Mini lathe
What is the best mini metal lathe out there ?thinking to buy one for home,I have access to lathe and milling at work ,just want to get one for home use.thanks
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If You are used to a “real” lathe it is hard to be pleased with a mini late.
Do the work at work 😕 until you have the funds for something real.
9×20 seems to be the absolute minimum if You dont make watches
You can also lok for used machinery, this is often better than the new stuff from china, but may need some skills to bring it in a good working order.
Depends alot from the budget and the space in your garage
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I disagree with above post, as ive been down that road several times, bought old machinery that was good in its day but there all well used unless your lucky,
then bought myself a Chinese small 7×12 lathe and a Chinese milling machine from a company called warco and have had the best results so far accuracy and ease of use is streets ahead,
these machines have came a long way in the last 20 years and only need a slight bit of tweaking when bought, I converted my mill to belt drive and it is a great little grafter now,, lathe has had plastic gears replaced with metal ones and is a very good little machine,,, I have profiled many barrels and made valves and barrel bushes and hammers and breeches with ease, most people just repeat what they have heard without any actual personal knowledge of what is actually available now,
ive had boxfords and myfords and don’t get me wrong I like old English lathes but most of them are war time relics that weigh 2 ton and have lost there accuracy and need beds reground and such,
cheaper and better results going new Chinese has been my experience. if your only doing air rifle work there more than enough, but if your into skimming truck cylinder heads you might want something a little more weighty,,,, but don’t knock them till you’ve tried them I say.