Lathe

Yeah the spindle bore was the first thing I looked at when I was trying to find a machine. Most machines are 1.5″ until you step up to a larger machine with D1-6 chuck. I could have got a 1440 with a 2″ spindle bore but the width of bed is only 7 3/8″. I was worried it wasn’t going to be heavy duty enough. Would have been great for airgun stuff. I didnt want to regrete down the road that I bought the wrong machine. Yeah the 1640 was twice as much, but the width of bed is 12″ and it weighs twice as much. I had been trying to find a used machine for about 3 years. The problem with a used machine was making sure it had the metric gears to cut threads. The other problem is a phase converter. A 25 hp phase converter is $1500.00. I already have a 7.5 hp for my bridgeport. Now I cant wait till it shows up. Hopefully it is less than the 3 months I was told. Can’t wait to make my own gun. Also would be glad to help any of you guys out that need something done when I have time.

Thanks. Yeah I didn’t want to go to big but it’s hard to find a machine with a large thru hole and a nice wide bed for strength. I know it’s over kill for the airgun stuff, but I make all kinds of things on the side for people. I make this pan hard bar for 05 and up superduties to get rid of the death wobble they have. I need to be able to stick 1.5″ bar thru the machine to drill and tap it. This thing has a 2 1/4 thru hole. I also ordered it with a vari drive. It now only takes single phase instead of 3 phase. So I don’t have to buy a 25 hp phase converter. Somehow it coverts it inside. I already have a Bridgeport so it was time to get an equal lathe.