Lathe. I want one..

[Klause]

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

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

Random ebay guy selling lathes
http://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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Current bikes: 1960 Triumph 5ta x2, TTR600RE, KTM200EXC, Cagiva Elephant 900ie.

[rotax81]

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
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[Carbon-Me1]

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.
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[Klause]

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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Current bikes: 1960 Triumph 5ta x2, TTR600RE, KTM200EXC, Cagiva Elephant 900ie.

[baldy]

I bought this one last year http://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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One day i will rule the world, just not today.

[Paddy Blake]

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.

[Klause]

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

http://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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Current bikes: 1960 Triumph 5ta x2, TTR600RE, KTM200EXC, Cagiva Elephant 900ie.

[Ichy]

How much money you got?

Take a look at Chester or Warco.

Smaller lathes, Unimat, mj189, compact, cobra.
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[Paddy Blake]

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

Paddy.

[Klause]

[Klause]

[Paddy Blake]

I think 5" will be the max chuck size as in 5 inch.

[Klause]

[Paddy Blake]

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

Paddy.

[G]

[Bezzer]

[Klause]

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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Current bikes: 1960 Triumph 5ta x2, TTR600RE, KTM200EXC, Cagiva Elephant 900ie.

[Hetzer]

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.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[Klause]

[Hetzer]

[Klause]

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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Current bikes: 1960 Triumph 5ta x2, TTR600RE, KTM200EXC, Cagiva Elephant 900ie.

[Fisty]

http://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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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.

[Hetzer]

[ZRX61]

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...

[Hetzer]