oh god what have i done!!!

**Stustoys** · 25th February 2011, 12:01 PM

Darren_111
Firstly Welcome to the forum.
I have a lathe pretty much the same as that. I'm happy with it. There is such a thing as "to big". It depends a lot on what sort of work you think you'll be doing. The way I picked my lathe size was the spindle bore size(well that and how much money I wanted to spend lol). These lathes tend to be a little rough around the edges, so I little work is helpful here and there. A well looked after second hand one may have all those finishing touches done for you.

As you know there is always something better for $50 more.

Don't forget to allow some spending money for tooling.

Stuart

**Darren_111** · 25th February 2011, 06:01 PM

Thanks Damian and Stuart.

Yes, I’m not a machinist. I’m self employed writing embedded software for control systems, communications, instrumentation etc. I want to make prototype and proof of concept stuff for both work and hobby. The work I want to do with the lathe is very low volume but high variety.

I never know what might come up work wise, but its certainly not heavy industry stuff. Most likely the hardware I make will be related to instrumentation and control – the mechanics that goes between the electronics and the real world.

Hobby wise my projects will be in robotics and telescope adaptors, mounts and mods. I’m sure I’ll have a go at CNC additions to the lathe at some point too ;-)

I think I have the following levels of importance for my lathe choice (highest importance first):
Ability to do a large variety of work 5/5
Ability to do Larger diameters 4/5 (minimum 250mm swing)
Ability to do Larger lengths 2/5 (minimum 400mm centres)
Ability to do work fast and easy 2/5
Ability to do a large volume of work 1/5

My budget was 2 to 2.5K, but I could stretch it to 3k only for a great deal (which I thought the SM-1236A might be?).
I’d be happy with second hand but I don’t think I have the experience to properly judge a lathes condition.

I really like the TL330 but I would have to factor in the cost of adding a QCTP, and I’m a bit apprehensive about the slotted single lead screw.

Many thanks,
Darren

**Jekyll and Hyde** · 25th February 2011, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Darren_111

but got sucked into the "for not much more" whirlpool. Don't know if I'll ever get out

I know that feeling - that's how I ended up with a Bridgeport clone after starting off looking at DM-45s....

That aside, I'm interested to know popular opinion on the Steelmaster lathes too, although the 'whirlpool' has dragged me up towards a 1340A. Realistically the 1236 would probably do what I want most of the time, but I can think of something I'd have cause to put in it at 330mm, which would mean pulling the gap out, and I'm lazy... Plus I like the idea of a footbrake and a bit more mass.

Although, according to the moths in my wallet, it's all irrelevant anyway

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