anybody got a lathe?

[StarryNight]

For the regular Harbor Freight size machines, not the smaller ones, there are a ton of attachments and accessories. These are also sold as other brand names like the Micromark machines and Grizzly etc. etc. Go to
http://www.littlemachineshop.com/
Their whole inventory is dedicated to these machines and some of the others Joe mentioned. My lathe is outfitted with their quick release tool post, adjustable carriage stops, their cutting tools etc. The advantage of these chinese machines is they are so common that parts and accessories are a cinch and easy to find. They are also easily converted to CNC with readily available kits for that as well. When I shopped around I went for the best price, and I think I got the Enco version and saved a couple hundred dollars, basically they are all the same machine, the Enco had more accessories than HB and Grizzly. Micromarks is the most expensive I think but theirs is upscale version so you pay more.
I haven't used these guys before but here is a place to rent instructional videos:
http://smartflix.com/store/category/12/Lathe

great info. Thanks! Maybe a smaller one is the way to go considering all the accessories available. I'm going to have to do some research before making a decision. There was a nice 7x14" on the Micromarks site for $640 - that's seems pretty reasonable, size and price wise.
I'll head to the library this weekend and I'm downloading some lathe video torrents as we speak on isohunt.com. The search is on....

[Possum]

..

yeh the Micromark is the top of the line of those type, though I think the 7x12's are more popular and have more parts you can get. Do some research, you don't really need a long bed lathe unless you need one or are going to do screw bar thingys. There are a bunch of sites like this one around that will give you an idea of what direction to go in:
http://www.7xlathes.com/

I pretty much only use mine to make slugs and rarely use it for other things. It depends on what you want one for.

[salvarsan]

14" bed

With the mini-lathe, you want the longest bed you can get,
14" in this case. *The long bed gives you precision drilling
and boring with ordinary jobber drill bits and reams.

The shortest of them, the 10" bed, permits only small bits.

A digital readout (DRO) is very useful because it allows
you a quick and accurate setup so you can replicate
your mistakes easily. (sigh)

For more money ~$870, Lathemaster sells an 8x14" benchtop
lathe with a better accessory list.

http://www.lathemaster.com/LATHEMASTER8x14Lathe.htm

Warning: put the chuck key in your pocket before you power up the lathe.

-drh

[StarryNight]

With the mini-lathe, you want the longest bed you can get,
14" in this case. *The long bed gives you precision drilling
and boring with ordinary jobber drill bits and reams.

The shortest of them, the 10" bed, permits only small bits.

A digital readout (DRO) is very useful because it allows
you a quick and accurate setup so you can replicate
your mistakes easily. (sigh)

For more money ~$870, Lathemaster sells an 8x14" benchtop
lathe with a better accessory list.

http://www.lathemaster.com/LATHEMASTER8x14Lathe.htm

Warning: put the chuck key in your pocket before you power up the lathe.

-drh

man, i can tell you've seen some things! That looks like a nice lathe - and good point about the jobber bits. I see these guys ship to Canada so a good candidate all around. It seems obvious now that the accessories are the things that make the lathe work specific to one's needs and are an inevitable purchase. Mini-lathes definately have a lot to choose from which makes me more confident about their longevity. Many thanks...

[David Schwab]

Warning: put the chuck key in your pocket before you power up the lathe.

I attach most of my keys and wrenches on the plug end of the power cords, that way I'm forced to unplug the machine when changing bits and cutters, and I can't lose the key/wrench.

The only machines I don't do this on are my drill presses.

[Possum]

....

that machine looks pretty good but I wonder why they don't show a good photo of it, I bet its made by the same companies that make the Harbor Freight stuff, it looks almost identical, probably just a slightly upscale version like the Micromark lathe is. They are all Chinese made. What would bother me is limited availability of parts if its a different brand, the HB type lathes you can buy literally any part that they are made of from LMS and others because all those machines use the same parts. LMS ships fast and has all those parts in stock all the time. You will still need to buy other parts and cutters, supplied cutters are usually junk. A 4 post tool holder is a bitch to use, so you'll want to get a quick release tool post for certain. If you want to cut slugs you'll need adjustable stops that LMS has. I looked back and what I bought was the Cummins version which came with alot of acessories for really cheap, all the stuff that the Lathemaster has really but as I said the cutters are crap. I got a bunch of accessories from LMS and you will need to buy other things for the Lathemaster as well. This link will help you understand what you might want to buy to outfit your lathe for whatever uses you intend:
http://www.littlemachineshop.com/Inf...01.htm&d=0|1|2
click through using the "next" button, there is also a user's guide for mini-lathes there, their website is really helpful, but I still recommend getting videos and learning safety first before you even turn yours on.

[David King]

The 8-14 and 9-20 lathes are virtually identical. Same everything including quality. Don't waste an extra dime on the schiesters at Lathemaster. You'll be cursing them to your grave if you believe that you won't have to rebuild their crap just as much as the Harbor freight crap. Check on Craigslist for these lathes used, they come up all the time for $250-$400 when a geezer croaks and his kids want it gone.

