Lathe (moved from bench drill thread)

[BIGROG]

Remember, you can do small work in a big lathe but you can't do big stuff in a small one.

I would love a big lathe but the size of my garage dictates what I can have, it is used mostly as a workshop but I have two motorbikes, my son has one and I am looking after my mates as well so I think it will have to be a Myford 7size lathe, anything bigger would be a problem

Rog

 

[eil]

Ml7 wont get one of them for your 130 quid im afraid them Myfords go for ridicilous money, dont they?

 

[jugs]

Ml7 wont get one of them for your 130 quid im afraid them Myfords go for ridicilous money, dont they?

Yes you'd pay 500 for a scrap one, £1000 for a fair one

Go for something like a Colchester "Chipmaster" (5x20). Good solid little lathe, only 10" longer than a Myford (3.5x20) but is a proper job. should get a good one for £700.

 

[BIGROG]

Very true guys, I have been looking for ages but Myfords are silly money, always have been. I even bid on a Ferm MD500 but in the end it went for over it's new price, some folk don't do their reserch or are desperate to win an item. You also have to think about transport cost when you buy one as most are too big/heavy for a car, Anyway one will come along I'm sure

Rog.

 

[JimM]

There are still a few ebay bargains to be had.

I got a 10" Atlas lathe with a couple of chucks and a load of tooling for £130 OK it's probably not up to Myford standard but is plenty enough for me.

It's just a question of being patient and waiting until something suitable comes up.

Another tip is to use something like fatfingers.com to check Ebay for mis-spelled items. Got my Startrite drill for a song partly because it was listed as Startvite

Jim

 

[MrFluffy]

Home and workshop have a few nice myfords for under a grand.
http://www.homeandworkshop.co.uk/myford.htm
Theyre expensive because everyone wants a tiny lathe for space reasons.
Some of the boxfords are quite small, but some dont have a leadscrew or the like, its all in teh model designation rather than the size of the lathe. You would have to learn upfront.
http://www.gandmtools.co.uk/cat_branch.php?sub=1

If your doing research, go to the lathes.co.uk site, that has to be the ultimate lathe info on the net.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/page21.html
Theres also some cracking lathes come up at ok prices in the for sale forum there too from time to time. Id say ebay but Im on a downer on ebay at hte moment, as evrything ive got lately has been a tad over priced or broke in some way.

 

[HasBean]

I was lucky and managed to get a new Myford for a very good price as it was before they released the new version with the larger headstock.


Paul

 

[BIGROG]

That's a cracking lathe Paul, a very lucky find indeed. Well I think today is my lucky day, I have just won a Myford ML7 (single phase) on fleabay with loads of extras for £431.00. Just got to arrange to get it home now, I will post some pics as soon as I can, a new pillar drill and a lathe all in one week, a divorce next week I expect. One happy bunny me!!

Rog

 

[BIGROG]

The Myford ML7

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[HasBean]

Nice one Rog

Short of a good cleanup there's not much to do to ML7's.
Just check for wear in the slides and the headstock bearings. Sometimes the bed can be worn, usually around the headstock area, if it's not a hardened bed but this can be reground. (I think Myford charge £70 to do it)

Paul

 

[HasBean]

Just noticed it's got the old type Dewhurst reversing switch, even better!

 

[hareng]

but this can be reground. (I think Myford charge £70 to do it)Paul

At Myfords prices you can add two zeroes to that.
Twenty years plus ago for a proper job looking minimum £800.

Bought an ML7 17 years ago with most accessories and extra tooling for £400. Just the one box of cutting tools exceeded £400. Ok for small stuff less than 14mm dia but it will take you ages. Scrapped it 8 years ago with the genuine stand.
Mine had the tin bearings, made and replaced with phosphur bronze and they take some getting right. Motors and the switch pack up (3 times) as do the bearings on the pulley.
Myfords have been made in China for near on two decades usually have extra distance on the centres 20", green and the price didnt drop.

 

[hareng]

When this one packs up, its going on Ebay, so far 8 years hard labour for the size and make a profit. The point being you dont know what you are buying, i would not entertain the idea of buying a miller or lathe blind, serious risk.

Fitted with smallest chuck i can get on 5 1/4" this is a 5" dia aluminium blank faced off with 1/2" cut on powered cross feed. Same price as Myfords.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/728921/1252422/14582043.jpg
Only approx a foot longer with 35mm through head stock.

 

[HasBean]

Hmm, very interesting

There's been a few articles in MEW over the last few months from people renovating older Myfords, including trips to the factory. You see pics of the beds being ground and the surface grinders being built but precious little else.
As you say could be the castings come from China and are assembled to order in the Myford factory Might have to enquire as the series 7 range is still held in high regard.

Paul

 

[hareng]

Totally amazed - Regrind lathe bed and saddle, and refit saddle £429.62
No top slide or the various gib strips.
Regrind lathe bed and saddle, refit saddle with a Myford fitter stripping and re-assembling the complete lathe £1247.05
All plus two lots of carriage and proverbial cleaning and dismantling and re fitting/setting up.
Even though nice to see a service.

 

[BIGROG]

This is turning (no pun intended) into a very interesting thread indeed, I have always loved the myford lathe, a dear friend of mine (RIP Paul) had a wonderful super7 and it was magic to watch him turn out parts for his model steam engine, I have never been in a position to buy one up till now and can't wait to get it home. I must admit, I am getting a little twitchy because I won the lathe yesterday lunchtime and sent the seller an e-mail to make contact and enclosed my landline No/e-mail address and as yet he has not replied and I am running out of nails to bite, Anyway I hope Alan who started this thread dosen't mind the crossover from drills to lathes, maybe we should start a new "Myford lathe thread" I am absorbing all this great info, thanks guys

Rog

 

[HasBean]

Found the article, seems that for just regrinding the bed (no stripping down of the lathe) this bloke was quoted from £600 to £800 quid with myford being the cheapest at £400 odd
From the tone of the article lathes were being assembled onsite to order (but where did the bits come from )

Paul

 

[BIGROG]

I find the statement that myford parts are now made in china a shame but not a shock, it's a shame that our workforce have lost their jobs but it is the way of modern industry today, as long as the quality is not lost then it will be accepted by most or they will look for older products with the "british craftsmanship" buit in, the outsourcing of crafts is hear to stay, My new Honda motorbike is made in spain and my sons Honda is made in Brazil and not Japan.

Rog.

 

[BIGROG]

We have contact.. Looks like all systems are go!, just need to hire a small van for Wed or Thurs next week to go and collect it, I was sweating for a while there.

Rog.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I hope Alan who started this thread dosen't mind the crossover from drills to lathes, maybe we should start a new "Myford lathe thread" I am absorbing all this great info, thanks guys

Rog

I've split this up as both subjects are worthy of their own threads.

I'd love a lathe myself but I can't justify buying one .