Thread: New lathe selection help

Originally Posted by cba_melbourne

-
- The problem with old iron lathes is that there are few around in good condition.

Complete, utter and absolute rubbish. There are *heaps* around in good or better condition. You need to know something to pick a good one from a worn out POS, but there are lots of good old lathes out there.

Chris, sometimes I think you post stuff just to up your post count, because posts like this really diminish your credibility.

I paid $3500 for a mint condition Emco Maximat 11, as one example demonstrating you're wrong. I have 3 other lathes and only 1 could be described as a POS. I paid $100 for it, so I still got my money's worth and then some.....

FWIW that Herless looks just fine to me. Friend of mine has the same model and it's capable of quite fine accuracy even on small fiddly bits - he makes replacement screws etc for cameras and surveying instruments as well as working on motor cycle parts.

PDW

Originally Posted by Big Shed

https://youtu.be/XynlJ5DKbFI

OK - how many lathes other than antique South Bends et al *don't* have that feature? I never even thought of it as a cam lock tailstock, 3 out of my 4 lathes lock like that.

The one that doesn't was made before WW1.......

Maybe it's a micro-lathe 'feature' to add this.

PDW

Originally Posted by PDW

OK - how many lathes other than antique South Bends et al *don't* have that feature? I never even thought of it as a cam lock tailstock, 3 out of my 4 lathes lock like that.

The one that doesn't was made before WW1.......

Maybe it's a micro-lathe 'feature' to add this.

PDW

My approx 5 yr old Steelmaster 9x20 has one out of the box, plenty of standard 9x20 owners do this as a mod.

I wouldn't be without this 'feature'.

And here is another lathe, not a 'micro' that has one

http://www.ausee.com.au/shop/category.aspx?catid=1078

and another one

http://users.picknowl.com.au/~gloami...325rev-x2.html

I guess we can all still learn something.

Originally Posted by PDW

Complete, utter and absolute rubbish. There are *heaps* around in good or better condition. You need to know something to pick a good one from a worn out POS, but there are lots of good old lathes out there.
.....................

PDW

Read, think, write

The OP did say in his very first post:
> I have considered second hand but the following concerns me:
> Spare parts availability, no warranty, Distance traveled to then
> walk away (I am in Nowra NSW), I do not really know a good
> brand from a bad, and I have no idea what something "should be worth".

You and I can quicky distinguish straw from wheat. Or a bargain from a POS. Not so the OP. Hence I feel I gave good advise.

I really appreciate all of your responses. I do not have a desire to "restore" an old lathe. Any second hand one I pick up I would want to be in pretty much 100% working condition. You are probably correct that cam lock tail stock is only a term someone with a mini lathe would use. My current lathe uses a nut and spanner arrangement, it is a major source of frustration for what should be an easy function. I believe the C8 lathe meets my criteria in the new category. I feel a tad silly for dismissing this lathe based on a picture. Another consideration I have is size. I do not have infinite amounts of space in my garage, I believe the Herless lathe would be a 'monster' and perhaps too large for my current setup?

Given the size of the projects I intend to make, I am nervous the Herless is overkill for what I need and current skill level.

Picture of current workshop to follow.

Mick

Edit 2:
More back story. I am not very experienced on the lathe. I enjoyed the little bit I did at school 10 years ago, and hence decided I wanted to learn more (C2 purchase). Now I am finding I want to turn larger items and increase my 'playability' on the lathe.

Here is a small video I did on creating a power feed for my X2 mill (I am sure there are numerous things I am doing wrong in the creation of this item):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqsDeCkhYIs

Originally Posted by PDW

Complete, utter and absolute rubbish. There are *heaps* around in good or better condition. You need to know something to pick a good one from a worn out POS, but there are lots of good old lathes out there.

Chris, sometimes I think you post stuff just to up your post count, because posts like this really diminish your credibility.

PDW

It is high time that certain people in the Metalwork Forum got off Chris's case, he is entitled to his opinions and he is also entitled to post them on this forum.

This behaviour is not only against forum rules, it is against the spirit of this forum.

You don't agree with Chris's opinion? Fine, say so, but don't get personal.

PDW, this is not just directed at you it is directed at certain other members here, they will recognise who I am talking about.

Enough.

Originally Posted by PDW

OK - how many lathes other than antique South Bends et al *don't* have that feature? I never even thought of it as a cam lock tailstock, 3 out of my 4 lathes lock like that.

