GMC Lathe throwing sparks

[mountnman]

I went to do some woodturning today on my GMC lathe. Hadn't used it for about a year because it, well, isn't really any good at it. Turned it on, and heard a grinding noise and sparks flying out of the motor housing.

Who thinks it's time to go for a drive up to carbatec and get me a real lathe?

[watson]

I'd vote that a sensible thing to do.....and turn the GMC into a disc sander (after some repair)

[Manuka Jock]

I went to do some woodturning today on my GMC lathe. Hadn't used it for about a year because it, well, isn't really any good at it. Turned it on, and heard a grinding noise and sparks flying out of the motor housing.

Who thinks it's time to go for a drive up to carbatec and get me a real lathe?

I'd vote that a sensible thing to do.....and turn the GMC into a disc sander (after some repair)

I reckon

A couple of years ago , I was out looking for a new secondhand motor for me lathe , which had a habit of killing motors on a regular basis , when instead of turning left , to the tool shop , I turned right , to the bank , borrowed 5 grand , and bought myself a DVR XP with all the trimmings .

No regrets at all .

[mountnman]

Not sure if I'll spend 5 grand on one! (The missus might have something to say about that) I'm considering either the MC-900 or maybe the MC-1100. Would the MC-1100 be worth the extra couple of hundred dollars?

[ElizaLeahy]

I wonder what the bank would say if I asked them to lend me 5 grand?

Bank - "Are you employed?"

Me - "No, I'm on a pension"

Bank - "do you own any collateral?"

Me - "no"

Bank - "do you have any rich relatives who might pass away soon and leave you a lot of money?"

Me - "errrr, maybe?"

Bank - "then we suggest you go home and wait until that happens!"

[bowl-basher]

with my luck they would live to 110

I wonder what the bank would say if I asked them to lend me 5 grand?

Bank - "Are you employed?"

Me - "No, I'm on a pension"

Bank - "do you own any collateral?"

Me - "no"

Bank - "do you have any rich relatives who might pass away soon and leave you a lot of money?"

Me - "errrr, maybe?"

Bank - "then we suggest you go home and wait until that happens!"

[Sawdust Maker]

Not sure if I'll spend 5 grand on one! (The missus might have something to say about that) I'm considering either the MC-900 or maybe the MC-1100. Would the MC-1100 be worth the extra couple of hundred dollars?

from experience I can say that after about 2 (maybe 3) years the 'lathe dollars" comments start to drop off. You know the comments " thats about 1/100 of a lathe dollar, or that house is only 1,000 lathe dollars" etc
I'd suggest that in about 18 months buy a humoungus band saw - SWMBO will then totally forget about the lathe (well that's the theory, let me know if it works!)

[Sawdust Maker]

or tell her it cost $5 grand then you'll have $2 grand for the bandsaw and a few chucks and other necessities

[hughie]

Who thinks it's time to go for a drive up to carbatec and get me a real lathe?

[/QUOTE]

I reckon, you might live longer as well.

[Ed Reiss]

or tell her it cost $5 grand then you'll have $2 grand for the bandsaw and a few chucks and other necessities

...or, after that, you might not have to worry about living

[munruben]

Wow $5000 for a lathe, just for a hobby? and I'm scared to tell my better half that I want to trade my Dylnalink for a Midi Woodfast or a Jet.

[watsrags]

Wow $5000 for a lathe, just for a hobby? and I'm scared to tell my better half that I want to trade my Dylnalink for a Midi Woodfast or a Jet.

Do what I did

tell your bored, offer to cook for her, she soon tell you to get "that damn toy and go to the shed and leave me in peace" it worked for me

[Ad de Crom]

I wonder what the bank would say if I asked them to lend me 5 grand?

Bank - "Are you employed?"

Me - "No, I'm on a pension"

Bank - "do you own any collateral?"

Me - "no"

Bank - "do you have any rich relatives who might pass away soon and leave you a lot of money?"

Me - "errrr, maybe?"

Bank - "then we suggest you go home and wait until that happens!"

Eliza, wait till the unexpected happens
Ad

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Not sure if I'll spend 5 grand on one! (The missus might have something to say about that) I'm considering either the MC-900 or maybe the MC-1100. Would the MC-1100 be worth the extra couple of hundred dollars?

It's worth the extra money if you use it to capacity.

Most people I know with an MC-900 (and who want to upgrade) seem to consider an MC-1100 a "minor" upgrade path... things like new jaws for the chuck tend to be of a higher priortity.

Instead, they keep muttering something about Vicmarcs or Stubby's... but that is the $5K upgrade path...

Or, to put it another way: if the magical CT fairy came along and sprinkled magic-dust on my MC-900s to turn them into MC-1100s, I'd think that Xmas had turned up early. But I've no intention of paying Santa to make it into a reality...

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I wonder what the bank would say if I asked them to lend me 5 grand?

Bank - "Are you employed?"

Me - "No, I'm on a pension"

Bank - "do you own any collateral?"

Me - "no"

Bank - "do you have any rich relatives who might pass away soon and leave you a lot of money?"

Me - "errrr, maybe?"

Bank - "then we suggest you go home and wait until that happens!"

'But with $5K I could make a pointy stick that could potentially convert the last answer from a "maybe" to a "definitely - with no waiting period!"'