Since everyone is giving advice, I'll add this.When learning, the hardest but most important thing to master is to center the cutting tool on the work.I tried a lot of methods until an old machinist told me to pinch a scale(or other slip of metal) between the tool and the work.If it is vertical,the tool is centered;if it leans away at the top,tool too high;if it leans away at the bottom, tool too low.I always reccomend learning on an Atlas(if avaliable)because they are simple and easy to make tooling for, also parts are cheap.This doesn't take away from the others(I also have Clausing,South Bend,and Logan).The Atlas book is great as 2-piper said,it includes very helpful charts and tables,as well as instructions.
Mike
