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Hobby Lathe - 5/3/2007 10:32:30 PM   
fzeller


 

Posts: 45
Joined: 8/17/2006
From: Jeddo, MI, USA
Status: offline
Hi Folks

I would like to buy a hobby lathe. I know nothing about small lathes. I would like to know what you guys have, and what you would recommend. Thank you
Fred
       Post #: 1

RE: Hobby Lathe - 5/4/2007 3:27:50 AM   
Cristian Aldana


 

Posts: 84
Joined: 10/21/2005
From: Caracas, VENEZUELA
Status: offline 		Hi Fzeller, see UNIMAT this is small set of lathes for hobby, i understand that it excelent products.

http://www.thecooltool.com/produktgruppe.php?language=e&pg_id=1

good luck


Distribuitors:
http://www.unimat-1.com/index.html

http://www.maxmax.com/fMini-mate.htm

< Message edited by Cristian Aldana -- 5/4/2007 3:45:38 AM >

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Cristian Aldana
Venezuela

(in reply to fzeller)
       Post #: 2

RE: Hobby Lathe - 5/4/2007 5:35:40 AM   
glowplugboy


 

Posts: 580
Joined: 12/26/2001
From: Pasadena, TX 77505/77508, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Harbor Freight has a small hobby lathe modeled after it's larger cousins. Only for the lightest of cutting, but hundreds if not thousands cheaper than the Unimat. If you are looking for the best, have the money to spend, and are sure you will not be making anything bigger than hobby size parts, the UNIMAT is one of the finest micro lathe/mill machines made. One other thing to consider: the lathe represents only about one half of the total cost. You will need tooling to go along with it to make the lathe work for you.... and the price adds up!

(in reply to fzeller)
       Post #: 3

RE: Hobby Lathe - 5/4/2007 3:27:21 PM   
ptulmer



Posts: 4770
Joined: 4/28/2003
From: Brunswick, GA, USA
Status: offline 		The Harbor Freight lathes are ok, but not a fantastic value. I chased problems on my 9x20 for about a year then sold it and bought a Smithy. (www.smithy.com) It cost about $300 more and has a mill/drill head. Way better value! It is a big machine, though. And GPB is right that the machine is only about 1/2 the cost! You can get started with just a HSS bit, but your projects will become more sophisticated and new tooling will be required.

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       Post #: 4

RE: Hobby Lathe - 5/4/2007 6:21:10 PM   
glowplugboy


 

Posts: 580
Joined: 12/26/2001
From: Pasadena, TX 77505/77508, TX, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: ptulmer

The Harbor Freight lathes are ok, but not a fantastic value. I chased problems on my 9x20 for about a year then sold it and bought a Smithy. (www.smithy.com) It cost about $300 more and has a mill/drill head. Way better value! It is a big machine, though. And GPB is right that the machine is only about 1/2 the cost! You can get started with just a HSS bit, but your projects will become more sophisticated and new tooling will be required.



My first lathe was the Grizzly equivalent to your Habor Frieght 9 X 20, and I too had some problems with holding tolerance and producing quality parts. Ended up with a nice used 1000 lb. Clausing floor lathe. I was thinking of the even smaller lathe Harbor Frieght offers... the little table top lathe. Weighs about 50 lbs. This would make small parts as long as cuts are very light. I agree with you that Smithy is a real good choice for a non industrial lathe.

(in reply to ptulmer)
       Post #: 5

RE: Hobby Lathe - 5/4/2007 6:35:31 PM   
ptulmer



Posts: 4770
Joined: 4/28/2003
From: Brunswick, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Ah, check out Tim Wiltse in the 1/2a forum and his website. www.hypercolor.biz He's using a HF 7x10 and has CNC'd it. It does some nice work in the hands of someone with a little knowledge. I'm sure a good work ethic is required, cuz they are small and gutless. I was looking at one when I happened across the 9x20. IIRC, if you bind it up, it blows the control board. Unlike the larger lathes, it has an electronic speed control. Still, it's a dam nice tool for the price. Here's a good link for doing research on it: www.mini-lathe.com

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Ulmer-RC.com

(in reply to glowplugboy)
       Post #: 6

RE: Hobby Lathe - 5/4/2007 8:20:32 PM   
fzeller


 

Posts: 45
Joined: 8/17/2006
From: Jeddo, MI, USA
Status: offline 		I would like to thank everyone for the advice. I now have some information and some web sites to check and see what I want.
Fred

(in reply to fzeller)
       Post #: 7

RE: Hobby Lathe - 5/5/2007 2:41:40 AM   
sfsjkid



Posts: 576
Joined: 12/12/2003
From: fremont, CA, USA
Status: offline 		fzeller,

Here are some more small lathes that haven't been mentioned yet.

http://www.sherline.com/
http://www.taigtools.com/
http://www.proxxon.com/

If you go with a Chinese lathe, this site is a must read

http://www.mini-lathe.com/

So what is it you want to do?

Good Luck

(in reply to fzeller)
       Post #: 8

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