Hi - where do all the "lathe heads" hang out ? I'm looking for advice about buying a mini lathe. Thanks. MalcolmL

A word of advice, do not buy a mini lathe if you have any other choices. You can do great work on little pieces with a big lathe but you can not do much of what you will want to do on a little or mini lathe. In general, the accuracy of the bigger lathes is much better too.

Ditto, Do an internet search. You can probably find a small, second hand lathe for less than a mini.

I use a 25 year old Emco Maier Maximat V-10p. This is a small lathe with 10x24. These excellent machines were made in Austria. The later model is Maximat Super 11 and it is 11x28 with a D1-4 chuck mount and a bit more robust construction. It is still in production but too expensive new for hobby use.

Speaking of expense, the first thing I ever did on this lathe was make a pair of proper screen door handle washers. They were about $1500 a piece if you think about it that way. All my hobby parts are now made for free.

My 8 speed 2500 rpm lathe has a 6 speed 2200 rpm mill attachment that uses the cross slide as a table. Not the best mill area, but adequate. Because of the small size, I now also have a rare in the US, 20x10 inch Emco Maier FB-3 Mill that I also use. Much more compact than a Bridgeport, and better for my purpose. But, if we were to ever move to a smaller house the V10-P with mill attachment would get me by.

I would really like to have a Harrison M300 lathe, but these are expensive, high current 220v~3 (a problem for many homes), heavy machines and hard to find. The tool room lathes from Monarch and Hardinge are way expensive or are worn out of at affordable prices in my experience. This leaves the EMCO Maier Maximat series standing tall. They also have a Compact 8, but it is a bit too small for my needs.

My V10-p lathe is 1.8hp and the mill is 1.1 running 220v~3 phase from a 5hp 220v~1 converter motor. The widely available 110v machines have a bit less power. The V10-P and Super 11 have full x-y power feeds and separate screw feed. Good power for its size, great for aluminum and if you go slow feed with .02 radius tips it does hard steel when you need to. Especially with the new high positive indexable tools. They need speed though, so you have to be quick with the hands. It works at 1800 and 2500 rpm often with the new high positive tooling.

If these EMCO Maier (not ENCO!) size is is big enough then you find these for $2000-4500, depending on condition and tooling included. Very often these lathes have been in private hands and are relatively new when already 20 years old. Mine was $3200 and I am the third owner. It is in perfect mechanical condition. I would not get a used lathe without complete tooling. The expense of getting tooling will shock you.

You can also CAREFULLY find a 13x40 or other industrial lathe in this price range, but buyer beware with dealing the commercial equipment and used machinery dealers. I bought mine privately after a 1 1/2 year search. I passed up newer machines at higher prices and a lot of junk.

If the budget is there, a larger quality lathe, if purchased in good condition , is going to be worth about what you paid for it 10 years later. This cannot be said of the "mini" lathes. They are cheap, of poor quality and suspect accuracy and repeatablity. You can play with them, but once you know what you are doing they are pure frustration in my humble opinion.

It would even be best to have parts you need made locally and pay for it than to spend money for a machine that will not do the job or to spend money for a lathe you will not use often.

That is my two cents. Do your homework first!
==m==
Mike

I have a 6" Atlas..1948 model Awesome little machine. I have upgraded the tool holders so I don't have to grind every tool by hand.

I don't use it a lot, but when you need a lathe, it is priceless!

MalcolmL, here's another view. I'll put on my flame suit.
I own a 7X12 mini lathe and love it. It will not make big cuts like the larger lathes but thats fine with me. I got this lathe to do aircraft modeling work and it does it very well. I can't imagine needing anything bigger. This being a cheaper Chinese lathe it did need to be disassembled cleaned, lubed and reassembled. It can hold a half thousand and thats close enough for what I do. Variable speed is real nice, if part starts to chatter just nudge speed up a bit. Plus it's reversible, and this is handy when turning threads. It may not hold its value over the next 10 years but then again I only paid $300.00 for it, and I would dare guess that the larger lathes will at least loose that much value over the same 10 years. Tooling is available at reasonable prices.
If you can afford and have space by all means buy a bigger US, UK, or DE made lathe. But if all your interested in is small modeling projects the mini lathe should serve you well.
Here's some links: www.mini-lathe.com and www.littlemachineshop.com
2 Piece

Jet makes a really nice 9 X 20 lathe for $1000.00

No flames ever here.

I agree with you 100%. The mini's are affordable and will cut metal within reason. They are a safe bet for the experience. Often as not, they will be just what is needed as you point out.

And Lord knows, to make $25 or $50 worth of parts with a $300 machine is better than making them with $3000 machine. Even my wife has that figured out.

My needs were also different. In my enthusiasm I failed to mention my machine shop is used for other purposes that do justify the size, accuracy and expense of the larger equipment. I did not mean to imply otherwise.

I just wanted to share my experience as background with anyone who might be tempted to purchase the larger machines. Get them with tooling and make sure they are in good shape, as there is way more junk in the small commercial lathe market than there is good value.

Thanks for the URL to the mini lathe sites, as unlike the larger machines, these sites lay everything out for you and the buy-in is well within reach if the needs are valid.

Regards,
==m==
Mike

I am glad Malcolm started this thread. I am shopping and debating about getting a mini Lathe. 2 pieces you forgot to mention what brand you got. As far as accessories what do you suggest is a must have. Thanks

Well, Gentlemen, that's a great and swift response to my post. Many thanks indeed.

