Thread: Opinions / A little help?

Actually, upon closer inspection it appears as though H&F only have a mill drill attachment for the AL-60, and NOT the AL-50GA

I might ring them and see if they have any light they can shed on my situation.

ElDubya,
If you are looking at the H&F L277 it suits a Lathe with Centre of 125 or greater, your Lathe is 90mm so it would not be suitable.
Suggest you may want to make one up your self as a project for your Lathe, copy the principals of the L277 be suit it to your 90mm height.
Good luck.

Regards,
Keith.

I've never understood why people want mill attachments on lathes.

You can buy one of those little mills for $200 more than the attachment. I know it's more space, but it also avoids the many compromises a lathe based mill imposes. You can get well priced mills second hand also. If the work doesn't need to be precise get an XY vice and bolt it to your drill press. I got one of those and if you hold your tongue right you can get a lot of work out of it.

2c

Asset Plant & Machinery sell a lathe that looks almost identical to the H&F's one.

http://www.assetplant.com/index.php?...mart&Itemid=62

Slightly different specs in a couple of areas but their $1195 machine is variable speed. they also list a milling attach for $219.
I had a look at some of their stuff at an expo I went to a few months ago. Their larger machines looked ok but I didn't see or hear any running. Compared to some of the other chinese stuff on display, the asset branded gear looked a lot better finished. I didn't see any of their small stuff. I don't know if they had any on display as it was a trade show.

bollie7

When I was looking to buy a lathe, I also looked at that model. I had been buying some things for my mill from http://www.generaltools.com.au/index.html , I got to know a guy there called Chris. On discussions on lathes he advised me to keep away from the AL-54 B, he said he has had problems with the ones they where selling and where not selling that model anymore and advising people to not purchase them. I don't know if that is the same model but they sell the same gear as http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/. I have no idea what the problems where though.
And from what I have read combined machines are not recommended, as Damian pointed put
Well the rest is history as I got herc LOL

Originally Posted by bollie7

Asset Plant & Machinery sell a lathe that looks almost identical to the H&F's one.

http://www.assetplant.com/index.php?...mart&Itemid=62

Slightly different specs in a couple of areas but their $1195 machine is variable speed. they also list a milling attach for $219.
I had a look at some of their stuff at an expo I went to a few months ago. Their larger machines looked ok but I didn't see or hear any running. Compared to some of the other chinese stuff on display, the asset branded gear looked a lot better finished. I didn't see any of their small stuff. I don't know if they had any on display as it was a trade show.

bollie7

That's where I got mine, have now started using it and so far I am very happy with it. The service from these people has been great, something I have not always been able to say about H&F. The variable speed is great, no belts to change

I paid only $100 more than the H&F manual belt change model and that included a 9 piece 1/2" indexable tool set, which sit exactly on the centre line BTW.

Originally Posted by ElDubya

What I wanted to know is, is there a milling attachment that I can add to this lathe so that I can mill aluminum, brass, copper and bronze items?

Titan Machinery sells a re-badged Grizzly 9x20 lathe (more or less the same as H&Fs AL50) and also sells a milling attachment to suit, see bottom of Titan's CJ0623 page.

However, I second Damian's comment about buying a dedicated mill, if you can afford both the $s and space.

Originally Posted by ElDubya

... any opinions on this lathe?

I purchased an AL50 from a H&F re-seller about 3 months ago and while a bit of work was needed to bring it to a usable and accurate state, I am happy ... you get what you pay for.

Just in case you haven't seen Big Shed's lathe thread, it's definately worth a read. The Steelmaster lathe looks like a nice alternative to H&F's AL50.

Also check out my earlier thread on small lathes.

http://www.engtooling.com/webshop/ET...=ETS||17921||3

what about that one?

Originally Posted by ElDubya

http://www.engtooling.com/webshop/ETSItem.csp?ID=ETS||17921||3

what about that one?

Hmmmm, what about that one?

Eldubya
The link you posted isn't working for me but I've gone directly to their website. Which lathe were you refering to?

bollie7

Something like this would be the go.
http://www.engtooling.com/webshop/ET...C17921%7C%7C25

Nice shed size, and something you can really wack a cut on.

Seriously, my advice is if you buy a new machine is get one with the long travel handwheel on the right hand side of the apron. Why. Well unlike the USA, most larger machines here in Aus are built that way. Probably because the Brits like them that way and we are part of the "empire" especially back when we used to make our own machine tools. Another reason ( I've been told) is because a lot of the Brit and Aus machines have gap beds and with the gap piece removed the chuck end of the saddle can run out over the fresh air. (hope that makes sense). Anyway what I'm getting at is this. When you get a bit more experience you will probably end up looking for a bigger lathe and if you are like most of us, that means a used machine. Which means most of the machines here in aus are right hand long travel. Not all by any means, but probably more than the other hand. Once you are used to one type it can be quite hard to get used to the other.
No problem while everything is going ok but when something goes wrong and the old instincts take over, can get a bit messy. I personally like the right hand apron for another reason (apart from thats all I've used for 30 years) and that is when you are working up close to the chuck or a shoulder on the job, cutting dry with a carbide for example, guess where most of the hot chips go. Straight down the front of the saddle where your hand would be if it were a left hand apron.

best of luck with your search for the perfect lathe for yourself.

regards

bollie7

bollie, your link gives me exactly the same result as above.

big-shed
strange things happen. The link works for me, but what I copied and pasted from the address bar is not what is showing in my post.?
Anyway the lathe I was refering to is number CM-6241V
go to www.engtooling.com then do a product search on the number above. The machine looks a bit like a Colchester Triumph 2000 around the quick change box

regards
bollie7