Grizzly Lathe ??
These Airforce rifles have me itching to own a Lathe and I have been working on a deal with a local company to manufacture some replacement parts for them at my home … if that deal goes thru I’ll have to buy a Lathe and a Mill 😆 😆
It’s been over 20 years since I last touched a Lathe so I’m looking for some input. I saw this Grizzly and keep going back to it … does anyone know anything about Grizzly Lathes ??
http://www.grizzly.com/products/16-x-40-3-Phase-Gunsmith-Metal-Lathe/G0509G
It will certainly do anything I could ever want to for Airguns … the job contract is for making pump parts and they have some pretty large pumps.
What do you Guy’s think of this Grizzly ???? TIA ! âž¡ Steve
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You could always disassemble the lathe and then have the world’s biggest Mechano set to put back together…. 😈
I have small concrete steps leading from outside down into my basement. But the logistics in just getting a 1000+ lb peice of machinery down those steps (so it will still work at the end preferably) is quite something. Then if I ever move, getting it back out… 😕
I recently looked into removing my oil tank that is no longer used out and those things are light compared to a mill or lathe, and one guy had to rig a whole load of stuff just to get it out, remove a section of his homes framing so I’d rather just stick to my small machinery (until I get a garage 😈 )
Yella: do you not have some storm shutter or coal doors in the basement? Anything like that?
I’d love to get one of the older, larger machines, like I’ve used in the past. But my workshop is in the basement so getting one of those behemoths would likely take some not too desirable remodeling of my house.
So far the little stuff is working out OK for me, also has the benefit of usually having cheaper accessories, but I do envy the guys that have the big machines.
Nah, you guys are looking in the wrong places. I found my ’59 Cincinatti lathe at a government auction at an airbase that was closing. It was a lot of 3 machines, mine, a STandard Modern, and a Monarch 10EE. My first choice was the MOnarch, of course, but someone beat me to it. I just approached him and told him I wouldn’t bid against him anymore if he split out the Cincinatti to me for $1500 if he won the lot. He agreed, and the rest is history. Of course, I had to hire a flatbed and forklift to move the thing to my garage, and it didn’t come with a chuck or steady rest or any tooling… so it cost a lot more than $1500, but it was a great start. I see really good machines on ebay as well, at unbelievable prices… but being in hawaii, the shipping would kill me.
aloha,
walt
I’ll toss my support behind Grizzly, as well. I have one of their bandsaws, and use the hell out of the thing. Solid, well-built equipment. That lathe looks like $7,200 well spent. The list of standard features was pretty impressive. It should do anything you’re skilled enough to do.
Good deal ! Nice looking lathe btw 🙂 I read somewhere to give them a good once over when you receive them and that is in the plans. Its a biggun at over 3000 pounds … have to figure out how to get it in the garage 😆
That lathe gets a really good review in the HomeShop Machinist mag.
One was by a gunsmith and he was duly impressed.
Don’t buy into the bigotry regarding made in China machines. There is absolutely no way in the world that we could afford the hoyty toyty made in USA lathes…. oh right there isn’t any!
Get that lathe and give it a good going over PDI type check out.
Enjoy…..
Walter….
The “mini” Lathe’s and Mills out there are all pretty much the same that you can get from Harbor Freight, Grizzly, Micro-Mark and Cummins tool, made by Seig in China. LOTS of us have the Lathes – Mine gave me a problem with finishing cuts once, but that was because I’d broken a plastic gear. Just $2 to get a new one from Littlemachineshop.com.
I got the Cummins Lathe because it was a bit cheaper than the other company’s and came with a few more accessories.
Just yesterday I made an order for a Harbor Freight Mill, Just the same as the one from Grizzly, except that Grizzly ones come with a 3 Morse Taper spindle, which was more designed for drill presses. Mini Mills from other company’s come with r8 spindle which is more common and is used by bigger machines so the Collets/holder etc are a bit cheaper and can be found more places.
If you have a Harbor freight store near you. You can print out the cheapest price you find online for the Mill/Lathe and take it to the store for a price match – I did that yesterday based on Advice from Shadoh and Walkonking (who both also own Mini Lathes and Mills).
For the price, you cant go wrong really. Spares are readily available from Little Machine Shop and once set up they do a good job.
Here’s my Lathe….
I don’t know anything about there metal working stuff, but just like daved I used alot in the wood working side of things. the older stuff was well built persist machinery, I have heard the quality has gone down hill as of lately from being made in the sweat shops of the 2008 olympic hosts.
Don’t know about their bigger machines, Steve, but I’ve used and own a fair number of their woodworking machines. Can’t say I’ve been disappointed in one of them, other than that I should have bought a bigger jointer :-). Only problem I’ve had was my fault, I just bolted my drill press down and started using it, turns out one of the pulleys was loose. All of my other Grizzly equipment got very thorough and meticulous setups, probably a couple of hours each checking and adjusting, and it all continues to give flawless results. The aforementioned jointer gives such nice cuts that smaller pieces practically stick to the outfeed table. Good luck.
Dave
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I have a full size Grizzly mill and love it! Forget harbor freight. That is a full size tool room class lathe you are looking at. harbor F. doesn’t carry true industrial grade equipment.
And no, the quality isn’t the same. HF equipment is rougher than a night in jail. Very little quality control. The fit and finish is very different. As is the longevity. The Grizzlies are made in an ISO certified factory, even when in China. This is a huge difference from other brands from China.
It will cost you more, but well worth it.
The only problem I see is 3 Phase. OUCH! 220 is plenty!
Mike