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Lathe. I want one..

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Klause
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PostPosted: 19:45 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Lathe. I want one.. Reply with quote

I've always wanted a lathe. Forever getting custom spacers and threaded things made by my local engineering shop. I want to learn and start making things my self.

I've been looking at lathes like these...

Clarke cl300m
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cl300m-metal-lathe/path/

Axminster BV20M2
https://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=364774&name=lathe&user_search=1&sfile=1&jump=44

Random ebay guy selling lathes
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=360093868335&Category=112399&_trksid=p3907.m29#ebayphotohosting

But honestly no idea which one to think about getting. Any lathe experts/hobby people out there?
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rotax81
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PostPosted: 19:59 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

best getting an older one from ebay or similar.
if you have the spare cash though, get a decent new one.

i have a myford that someone threw out.... well i think they did, it was on a pavement outside someones house in london so i robbed it lol. great bit of kit Very Happy
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Carbon-Me1
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PostPosted: 20:11 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thats one of the benefits of still being at school. Free access to all manner of machines and materials + nuts, bolts and any other fasteners. Very Happy
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Klause
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PostPosted: 20:22 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Most of the old lathes for sale seem to be huge things that i don't really have the room for. Also finding one local is another problem.
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baldy
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PostPosted: 20:22 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

I bought this one last year https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cl430-metal-lathe/path/metal-lathes-milldrills

I was going to buy the cl300m but its tiny. You would be struggling to make wheel spacers on that.

If i had the cash i would have bought the one with the mill/drill attachment.

It's been a fantastic lathe, no problems so far and can munch through quite a bit of metal. The only downside is that the adjustment handels aint that precise, they have a bit of play in them.
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DOS
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PostPosted: 20:23 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think it was Hetzer that was going to buy one off ebay.The seller took it off and sold it to someone else and told Hetzer it was crap anyway so not to buy that make.
If you do a search on BCF you will find the tread.

Paddy.
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Klause
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PostPosted: 20:43 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Everytime a good lathe comes up 2nd hand it's always too far away...

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/clark-lathe-cl-500-with-miller-with-accessorys_W0QQitemZ320309972534QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320309972534&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A16%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Found an advert in the local rag but it only really says... 5" Engineers Lathe on cast iron stand, single phase, 3&4 jaw chucks, face plate, drill chucks, centres boring table

What does the 5" refer to compared to the clarke one?
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Last edited by Klause on 20:50 - 17 Oct 2008; edited 1 time in total
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Ichy
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PostPosted: 20:47 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

How much money you got?

Take a look at Chester or Warco.

Smaller lathes, Unimat, mj189, compact, cobra.
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DOS
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PostPosted: 20:50 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

That looks well worth the money.
Check what cutting tools you get with them as they cost a bit.

Paddy.
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Klause
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PostPosted: 20:51 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ichy wrote:
How much money you got?

Take a look at Chester or Warco.

Smaller lathes, Unimat, mj189, compact, cobra.


Max £500 i think.
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Klause
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PostPosted: 20:54 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paddy Blake wrote:
That looks well worth the money.
Check what cutting tools you get with them as they cost a bit.

Paddy.


It's too far away to go get. I live in Sandhurst, Berkshire and max distance i could do is about 100 mile round trip really.
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DOS
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PostPosted: 20:57 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think 5" will be the max chuck size as in 5 inch.
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Klause
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PostPosted: 21:08 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paddy Blake wrote:
I think 5" will be the max chuck size as in 5 inch.


So 5" from the centre to the bottom of the lathe bed? Is that a good size normaly? He doesn't state the centre length size so will have to ring up tomorrow.
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DOS
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PostPosted: 21:22 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

No it's likely to be the size of bar you can hold in the main chuck.If you get me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_(engineering)

Paddy.
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G
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PostPosted: 21:26 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Re: Lathe. I want one.. Reply with quote

Klause wrote:
I've always wanted a lathe.

"+1" Smile
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Bezzer
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PostPosted: 22:32 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paddy Blake wrote:
I think 5" will be the max chuck size as in 5 inch.


As mentioned if it's a 5" then that's the distance from the bed to the centre of the chuck so in theory you could work a piece up to 10" diameter. If you're just starting then you really need someone who knows a bit to help you buying an old secondhand lathe as there are so many pitfalls with wear/accuracy issues. Most of the cheaper new lathes nowadays are from China and you'll find the same lathe rebranded many times from different sellers. The Machine Mart 300 is a fine starter lathe of you're restricted space wise but does need a bit of setting up to get acceptable accuracy. You can get the same lathe cheaper but marketed under the Chester brand.
I've got a 300 from years ago and it owes me nothing, paid for itself just with the bits I've made for myself let alone the loads of stuff I've done for mates and owners clubs, also got a larger Chester lathe that lets me do larger items, clutch windows etc.
Best advice is go for the largest one you can fit in, you can make small bits with a large machine but you can't make larger stuff on a small machine.

https://hometown.aol.co.uk/mickcbr1100/tools/shed2.JPG
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Klause
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PostPosted: 22:45 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

So, bezzer what chester lathe do you have now? How much did you pay?

