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Sorry I couldn’t stay with you longer, but I’ve achieved what I set out to do – again. Thank you all for amusing me yet again, that’s right - again. I’ve been dropping subtle hits for ages but...

So I'm not afforded the opportunity to answer criticisms, that's different. The club isn't all here yet. I am the glue that holds this cub together, without me there is no reason for the club to...

Oh good, the cavalry has come to the rescue - who would of thought..
PDW: Nope and I doubt it.
Stustoys: 'Not a good finish', should I take some pictures further away for you then? In a...

Well I won't presume to tell you how to waste your time, you waste it as you see fit. Something tells me you'd love to show your superior expertise though, lunchboxes are always good to look in. ...

Of course you should, I'm only here for the entertainment value. DOC on compound is 0.02 mm, with compound set at 45 the DOC would be half of that, but I do prefer to use technical terminology like...

Have to agree with everything Ueee said (now that's different); however, have you considered a second hand power hacksaw. These days they are as cheap as chips and if you aren't in a hurry... ...

Careful Simon L. you'll raise the ire of the non believers, suggesting black turns the same as bright is apparently a big no no. Funny you mentioned the distance at what the pictures were taken...

Well I suppose if this was a continuation of the other thread, it would be in the other thread, what do you think? As for good finishes, it's all in the eye of the beholder; and, the job it's...

Well you know I've read my post over and over and I just can't see where I said either was a good finish. But I did say I wasn't making medical instruments or sending rockets to the moon, so I...

Just to satisfy myself (although I am rather partial to a good argument) I turned a piece of bright and a piece of black this morning, both were cut with a tangential tool and both were cut at...

*The biggest problem with the whole discussion is we are not comparing apples with apples. Depending on where the steel comes from it could be very different stuff, even if different members are...

I'm afraid you've lost me, I never have a problem getting a good finish on black, nonsensical argument to me!

Your 'googling' must differ from mine, but I'll stand by my original statement. As for black machining badly, I've never had a problem, I'd pretty much agree with Shedhappens.

Black mild steel or ‘hot rolled mild steel’ is covered in a black/blue/gray scale, is not very accurate in sizing and may have surface flaws.

Bright mild steel or ‘cold rolled mild steel’ is...

I’ve owned 2 AL50s and had a good run from both. Don’t know anything about the AL60 except what is written on Hafco’s site so can’t compare. I hated the AL 50’s drive system: very skinny belts,...

Don't know about the rest of you but I'd like to see some pictures of Mathew G's rocket heater.

I'd go for the al320g personally. It's been around for years and is a proven quantity. Hafco can't be beat in my books.

Very handy, with 400kgs, hope they're swtchable.

I assumed the power feed was driven via the half nuts because I can only see two levers one for crossfeed and one for half nut engagement. So, the half nut engagement lever must have two positions...

I’m after some info on the AL-320G, does anyone have one and what are your observations? It looks as though the auto longitudinal feed relies on the leadscrew halfnuts, is that correct? I assume...

Good choice, excellent lathe. S/S is not a problem, I turned a couple of master cylinders from 25mm S/S a few years ago. I cut a 26 TPI thread on one end and tapped a 3/8" UNC thread in the other...

I forgot to mention, the AL-50 is marketed under a few names (the same is true of a number of lathes), Asset Plant and Titan, I think, also sell this machine, one variation of which is available as a...

Have to agree with Ueee, big bore = good and belt drive over G/H any day. Geared heads are noisy and potentially a money pit in the cheapies. I can only speak for the AL-50 from your list: An...

Well Ueee, this isn’t my thread, I haven’t voiced an opinion one way or another on this thread. I only said my ‘brother in preferences’ should have read my thread first. Given the level of...

Geez mate I thought I was unpopular, you should have read my thread first, forearmed is forewarned. Who would have thought saying you liked Chinese products would raise such ire. You are...

This reminds me of the discussions about Japanese cars and M/Cs in the 60s: 'Jap crap' was considered rubbish and just poor copies of 'real cars', despite the fact that basic models came with...

I seem to have ignited something here, that wasn’t my intention. We all have out opinions, mine quite obviously differ from Bob’s and I am 'robust' in putting mine forward. As for being too...

Clearly then, I must offer my apologies.

Shedhappens, just to be clear, Annorak Bob said 'why would anyone buy a Chinese DTI'. I never asked any such question, I merely asked, "How about I start another thread with something like: ‘Why...

Like I said, I have a Chinese dial indicator, I bought it at the same time as my Polish Indicator. The Polish indicator was thrown away years ago but the Chinese one is still in excellent condition...

I think your statement ‘ why would anyone buy Chinese’ is ill informed and lacking in common sense. How about I start another thread with something like: ‘Why would anybody buy a 60 year old lathe’...

Any opinions expressed here are personal and based on member's experience, but we all have 'different' experiences, many with the same machines. Most here will defend or criticise choices such as...

Yes, I'm starting to think about the 1220 belts, either that or step up to the 2 metre belts. I've rung Allfasteners twice so far, who say they can get the 1520s in, but they won't return my calls...

Ummm, I must have lead a sheltered life, I have no idea what a flat box system is. So to quote a famous lady: Please explain?

I'm building a belt sander/linisher, the idea is to make it adjustable so it will take either 1220 x 50 or 1520 x 50 zirconia belts. 1220 belts are easily found but I can't find a supplier who...

I joined in 2008 so I'm hardly new, but as I've only posted several times in 5 years I guess I'm sort of a newbie. I find the members of this forum rather clicky so I don't bother posting, there is...

I have a 9" Hitachi angle grinder that I bought from Glenfords around 1985, it copped an absolute hammering for the first 15 years of use as it was the only cutter and grinder I had. I replaced the...

There is an allen head screw at the front of the motor mount, unscrew it until the V belts are loose and will slip over the pulley then tension again.

A thin hacksaw blade sounds best, just be carefull not to get it too hot when grinding to shape, otherwise you'll have to harden and re-temper again: difficult on thin blades.

Car leaf springs...

I used a Holden Gemini fuel pump wired to a Dick Smith transformer: ample pressure and will run all day long if needed.

You will need a bypass tap to slow down the flow when required, the...

I have been searching for a place to buy V belts (Gates 5M710) for the AL50. I have sourced the belts from two suppliers: H&F for $26 or Pulleys in Rocklea for $29. Bearing Services,...

40 odd years ago I worked as a welder (2nd class). In the shops I worked in we used CIG Ferrocraft rods almost exclusively, most forays into other brands, liquid Arc, Murex, etc, were unsuccesfull:...

Hi Big Shed,
there is a tool shop on the Tweed who advertise a mill fairly frequently for $730, a lot cheaper than H&F. It's not an X2; however, it is identical except for the colour, and the...

No they don't, if you read my earlier post, you would see that my current lathe has only one worm gear and it worked fine on both the imperial and metric threads I cut this morning as a test. ...

I installed a plate with a 10mm hole in it on the bottom of the apron, then I installed a 10mm threaded rod, end to end, under the apron and passing through the hole in the plate. A couple of...

Sorry, but as already mentioned, I have an AL50GA which has a metric leadscrew. I have no difficulty at all in cutting imperial threads, be they Whitworth, BSF, UNC, UNF, CEI, brass or gas, in acme...

I have an AL50GA, previously, I had an AL300 and before that a Taiwanese lathe which the AL50GA is copied from.
The AL50 is a good all round lathe and parts are easily obtained from...