[StarryNight]

The 8-14 and 9-20 lathes are virtually identical. Same everything including quality. Don't waste an extra dime on the schiesters at Lathemaster. You'll be cursing them to your grave if you believe that you won't have to rebuild their crap just as much as the Harbor freight crap. Check on Craigslist for these lathes used, they come up all the time for $250-$400 when a geezer croaks and his kids want it gone.

ah, the dark side of the global economy. David, what do you think of the mid size lathes (13x24 +)? Unfortunately the one's i've looked at are also mass produced imports. I'm just wondering if they are better built, more solid, less chatter etc.

this one made me drool but a little over my budget:
http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/tls/1087131503.html

[Possum]

....

there's nothing wrong with the Chinese lathes. Your lathe is only going to be as good as your ability to adjust it and keep it maintained. It will only be sloppy if you let get sloppy. They don't really come ready to use, you have to go over every adjustment and understand what every little bolt and screw in the thing does. The chinese ones are very popular and well built. Parts are easy to get and affordable. If you want to spend a little more get the Micromark version. Be prepared for a learning curve, its not something you can just jump into, turn the machine on and start jamming away unless you've used and maintained one before. Heck, just the ability to sharpen cutting tools is almost an incomprehensible art form. The mini-mills are much quicker to figure out but even those you need to know what you're doing. Don't make a hasty buying decision and don't buy more than you need. As I mentioned before look at how much those things WEIGH. Do you really need a 24 inch long bed? You're talking probably 300 pounds or more, not something you can just throw on a cheesy work bench :-) I could barely get my small lathe up on my work bench, the sucker is heavy! You might want to slow down, rent a video and watch what you're getting into and figure out what you really want to use it for. If your Dad has a no limit budget, it'd be better to get a cheaper lathe and have him throw in a mini-mill instead of buying some giant machine you won't use half its capabilities :-) I use my micro-mill drill way more than I use the lathe for anything.

[jonson]

Tony Griffiths site is allways a good choice for checking out machines.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/

[David Schwab]

I have a bench top Chinese drill press that was dirt cheap... . I think I paid $36 for it new! It's not bad at all and I didn't have to do anything to it. It's nicely machined and doesn't have any runout that I can see in the chuck.

I also have a laminate trim router that was like $9! I couldn't pass it up for that price, and once again, it works as well as the Porter-Cable trimmers I have.

I think the quality of these Chinese machines are getting better.

Speaking of Chinese make products... A long time customer of mine brought over his Agile LP Custom copy he got from Rondo when they were closing down the store, and it's surprisingly good! It just needs some better fretwork. He paid under $200 for the thing. He actually bought two. I should have went there that day. I'd been going to Rondo Music since I was a teenager.

[Joe Gwinn]

My only concern with really small lathes is the limitation on attachments and features but it doesn't sound like you guys are compromised by the small footprint. Those dual purpose machines are interesting but I'm a little skeptical. What say you all on the combo units i.e. http://www.grizzlyindustrial.com/pro...tachment/G0516
or
http://www.grizzlyindustrial.com/pro...he-Mill/G4015Z

Combo units don't work very well. The mill portion is badly compromised. Get separate machines.

As for mills, round-column mill-drills can be very annoying because one loses the setup if one needs to unclamp the table to move the work up or down, which happens quite often because the quill travel is quite short.

I don't know if Harbor Freight ships to Canada and I can't seem to find the special on your first purchase thingy. The prices are really good though! Grizzly has a outlet in Bellingham WA so I could whip down if needed.

There are Canadian sources for the same machines. There are only a few Chinese factories making such machines, so the products seen outside China differ mostly in price, paint color and which accessories are included versus must be purchased separately. I don't know which is cheaper, buy in USA and bring into Canada, or buy in Canada.

[salvarsan]

Don't waste an extra dime on the schiesters at Lathemaster.

What makes him a schiester?

FWIW, I never used the mini-lathe for anything but plastics

so it never saw much stress.

Those mini lathes and mills are all from Sieg in Shanghai.
I suspect the Lathemaster stuff is Rong Fu.

-drh

[Joe Gwinn]

Warning: put the chuck key in your pocket before you power up the lathe.

I also stand aside when starting, so if I forget the chuck key will miss me.

I have an old but strong 12" (swing) by 36" (bed length) industrial lathe, and the chuck key weighs 0.66 pounds (300 grams). It would make a fine missile.

Redundant safety measures are a good thing.

[StarryNight]

recap:

combo units - bad. check
chinese lathes - good. check
lathe vs. mill - lathe first, then mill (even though I agree w/Possum a mill is as useful if not more)
size - still undecided (trying to keep things under $2k CAD).

mini lathe:
+small footprint will conserve shop real estate.
+variable speed means I could use it as a winder (more precise than my current one and I consolidate tools)
+lots of accessories available
+moveable
-limited to working small parts
-needs work out of the box

mid size:
+more robust
+less likely to outgrow - more longevity
+can work larger pieces as well as small pieces
+the old man feels better about the purchase (falls under the mastercard 'priceless' category)
-larger footprint compromises shop space (may have to get rid of my old jointer and go for a benchtop model)
-larger pieces would probably constitute 5-10% of the work done for a tool taking up 50% more space
-For the price of a mid size I could get a mini mill and lathe.

I'm going to take my time deciding - do some reading/videos. There's a practical component as well as an emotional component to this cronicle. The old man wants to reconnect and be more involved. I'm sure he'll concede to whatever I choose, but I'm trying to make this a positive experience for him as well. At 83 he needs all the positives he can get!
cheers...