Also what kind of sized jobs can you do on the clarke?
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Klause
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PostPosted: 23:10 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hetzer wrote:
I bought a Chester DB11v for £1300 (new). That's pretty big and that one won't even go near 10" diameter unless you're prepared to fvck around with steadies and centres and fvck it all up anyway. It's all about the spindle-bore. Mine's 1 and 1/4 inch.

All the tooling has cost me at least as much again.

As for the quality, you get what you pay for (chinese and rough as fvck). If I'd known what I know now I'd have gone for an ex-college proper lathe, they can be had for around 2k or less (a mate got a proper Boxford for 2k and it makes mine look like a sick joke).

If you're going to do it think very very carefully.


I don't think I want to spend that much just yet. I want to be able make things like wheel spacers and maybe a yoke stem at the most.
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Klause
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PostPosted: 23:24 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah I would buy a massive lathe but i'm limited by room too. I think I'm off the idea of the clarke cl300m sized ones. But the clarke cl430/500 seems about right, just don't know what kind of jobs it can/can't achieve.
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Fisty
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PostPosted: 23:27 - 17 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.lathes.co.uk/colchester/page21.html
The best and easiest to use I have ever come across.

I love turning, find it oddly relaxing. Screwcutting is difficult though especially a multi start.

Dont buy any chinese junk off ebay, look for an old british one. Good tools are also a god send but are not cheap. Sandvic make some great carbide tools which give a nice finish. If you go for steel tooling you will also need a bench/pedestal grinder for sharpening.

Luckily I have never had to buy one as all the places Ive worked have had several.

As said above, look for the biggest you can afford.
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Last edited by Fisty on 23:33 - 17 Oct 2008; edited 1 time in total
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ZRX61
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PostPosted: 00:57 - 18 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

The deal with lathes is that the more difficult they are to move, the cheaper they are. That's why my 13x40 SouthBend was a steal at 400 quid.. it weighs 1700lb...
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Carbon-Me1
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PostPosted: 10:08 - 18 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

mr_fisty wrote:


Screwcutting is difficult though especially a multi start.



Just buy a tap and die set for doing threads, it will be so much easier.
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deanoet
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PostPosted: 13:00 - 18 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

mr_fisty wrote:
Screwcutting is difficult though especially a multi start.


as long as you RTFM and have a lathe that can do the job then they arent too bad. Just making sure it is spot on before removing the setup, as resetting it up is a problem to get it back how it was

Trained up on turning, milling, grinding and fitting for tool making.



All boils down to budget and space at the end of the day, consider a bench grinder as well so you can sharpen your own tools
Remember heavy duty ones will not come with 3 pin plugs
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NiteMare
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PostPosted: 15:05 - 18 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

i know nothing of lathes, but i bought one for 100quid with 3 and 4 jaw chucks just so i could make my own spacers ...

it's old and quite badly worn (slop everywhere) but it suffices to make spacers as long as i take my time and keep measuring as i go (made a pair of stainless shafts for Jabsco waterpumps on it) ...

i've made 4 exhaust port extensions and a sprocket spacer recently on it ...
extensions
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/NiteMare_08/100-0060.jpg

spacer
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/NiteMare_08/100-0042.jpg

plus assorted other spacers to centralise/mount a GSXR1100 engine in this
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/NiteMare_08/100-0073.jpg

plus i've just been given access to a "real" lathe and a Winchester milling machine Mr. Green , i really gotta start doing some homework on the operating of these as i've also gained access to materials at the right price to make my own slabs etc' as long as i don't get greedy Mr. Green

i buy tools like a kid buys candy, i don't "need" them but i just "gotta" have them Mr. Green
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ZRX61
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PostPosted: 16:09 - 18 Oct 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

NiteMare wrote:
plus i've just been given access to a "real" lathe and a Winchester milling machine Mr. Green , i really gotta start doing some homework on the operating of these as i've also gained access to materials at the right price to make my own slabs etc' as long as i don't get greedy Mr. Green

i buy tools like a kid buys candy, i don't "need" them but i just "gotta" have them Mr. Green


https://techtv.mit.edu/search/?topic_name=machine%20shop
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