boring bar sets:

Metal Lathe Cutting Tools – 7 Piece Boring Bars with Indexable Carbide Inserts

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14 Piece Lathe Boring Bar Set with Carbide Inserts and Wrenches

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5) Books

Here are some books by Fox Chapel Publishing. Fox Chapel Publishing allows makers, artists, and crafters to share their knowledge and experiences. These are great to have on hand in any metal shop:

Metal Lathe for Home Machinists

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Mini-Lathe for Home Machinists

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Mini-Lathe Tools and Projects for Home Machinists

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Are you looking to add more tools and accessories to your metal shop? Check out our complete list of the best metal lathe tools and accessories.