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mini lathe - 7/5/2004 9:01:39 PM   
RandyD


 

Posts: 45
Joined: 1/22/2002
From: Derby, KS, USA
Status: offline 		Hello All,

I am interested in getting a mini lathe and am curious what folks think about various models/manufacturers? The Proxxon mini lathe seems to be well made but perhaps a bit pricy. Any suggestions or comments on any lathe would be appreciated.

Randy
       Post #: 1

RE: mini lathe - 7/6/2004 1:51:53 AM   
glowplugboy


 

Posts: 580
Joined: 12/26/2001
From: Pasadena, TX 77505/77508, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Hello Randy from Texas,
Mini lathes are fine as long as you are making small parts that don't require heavy cutting. Otherwise, a mini lathe, even the most expensive brands, simply don't have the rigidity to make deep cuts or work metals other than soft aluminum or brass. I suggest looking into a small table top lathe in the 9" swing over variety. I wouldn't know what brand names the Chinese imports have on them in AU, but I'm sure in the long run you would be happier with a small production lathe than the "minis".
Best regards,
Mike

(in reply to RandyD)
       Post #: 2

RE: mini lathe - 7/6/2004 2:43:59 AM   
XJet


 

Posts: 3590
Joined: 3/31/2003
From: Tokoroa, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		I've got one of those Chinese 7x10 (which are now 7x12 or 7x14) lathes and find it excellent.

They're certainly a *huge* leap up from the Taigs and Sherlines which most people think of when the term "min-lathe" is used.

I've turned everything from 4" diameter stainless steel to ultra-small fuel jets on mine and it's performed very well.

If you want more info on these machines I suggest you check out the excellent website at http://www.mini-lathe.com/

(in reply to RandyD)
       Post #: 3

RE: mini lathe - 7/8/2004 5:27:59 PM   
Flightwatch


 

Posts: 108
Joined: 1/2/2003
From: Trenton, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		Harborfreight.com has the 7x10 mini lathe, #33684-1VGA for $369.99. With tail stock and a few tool bits, is around $400. Might be free shipping. I bought one, have used for little things, seems to work OK. I'm not a machinist.

(in reply to XJet)
       Post #: 4

RE: mini lathe - 7/14/2004 4:58:27 PM   
Al Stein



Posts: 968
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Johnstown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		The small lathe from Harbor Freight loooks to be the same machine as the Central Machinery and Grizzly. While I have seen some mixed reviews on these machines, I've also seen an engine builder turn out products as good as you'll get off of any decent assembly line using the Grizzly. And that involves turning castings of somewhat questionable metallurgy as well as doing things like making deep cuts in nasty cast iron to put fins on cylinders. It's largely a matter of setting the machine up true, and of using sharp high-quality tools at approriate feeds and speeds.

IMHO, exceeding the capacity of any machine -- mini or full sized engine lathe -- will assuredly give you bad results. You have to gage the turning speed and feed rate to the size and type of the material you're working -- on a mini AND on every other lathe. (Machinery's Handbook is a good friend for that, and a copy that's a couple years old will be very inexpensive and very worth the price.)

For someone in shopping mode, one biggie I wouldn't cheat myself out of is mechanical feed. Without it you can't assure the uniform cutting rates you need to get good finish and you cant cut threads.

< Message edited by Al Stein -- 7/14/2004 12:01:00 PM >

_____________________________

. . . Aim High!

(in reply to Flightwatch)
       Post #: 5

RE: mini lathe - 7/15/2004 3:04:15 AM   
SST



Posts: 1151
Joined: 6/26/2002
From: Mt. Morris, MI, USA
Status: offline 		Jet makes an excellent 9X20 that goes for around $1000.00. It's worth the extra. BTW, I am a Journeyman Toolmaker, and I'm gonna pick on of them up myself...

_____________________________

Rule #1: Always know when to get out of Dodge.
Rule #2: Always know HOW to get out of Dodge.

(in reply to Al Stein)
       Post #: 6

RE: mini lathe - 7/15/2004 3:12:26 AM   
XJet


 

Posts: 3590
Joined: 3/31/2003
From: Tokoroa, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		Consensus on the 9x20 is that the toolpost is a poor design and needs re-working if you want to avoid chatter on all but the lightest of cuts.

