Simon
Many thanks for your message. Yes I am well into ham radio, my story regarding lathes. I use to use one at school and said i gotta get one of these. Now retired and needing to get and make bits. Finally I found a lathe that I think will be OK for me and the price was right too. Its a Holbrook Edgar and seems to be pretty good. I do have 1 issue (at the moment) with it. It does not have a toll post. I was hoping someone here can advice me which post I shoud get, most of the info I have pictures show the lather without a tool post.

What you are doing sounds pretty good, as long as you are enjoing you making diesel parts thats good. Its also good to meet someone from essex, i am in basildon.
all the besst
regards
Mike