The one that doesn't was made before WW1.......

Maybe it's a micro-lathe 'feature' to add this.

PDW

Nowdays camlock TS have become a standard feature for hobbylathes above $1k. But only 5 years ago, there were many below $2K lathes that did not have this feature. It does in no way affect accuracy you know, its just a matter of convenience. And it does not take much to retrofit - you can make the necessary parts on the lathe, as a first project so to speak.

I thought the same re camlock, but then I saw this:
http://titanmachinery.com.au/index.p...l#.VaordqSqqko

I know modifying the standard TS wouldn't be too hard, however, I would have thought for the price it would be standard.

Originally Posted by cba_melbourne

Nowdays camlock TS have become a standard feature for hobbylathes above $1k. But only 5 years ago, there were many below $2K lathes that did not have this feature. It does in no way affect accuracy you know, its just a matter of convenience. And it does not take much to retrofit - you can make the necessary parts on the lathe, as a first project so to speak.

Originally Posted by PDW

Not trying to pick on you but I think you need to revise your terminology a bit. I've never heard of a camlock tailstock. It typically applies to headstocks and that Herless has a D1-4 camlock spindle nose which is excellent.

PDW

As another poster has also said, camlock tailstocks have been around for many years. The Myford ML 7 being one old design which had them way back late 40s???? Haven't bothered looking up when they first came out. Colchester have used the same camlock system for many years as well. Maybe many just haven't known the system as "camlock".

It may be worth having a look at the Asset Plant and Machinery website.
Their SM-1030A looks to fit your criteria.
John

Hi,

Another interesting discussion regarding buying a lathe.

I have a Hercus 260ATM. If you don't want to work on or restore a lathe then I'd recommend something new. If I was going to buy second hand again, I'd definitely look at a Taiwanese lathe. I really notice my lathe's shortfalls when I've been using the lathe at work (a Harrison M500)

I have been looking a lot at the Sieg C8 or C10. Simply because its new, about the same size and the 750w one is good value.

I would like to see one in the flesh though. Any members have one?

Ben

Hi Ben,

The C8 and C10 look like good value for money. The upgraded chuck mounting on the C10 and the spindle bore increase to 38mm seem like good features to warrant the upgrade over the C8, for not much more of an outlay (roughly 13% more $). I like the look of the SC8 and SC10, however, they are a lot more expensive and in the long run I see the speed controller as just another point of failure. A 1 year warranty isn't really long enough in my mind to risk going electronic?

The C10 sold by ausee has more inclusions (fixed and travelling steady) than the SC10, SC8 and C8. Like with all purchases I just wish it came with more (4 jaw and face plate as standard).
http://www.ausee.com.au/shop/category.aspx?catid=6154

I will report back this afternoon with how the Herless inspection went. I spent a fair amount of time last night researching used lathe inspections etc, It is a pitty I do not have a test bar, but at least I now have a fair idea of what to look out for.

Michael

Originally Posted by bwal74

Hi,

Another interesting discussion regarding buying a lathe.

I have a Hercus 260ATM. If you don't want to work on or restore a lathe then I'd recommend something new. If I was going to buy second hand again, I'd definitely look at a Taiwanese lathe. I really notice my lathe's shortfalls when I've been using the lathe at work (a Harrison M500)

I have been looking a lot at the Sieg C8 or C10. Simply because its new, about the same size and the 750w one is good value.

I would like to see one in the flesh though. Any members have one?

Ben

Originally Posted by Michael G

More later if I can think of them.

How about "can you get the damn chuck off?"

Stuart

The Taiwanes lathes were built quite a bit better than Chinese lathes, mine suffered terribly from premature bed wear, I don't know if that was common but with all things there is always at least one box that doesn't get ticked. Keep in mind also adding powered crossfeed wouldn't be that difficult a task, a quick google should bring up a few DIY jobs, try some of the 9x20 sites, there are just so many people with these lathes and the mods for them seem limitless. Windscreen wiper motors come to mind for such a job, they are plentiful and are geared down quite dramatically. Old cordless driver/drill motors are considerably smaller and have the advantage of variable speed also.

On another issue, if I was searching for a name to call a mechanism that locked something in place via a cam mechanism, I couldn't think of a better name for it than 'camlock'.