Inventioneer, Congrats on buying that LISTA cabinet. Folks who have never worked in a machine shop have no idea how important those are to protect and keep organized your investment in tooling. Our priorities were the same as yours 33 years ago when we created our first machine shop. We bought a Bridgeport Mill, a 14"x 30" lathe, two LISTA cabinets obtained at an auction and a Delta Vertical Bandsaw.
The bandsaw has become the most used tool, because it shapes raw material for both the lathe and the mill. We tend to take advantage of bulk steel buys if we are sure it will be used that year. We cut rod, rounds, bar stock, round tube, thick plate and bolts on it for further processing on the lathe. We use it for large round slabbing, plate stock profile cutting, bar stock cutting, round cutting and notching and many other material removal ops on raw material destined for the mill.
The reason a verticle bandsaw is so important is that it pays for itself over and over again in a busy shop like ours in milling machine insert replacement costs. Lots and lots of excess pieces go to the floor off the saw's cast iron table that otherwise would have to be reduced to tiny chips by face milling or insert tooth shell milling just to waste material that does not belong on your part.
All we are saying is, "Good for you!!" Keep going until you have your shop outfitted and organized for efficient use, but don't forget the bandsaw! Oh, we would rather have a horizontal rather than none, but the vertical is much, much more versatile,
however it costs about 4 times as much.
Good luck!
Mike and Tracy
