Feeling a little restricted.

[Richard.]

I agree here, ive an imported 14/40 lathe, does what its designed to do, but yesterday i thought rather than grind the old brake plates off a pair of stock trailer axles, though big lathe, fixed steady much better to machine them off.

Lathe isnt bolted down, never been a problem before. But was noticable yesterday. Will be getting bolted down once i finally decide where i want it.

Richard, measure the space you have and get the biggest machine you can squeeze in. Ladies say size isnt important but in lathes it is.

And machines out of schools usually have very little real use, much easier life than something that spent 30 years in a machine shop


Be warned machine tools can be an expensive addiction, do you have space for a mill too?

Cheers Add. I'm taking in people's suggestions and whether I took a stand or made my own it was always going to be bolted down and more than capable to support it. That aside. Realististic space I have without having a move about 1200x700. I can make this a little bigger but that is what I have to work with.
It's all to easy to say make more space from a keyboard but i already own a lot of kit that's in use a lot more than a lathe will be.
Personally a little Myford would cover my needs Of turning soft small items. but I'm not paying most of my Budget on one if I can get something like pete had for similar money. I know bigger is better and for you guys turning bigger stuff than me more frequently. It's a bit like some guys on here with 120 amp migs and hobby Tigs. You don't need huge machines or 3 grands worth of ACDC where as I do given the hammer it gets.
It's all to easy for me to say buy a Miller or Fronius and it needs to be 200 amp min. The biggest parts I've had turned for me this past two years from what I can remember were some locking pins for a retractable jig I built. The jig worked well and I got another 4 to make which meant another 16 pins. They were turned out of steel bar 40mm 1 end 25mm the over then drilled through the centre and tapped m16. Total length was 175mm iirc. I won't be doing much more than this. And I'll be lucky if it's used once a week. If my space , power , and budget isn't capable of doing such jobs as I've described then I'll do what Kent suggests and forget the idea.

 

[Gritineye]

I won't be doing much more than this. And I'll be lucky if it's used once a week.

I thought that, but don't know how I'd manage without one now, use it for so many things I'd never thought of.

 

[Richard.]

I thought that, but don't know how I'd manage without one now, use it for so many things I'd never thought of.

Ha ha stop it you.
You'll have me out side knocking bloody walls down shortly.

 

[Tigman]

I wish I hadnt sold my Myford ! I dont get involved too often but it was handy

 

[roofman]

After reading all the above and more into the needs of Richard with size and weight problems ime sure all the lads here will agree that sometimes you can get sucked into the emotion and excitment of the new machine coming and a "panic buy" syndrome sets in...Richard take your time mate and do a bit more research on your needs and get on ebay for a week or two to get the feel of prices and models ect and the right machine for YOU will come along.Just the same sort of advice that we all find invaluable when asking about Tig welders and you seem to put us right

 

[ronan]

Ha ha stop it you.
You'll have me out side knocking bloody walls down shortly.

I did ! There was the colchester at work that i was given, had only a small shed at home. So knocked the back wall out and extended the shed another 12' or so. It was a good thing to do looking back as the shed is useable now. I have it in my mind to extend it again, but it would be more difficult as i have a 1000 litre oil tank in the way, as well as a coal shed.

 

[Richard.]

After reading all the above and more into the needs of Richard with size and weight problems ime sure all the lads here will agree that sometimes you can get sucked into the emotion and excitment of the new machine coming and a "panic buy" syndrome sets in...Richard take your time mate and do a bit more research on your needs and get on ebay for a week or two to get the feel of prices and models ect and the right machine for YOU will come along.Just the same sort of advice that we all find invaluable when asking about Tig welders and you seem to put us right

Cheers mate I plan to look into this with a lot of thought.

 

[Chris Stevens]

First lathe I had was a Boxford, then upgraded to a Bantam. Its heavier and more rigid than the Boxford, has bigger capacity, yet doesnt take up much more space.

 

[addjunkie]

1200 x700 is very restricted......the boxfords the short bed versions measure 1200x 450 (24 inches between centers). The long bed version 1350.

Can think of many other proper athes in that size range. Dont dismisshe myford, but look on gumtree and pre loved too, occasionally they do come up and sensible money, parts are available, and no matter what some say as small machines go they are quite usable if your patient.

If your not so patient something like this, all you need is lathe tools. The come with all the widgets. Model makers lathe.

http://www.warco.co.uk/metal-lathes-metalworking-lathe-machine/17-wm-250-variable-speed-lathe.html

 

[Richard.]

