Lathe Recommendations
Hey guys; I have a question for those of you who are experienced machinists. For recreational purposes, such as making parts for our rifles, what lathe (Equipment) would you recommend? I want something affordable but, I want a machine capable of holding tolerances close enough to make usable parts. It’s a little ironic because, in my real life, I manage a CNC lathing department for a Japanese company, consisting on 17 lines with a total of 24 twin spindle lathes, producing bevel gears for Ford and Honda Motor. The lathes we use (Muratec) are a little more than what I’m looking for 😆 While experienced in operating a CNC lathe, I know virtually nothing about a manual. Your suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks,
Gene
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well I went and looked at this lathe today and found out why the price was so low. you get what you pay for. I will continue to wait for my chinese 9×20 on back order.
Ive have used the living crap out of my Harbor frieght 12″ mini lathe for over ten years with plastic gears and all and it is still turning true and strong,the only thing Ive replaced is the on-off switch.It good to keep up with maintenace,,Like keeping the gears lubed etc… I also have a 1961 south BEND 40 ” 990 POUND LATHE ,, i GOT IT FOR 350.00 BUCKS ,,i HAD TO INSTALL A 110 VOLT MOTOR ,iT CAME WITH A 3 PHASE MOTOR WITch I didnt have the paower for .The 110 volt motor works great . If you have to move it its alot of work !!!!!Also tooling cost more ,but its worth it …
I found a good deal on an older “lantaine lathe LAM-350BH” needs a little work and clean up. does anyone know anything about these?
semper fi
wow you guys have too much free time…
Hello guys.
I am in search for a mini lathe. I was thinking of this one:
http://www.einhell.com/englisch/englisch.aspx?file=stationaerewerkzeuge&lang=en
What your opinion? It costs around 400€ new and it is one of the cheapest here.
An other thought could be this one:
http://www.tool-shop.gr/tools/product_info.php?cPath=113_192&products_id=737
But it costs over twice us much and I don’t think it worth it…
Also, I look in the advertisements for a bargain to come up but still had no hope!
Please help 🙁
My Cincinnati was made in ’59. Only 12 1/2″ swing, but through hole is a tad over 1 1/2″. I paid $1500 without tooling, plus a couple hundred for a forklift to move it. If I had been a couple weeks quicker to find it, there was a Monarch 10EE for the same price at the seller’s house, but someone beat me to it. I would have taken the Monarch over the Cincinnati in a heartbeat. Having said that, I’ve been extremely happy with the Cincinnati. I grew up using SB mostly, but after the SB, the Cincinnati is a tremendous improvement in rigidity and accuracy. Of course, since then I have probably paid 5 times what I paid for the lathe for tooling, including a nice Buck 6 jaw.
I just purchased a Grizzly benchtop mill, which seems to run ok. Some of my tooling is chinese and over the years I’ve seen a vast improvement in the chinese tooling. I have tried Indian tooling and they are so terrible they don’t even fit in the holders they’re designed for.
aloha,
walt
You will want to make yourself some bushings that will slip into the back of the spindle, If you have say a 3′ length of 3/4 rod, make the bushing 3/4x 1 5/8, that way when you rev her up there wont be any vibration coming from the bar that is sticking through the headstock..my truck wouldnt haul all the bent rods and killed parts I have seen so called machinists screw up because they didnt use any thing to steady the shaft in the headstock..
Walter, do you feel a 1 5/8″ spindle bore will be too restrictive? There is a big price difference when you go on to the larger bores.
Thanks again guys!
Gene
a 1 1/2″ or better is great!!!!!!
Would be able to chuck through most anything used on ‘guns’ 🙂
Walter….
That will do ya just fine. 😀
Made in Europe? should be sweet. That 6 jaw…. holy crapola that would be a few bucks!
How did you get an 84″ when they make 80s, 120s?
Hope to see some stuff turned from that okay?
Walter….
It has a gap bed and I took the section out and welded it to the end for a special job we had… 😉 Just kidding…I guess it is a 80, I was thinking it was 84.. 😆
Thanks to all for your input! I have searched ebay and every other site I can find lathes for sale, along with reading every review and article I’ve come across. Due to the amount I have to spend and what I plan to do with the lathe I have decided on the Grizzly model G4003G. If I get good enough to need a tighter tolerance machine with ‘larger’ capabilities then I feel I will have gotten my money’s worth out of this one and can move on. I am eager to get started!
Walter, do you feel a 1 5/8″ spindle bore will be too restrictive? There is a big price difference when you go on to the larger bores.
Thanks again guys!
Gene
Sounds like a fine machine!!!
Made in Europe? should be sweet. That 6 jaw…. holy crapola that would be a few bucks!
How did you get an 84″ when they make 80s, 120s?
Hope to see some stuff turned from that okay?
Walter….
Its a Summit, I bought a whole shop from a guy and resold everything he had piece by piece except for the lathe, so actually I ended up getting the lathe for free..it has a 20 or 22 inch swing 4 jaw and 6 jaw chucks, and 84″ between centers 😉
.
Walter…
Walter..I expected a bigger bore hole from you.. one of mine has a 4 1/8 spindle bore..
What is it and how much did it cost you?
Walter….
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well my 9×20 is in stock and I should have it this next thursday! I feel I got a great price on it 😀
semper fi