There's a Yahoo group of dedicated 9x20 enthusiasts who can provide all the info you need to significantly improve these machines.

(in reply to SST)
       Post #: 7

RE: mini lathe - 7/15/2004 5:54:02 AM   
SST



Posts: 1151
Joined: 6/26/2002
From: Mt. Morris, MI, USA
Status: offline 		The toolpost on any lathe I buy would get replaced with an Aloris piece from the get-go. I usually use carbide insert tooling anyway.

_____________________________

Rule #1: Always know when to get out of Dodge.
Rule #2: Always know HOW to get out of Dodge.

(in reply to XJet)
       Post #: 8

RE: mini lathe - 7/17/2004 4:23:58 AM   
bbbair


 

Posts: 821
Joined: 1/7/2003
From: Belleville, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		You Know you're addicted to RC; - when you buy a $1,000.00 tool to make a $5.00 part.



Good Luck!

_____________________________

It's Time to Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

(in reply to SST)
       Post #: 9

RE: mini lathe - 7/17/2004 6:13:28 PM   
LouW



Posts: 806
Joined: 1/1/2003
From: Moreland, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Any of the small lathes are capable of good work at the hands of a skilled machinist. If you are a beginner at machining, get any small lathe that suits your fancy and begin to develop your skills. At first, much of your work will consist of making fixtures and accessories for the machine. As you gain experience, you will learn what tooling will make your work easier and how to do many operations that you can now only imagine. Within the limitation of size, and with the appropriate tooling, they are capable of any operation the larger, expensive lathes can do. The only real limit is your ingenuity.

(in reply to Al Stein)
       Post #: 10

RE: mini lathe - 8/4/2004 5:47:55 PM   
foxx


 

Posts: 594
Joined: 10/28/2002
From: Somewhere in the west, USA
Status: offline 		Before buying anything I decided to take a class in our local trade school which was called "Hobby machining ". It cost $50 for 30 hours of hands-on training and I learned a lot from this class. My choice is Harborfreight model 44142. Just waiting to go on sale.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44142

(in reply to LouW)
       Post #: 11

RE: mini lathe - 8/4/2004 9:38:31 PM   
Heavy Date



Posts: 109
Joined: 10/18/2002
From: Derry, NH, USA
Status: offline 		I got a Smithy 1220LTD a few years ago and it has been fine for me. I am not a machinest, but have been able to turn scale landing gear struts and machine engine mounts pretty well. It is a heavier machine (550 lbs) so is a bit more solid feeling than some of the others. I think I paid about $1600.00 for it. I have not seen the others you guys mention except in the Harbor flyers. From the photos they look pretty nice.
I have yet to get the CNC kit made for it as it is big bucks. Mabye next year.
Hans

(in reply to foxx)
       Post #: 12

RE: mini lathe - 8/5/2004 6:14:42 PM   
foxx


 

Posts: 594
Joined: 10/28/2002
From: Somewhere in the west, USA
Status: offline 		I have looked at Smithy machines, they are nice, but very expensive. HF44142 is the same machine sold buy Grizzly, and many other companies and the only difference is color. I should stop posting because if demand goes up I might never see 44142s on sale.

(in reply to Heavy Date)
       Post #: 13

RE: mini lathe - 8/6/2004 10:37:23 AM   
deljon



Posts: 764
Joined: 10/3/2003
From: Hamilton, OH, USA
Status: offline 		I bought my 9x20 from Harbor Frieght. I cought it on sale for $550 last fall. By the time I got to the store they were out of them, but they gave me a rain check. It did take them just a little over three months to get mine in, but at that price it was well worth the wait.
It is the same lathe that you can get from Enco, J&L and others, only differance that I have found is the price, the paint color and the name tag.
Also got their two speed mini mill on sale that will handle up to a 3/4 endmill.
Since we are building a new condo, I haven't uncreated the lathe yet so can't comment on it, the mill is fine as long as you don't try to take too big of a cut.
Our shop get these sale cataloges from Harbor Frieght, Enco, J&L and others, so have also picked up tooling, quick change tool post, R8 collets, paralells and other goodies and have only have about a $1000 in all of it.
It pays to watch the sales and shop around.

Del Johnson

(in reply to foxx)
       Post #: 14

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