If the right unit come up and was 1350 long Im sure I could make it work. I was up for taking Petes bantam which was that size.
I'm looking at myford too. I am patient. I don't fancy a warco or Clarke etc tbh.

 

[addjunkie]

Warco stuff isnt too bad to be honest, clarke is awful, different ball game all together. Not sure where you live, but a trip to a model engineering exhibition isnt a bad learning experience, as you can see whats available and its size verseus dimensions. Or the warco showroom.

At the exhibitions are used stuff also often advertised.

 

[MattH]

Cheers Add. I'm taking in people's suggestions and whether I took a stand or made my own it was always going to be bolted down and more than capable to support it. That aside. Realististic space I have without having a move about 1200x700. I can make this a little bigger but that is what I have to work with.
It's all to easy to say make more space from a keyboard but i already own a lot of kit that's in use a lot more than a lathe will be.
Personally a little Myford would cover my needs Of turning soft small items. but I'm not paying most of my Budget on one if I can get something like pete had for similar money. I know bigger is better and for you guys turning bigger stuff than me more frequently. It's a bit like some guys on here with 120 amp migs and hobby Tigs. You don't need huge machines or 3 grands worth of ACDC where as I do given the hammer it gets.
It's all to easy for me to say buy a Miller or Fronius and it needs to be 200 amp min. The biggest parts I've had turned for me this past two years from what I can remember were some locking pins for a retractable jig I built. The jig worked well and I got another 4 to make which meant another 16 pins. They were turned out of steel bar 40mm 1 end 25mm the over then drilled through the centre and tapped m16. Total length was 175mm iirc. I won't be doing much more than this. And I'll be lucky if it's used once a week. If my space , power , and budget isn't capable of doing such jobs as I've described then I'll do what Kent suggests and forget the idea.

Stop moaning! You've seen my shed! :-)

Get a Boxford AUD or preferably a VSL (the extra headstock bore will come in handy one day).
A standard bed Boxford weighs in at about 330KG and besides being floor standing takes up not much more footprint than a Myford.

Far far far far far far far far (breath) far far far more superior and capable than a Myford. Tiny in reality and can be shifted around with a bit of effort by one bloke and a 1" mild steel bar.
I sold my fully tooled VSL to Hugh for £1K and I'm sure if asked he would sing it's praises.

Don't mess around with bench mounted, they end up being a waste of money in the long run. Just get the smallest floor standing underdrive you can (the Under drive Boxfords will take up less depth than the Myford!).

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Clarke is absolute pants, neighbour has one of the 3in1 lathe/mill/drill things and whilst it does work to a point it's a horrid thing to use and just so cheaply made its unreal. Friend that I got the Kerry off has just inherited a brand new warco and it seems a reasonable little machine, I'd sooner have my myford but if the money was right I couldn't really complain about it

 

[Richard.]

Stop moaning! You've seen my shed! :-)

That's true you've squeezed more stuff into a smaller space than I have. I like breathing space Matt. Plus I do build stuff up. Some of its a reasonable size hanging off the bench lol.
Cheers for the advice bud. I'll be picking your brains if I do go for a big en on the best way to single phase it.

 

[addjunkie]

Buying machine tools can be a good reason to move house, getting your dream shed into the bargin.

Man cannot have enough shed space, it just isnt possible.

 

[Richard.]

If you can get one for the real money they're actually worth (minus fashion tax, fully tooled), like about 200quid

Thanks but I made a point in the opening thread that I didn't start this to encourage lathe wars and comments like that will only get proud Myford owners started and that's not helping me.
Different people add different values to everything. Can we leave it at that?

 

[Chris Stevens]

Myford seem overpriced, but good for people with limited space, and likely to hold their value. Boxford looks a better option and not much bigger than Myford, with a good Bantam better still. Warco seem ok, and I would guess a used Bantam size one, is a lot less money than Cochester?

 

[Richard.]

That's what I think I'm looking for as a primary choice. A bantam. Doubt I'll ever find one as clean as Petes one mind. That looked like it had come out the factory for the first time.

 

[brewdexta]

I wouldn't dismiss a Chipmaster for your use, 5.75" x 20" so just about fits the bill. Power feed in both axis, screwcutting gearbox and they come up at your price range. In their day they were precision toolroom lathes and with a bit of TLC can still do it and there are both imperial and metric versions knocling about. The more lathe options you have the more chance you have of dropping on one at the right quality/price.

 

[Chris Stevens]

That's what I think I'm looking for as a primary choice. A bantam. Doubt I'll ever find one as clean as Petes one mind. That looked like it had come out the factory for the first time.

Shame you missed Petes Bantam, as its pretty easy to pay that sort of money for a tatty MK1.............