Perhaps my initial query was not sufficiently specific or focussed, so here goes again with what I'm looking for ....

I have had it in mind for more than 10 years to make a Contra- Rotating Gearbox ie 2 props on 2 coaxial shaft driven by a singl;e engine and not using belt drives. This would be for something like the Spitfire at Chino Planes of Fame Museum.

In my student apprenticeship, I worked with industrial lathes and milling machines in fully equipped production machine shops. When I went from "blue" to "white", I thought that was it - no more "suds" for me ! Now, in my sunset years, I find that working with lathes and millers would be a very appealing project.

My limitations may be space, finances and availability. I have a very firm work bench which would support 500 kilogrammes (1100 lbs)with an available space of say 1.20 X 0.60 metres ( 4' X 2"). I would prefer not to pay more than $1000.- for a lathe and miller. Availability here in Thailand may dictate machines from Taiwan or mainland China - and Japan ?

As to the machines themselves, my ultimate aim at present is to make the aforementioned C-R Gearbox. I don't have machine drawings but I do have a general layout sketch based on the examples of two other peoples' work in this area. Neither has drawings available. Also, I have made up a mock assembly from model car (robot ?) gears and crashed heli parts (don't ask !) and brass tubing and plywood and CA glue. It works when I spin it between thumb and forefinger.

The overall size of the Gearbox itself will be approximately 50 X 50 X 75 mm maximum (2" X 2" X 3 "), made of aluminium. I anticipate buying commercial gears. Machining would be the box itself from block aluminium, steel shafts of c. 10 - 12 mm O/D (1/2"), plain bronze bushes (perhaps, if commercial sintered bushes not available). Prior to the C-R Gearbox project, I would hone (!) my skills on simpler subjects to get my eye in again.

With the above in mind, I would greatly appreciate your advice about the type and size of machines I would need.

Of course, if anyone is interested in this project - or has knowledge of someone else who is - I'd like to hear from you.

Many thanks again. MalcolmL

I also received responses to my project from other groups. The following websites may be of interest to anyone else in the same boat as I am ...........

news.alt.mechanical.engineering

www.yahoogroups.com (lathes and mills)

MalcolmL

foxx, I bought the Homier at one of their tent sales- only after doing a lot of research. I have also recently purchased one of their mills but I haven't made any chips with it yet. I get all my tooling from Little Machine Shop. One thing to remember about these Chinese imports is that they require disassembly for cleaning, polishing the gibs and adjusting this and that to get them in good order. That was the fun part for me. If your looking for ready to run then you'll need to look at the US, UK, DE or Japan (sorry I forgot the two letter ID for Japan).

Mike Shields, I also agree 100% with your posts. Usually mini lathes and mills take a beating on internet forums from machinist. I guess I was just a little too defensive. I think there is a place for both the large and the mini lathes. You just need to know what you plan on using it for now and possibly in the future. Before I bought my mini, I asked the local machinist guru what he recommended, and as you know he the biggest thing you can get. He wasn't very keen on the idea of the mini. Well I got it anyway and showed if to him, his response, where did you get that, that's the perfect size for these small parts I making. I think he has bought one by now. Go figure.

Anyway, I like my mini for what I do, and I know that the larger and smaller non Chinese lathes are very, very nice, but...
And if I had to do it all over again I would certainly consider www.lathemaster.com
2 Piece

2 piece I looked at Lathemaster stuff but I think probably a Shoptek or Smithy 3-1 in one machine probably a better choice ecomomically and practically . I was wonder anybody has any input on these machines Thanks

Gentlemen

I've experience with a few modeling lathes / mills as well as some of the commercial versions. The production machines are great, except cost and space may be issues.

For hobby use I've found the Unimat (3" swing, very limited mill) too small. The Machinex 5 (5" swing, mill limited to light material) useful and I still have one for small lathe work. The Smithy 1229 is a very good hobby machine with quite suitable lathe, mill capabilities (including threading and gear cutting).

A consideration is the additional cost of accessories for any machine. The Smithy folks offer these at reasonable prices also.
http://www.smithy.com/

I recently went through this decision process also. I wound up buying a used Southbend 9x30 lathe for about twice the price of a new mini lathe, and a Homier Mini Mill.

The best reference source I found was the same as the one recommended by 2 Piece:
http://www.mini-lathe.com

Lynn

Earl I looked at smithy, but could not find model 1229. Do you have one these machines, how is the quality and accuracy.

Sorry, I've the 1220 XL. I've used it a lot over the 7 years or so that I've owned it. The quality is good and it will meet or exceed the 0.001" accuracy claim with good maintenance and adjustment.

My choice of the current line would be the 1324 for its "real" lathe features (and 0.0005" accuracy).

Both models have a very useable mill also.

Look at the www.grizzly.com web site.

They are a tool manufacturer that make tools of all sizes, mini lathes all the way up to the professional big versions. They have mills, and lots of wood working tools.

I have their 12" disc sander, very well built.

Good luck

I got a used copy of a EMCO Maier Had to put new head
bearing and change drive pully sizes the small belt broke 3 times
put a 1.5 hp dc motor . With a 6 jar rhon with tru adj it's close but 18" between centers. Still wish it had a little more beef on lite stuff it's ok . The real small ones are not even close. Just hobbie grade .006 type. Nothin like mass CU