Burrow the centers on both ends of the work piece using a center punch before mounting it on the lathe for machining. The center makes mounting the piece onto the lathe easier for symmetrical machining and accurate finishing.
Grind the cutting tool using the grinder to make an appropriate cutting edge, depending on the operations you will run on the piece. You may grind the cutting tool for the purpose of making threads, facing, parting tapering, roughing and finishing. However, there are readily made cutting tools available for purchase that are specially designed for particular operations on the lathe, such as knurling and parting tools.
Mount the cutting tool onto the tool post on the carriage using the small wrenches for tightening the grip on the tool. Center the cutting tool to the lathes axis by raising or lowering it to the same level as the center on the tail end of the lathe.
Insert the work piece into the face plate's chuck and tighten its grip using a chuck key. Never leave the chuck key on the chuck while operating the lathe. Use a lathe center, preferably a live center to avoid heavy lubrication, to hold the piece on the tail end if the piece is long enough to reach it.
Fill the coolant pump with the cutting fluid before any operation and make sure the cooling system is working efficiently. During operation, a lot of heat is generated that can ruin the work piece as well as the cutting tools.
Connect the lathe to a power outlet and stand facing the work piece within reach of all the levers and buttons on the headstock. Go through all the fastenings on the work piece once more to make sure they are firm and adjust the gears to a suitable speed. Use low speeds if you are not experienced in handling the lathe.
Turn the hand wheels on the carriage to give a feed to the cutting tool before powering it on. Pull on the power lever to turn on the lathe and move the work piece by continuously turning the hand wheels. Move the tool along the cross slide during facing, and along the spindle axis when roughing, or both simultaneously when tapering -- unless the lathe is automated.