Looking for a mini metal lathe

[billyb_imp]

Good choice Johnny should be fine for small projects, hours of fun on the way

 

[Jim]

I have the Axminster C4 Lathe Johnny, if you are only to use it for this pen turning hobby i would say all those mentioned in this thread will suit your work ..

 

[johnny5]

I have the Axminster C4 Lathe Johnny, if you are only to use it for this pen turning hobby i would say all those mentioned in this thread will suit your work ..

Thanks Jim, the 3 in one milling lathe looked awesome but i will only be using it for turning pens and small projects so went for what i need and not what i want and saved myself £500

 

[bellringer]

I would have gone and found a second hand myfords they are a tool room quality

 

[wm460]

I would have gone and found a second hand myfords they are a tool room quality

I agree with you Alex, I am searching for a Hercus 260 for the last few years, probably get divorced when I get it.:wink:

 

[Normancb]

The little Chester lathe you've bought will be fine as long as you don't push it to hard.

It's basically a Chinese machine which is supplied to lots of retailers with small cosmetic differences. If you do a search for "7x10 mini lathe" you'll find endless resources - there's a Yahoo group for owners which is full of hints and tips. There's also a book by David Fenner (No 43 in the Workshop Practice series) on setting up and improving the mini lathe.

The big combined mill-lathe is also supplied to many dealers. Model engineers tend not to like them very much - problems with accuracy plus the fact that it's always set for milling when you want to turn and vice versa. It tends to be seen as a competent machine for rough work but not really a good precision engineering tool.

 

[wm460]

One big problem with all the lathes I have used is that the bore spindle is always to small.

 

[Grump]

While I agree with Alex that the Myford is so much a better moshene and would be one of my choice, we don't all have the luxury of space to house it.
A thought that was very much in my mind when my dad offered me his before he sold it, I had a Wadkin in the factory so didn't need it at the time, my shed is a wooden floor so not practical in there.

This little thing can be moved to a bloody bedroom if it comes to having nowhere else to work, it's no noisy or bigger than the wife’s sewing moshene init?
As for accuracy that depends on how it's set up and maintained, I have just put my little lathe through a gruelling workout that it is not made for and now in the process of stripping it and resetting it after a grand clean up.

Don't make the mistake of thinking you can use it straight out of the box, you will be moaning about it, take the time to get it right first.
It will come full of manufacturers crud, when you think you have cleaned it all off, think again.
Strip it down and get familiar with it clean it up properly and put it back together measuring everything as you do.
If you are gonna use for years give it some care.

 

[Buckeye]

I was watching this lathe for sale and if I had space I would have gone for it and refurbished it. Jim sold one last year and it was in good condition as far as I could tell. Great lathes, a bigger and better version of mine.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EMCO-Maxi...YgNGbIp8287aSkJik63is%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Peter

 

[angelo49]

I would have gone and found a second hand myfords they are a tool room quality

I agree with bellringer.
The newer lathes are mostly tin and plastic.
Got this Clausing 12x36 for the price of one of the new tinker toys.

 

[bellringer]

I agree with bellringer.
The newer lathes are mostly tin and plastic.
Got this Clausing 12x36 for the price of one of the new tinker toys.
View attachment 24860

That a nice looking machine that

 

[Grump]

That a nice looking machine that

Yes but it's still looking at you init?

 

[angelo49]

Yes but it's still looking at you init?
You remembered "The Watcher":thanxs:

 

[Penpal]

One big problem with all the lathes I have used is that the bore spindle is always to small.

Mark I solved that problem partly with a large chuck with a beaut centre size for my Hercus. I bought an old Hercus and two chucks came with it then onsold the lathe.

Peter.

 

[Penpal]

Size does matter, space is important a couple of days ago I used my large linisher job done in 5 minutes in my case that was great using Burl. My Hercus lathe like Alex Lathe takes up about the same space had it now for 24 yrs it has proved to be a top buy made in 1967. For many years I used a bandsaw that had 3 feet wheels an ancient C frame it stood over 7 feet high these days I do not break down huge burls. When you purchase like cars you get the one that fits the task and over time they prove their worth. Both our vehicles have travelled in excess of 150.000 kms one is 1999 and the other 2001.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

Mark I solved that problem partly with a large chuck with a beaut centre size for my Hercus. I bought an old Hercus and two chucks came with it then onsold the lathe.

Peter.

I am limited to a 9" X 20" and 19 mm bore

Seen a beautiful Hercus mill on gumtree comes with dividing plates tail stock etc.