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Thread: Gifted Lathe - Worth Keeping?
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26th May 2016, 01:12 PM #1
Gifted Lathe - Worth Keeping?
Hi All,
Have recently been given an old lathe.
I have been doing some self education and I am not sure whether this lathe is worth keeping.
It is only 1/2 hp but the main issue is that it only came with a faceplate and a drill sized chuck.
Also the spindle bolt is fairly small (about 18mm) and cannot take any of the accessories i see at carbatec/timbecon etc (ie chucks, spur drive centres etc). ie it is just a solid thread.
See pictures attached.
I have looked online and cannot seem to find parts that would go on this.
Does anyone have a similiar setup and any advice
I am a complete novice as far as lathes are concerned.
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26th May 2016 01:12 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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26th May 2016, 02:27 PM #2Intermediate Member
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Hi Reback. keep consuming your fine BEERS as just one glass of this fantastic drink, is worth more in value than this type of so called lathe. Yes I was given one 15 or so years ago now its used as a land fill some where it belongs or may be, crushed for scrap metal.
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26th May 2016, 02:42 PM #3
The unit is a fairly cheap generic lathe that lacks rigidity. As a lathe they are not great, but they are better than nothing. A few people on the forums have opted to discard the bed assembly, mount the faceplate and set it up as a disc sander. Others have tried to offer them free on the forum with few takers.
Unfortunately a classic case of cheap Chinese product that vaguely looks the part, intended to part the unwary and their cash.I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.
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26th May 2016, 02:49 PM #4
Ah, yes i wasn't impressed with the rigidity or general quality. Turning it into a disc sander however has a quite a lot of merit, thanks for that idea!.
Ok, well i am really keen now to do some turning, because it got my interest up.
Just have to research now what is a good mid price lathe....
thanks for the feeback guys.
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26th May 2016, 03:56 PM #5Intermediate Member
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Hi Malb, Yes I agree with your comments, i forgot to mention that we also had one at our club that has been turned in to a polisher.
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26th May 2016, 04:15 PM #6
This lathe may not be the best as you have found out that accessories are a little bit harder to source. As suggested turn this into a disk sander.
As your interest has been sparked it might be worth while to look at joining a wood turning club or visiting someone that has a lathe. They could give you a rundown on their lathe and weather you really want to take up this part of the hobby. This is almost the path that I took before I started wood turning and I certainly don't want to discourage you in following this through.
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26th May 2016, 04:16 PM #7China
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Also make a great polishing lathe does not matter how c&%p you spray all over it
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26th May 2016, 04:33 PM #8
Yep, it's a lathe. Yep the build quality is minimal and Yep, you are better off modifying it.
It's the same design that I started with, some 13-14 years ago. It maybe a 3/4" spindle. To confirm, obtain some nuts or dies of known sizes or use verniers. To stiffen the ways, slide a fitting length of 3/4 ply under the base. This style lathe can get you interested enough to learn more about better lathes and give time for the Turning bug to bite.
Join a club or ask on this forum, if there is a member local to you that can drop over and provide some guidance.
Beware of the Turning Bug's bite, it doesn't bite you, it devours your walletPat
Work is a necessary evil to be avoided. Mark Twain
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26th May 2016, 05:02 PM #9
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26th May 2016, 05:32 PM #10.
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At the mens shed we have been given about a dozen lathes including the same lathe as the one in the OP one.
We simply could not cope with this many lathes so we have sold some.
I think yours was sold for ~$40 which I was a bt embarrassed about as I said we should have given it away..
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26th May 2016, 08:06 PM #11
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27th May 2016, 07:44 PM #12
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28th May 2016, 07:54 AM #13
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30th May 2016, 02:15 AM #14
https://www.pennstateind.com/mm5/mer...EARCH&q=lathes
Check these out, I don't think you can go any less expensive for any better. I have the TurnCrafter Pro, with the extension that gives me 42", in length.
https://www.pennstateind.com/store/TCLC10XB.html
That old lathe of yours looks like a 3/4" Harbor Freight deal and they are NOT very sturdy.
The 10" lathes will let you turn, of course, a ten inch bowl, pens, pencils, and gewgaws, so if you want to turn larger bowls, you'll have to fork over 2 or 3 thousand for a "big" one.
'Ave a good day, mate.
BTW, you'll need https://www.pennstateind.com/store/LCGRINDSYS.html and https://www.pennstateind.com/store/LCHSS8.html for starters. If you get in deeper, you'll pick up more and more accessories.
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30th May 2016, 12:17 PM #15
I was gifted one of these some years ago. Cheap & nasty BUT - it got me started working on lathes. I am now ready to upgrade to my 3rd lathe.
So if it gets you started, well and good. Also, I am devastated I did not think of turning it into a disc sander. Bugger!
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