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08-09-2005, 01:12 PM
| #1 |
| Rock Stacker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dallas
Posts: 94
|  lathes, how big to purchase I am looking at getting one as soon as I find what I need. I have had brief experiences with the lathe where I work. It's huge and wouldn't fit in my garage very well. Wife says NO to a shop. I was looking at a couple of different sizes and don't know how large to go. Currently I am looking at a 9x20 and a 8x14. The cost difference between the two would buy a fair amount of tooling for the smaller one if purchased. What sizes are you guys buying to do your tooling for this hobby? |
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08-09-2005, 01:25 PM
| #2 |
| 2006 2.2 National Champ   Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Driving my R/C rototiller
Posts: 7,941
| The length of bed indicates how long a part you can machine, give or take. The bigger the "swing" the bigger diameter part you can fit in the chuck. If you're just using it for your R/C's, look into some of the Harbor Freight bench top lathes. The Sherline mill/lathe combo is popular too, sure would be nice to have both.  |
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08-09-2005, 01:30 PM
| #3 |
| Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans
Posts: 267
| I haven't bought my lathe yet but a sherline 4000 should be enough. Also, if you ever want to convert it to a mill you can within five minutes. |
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08-09-2005, 01:30 PM
| #4 |
| Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Longmont, CO
Posts: 905
| I doubt you'd notice the 1" of swing for this hobby. A 6" lathe is huge for r/c crawling. But will you be doing other machining besides r/c crawlers? I suspect the difference in price is a function of features, not just the size difference. Things to look for: Hole thru headstock. Bigger is of course better. Lowest speed. Threading at more that 100rpm can be "exciting" Does it have "backgears" for slower threading Power feeds. Longitudinal and cross feeds? Power feeds can be a very nice luxury Headstock taper. Most small lathes are MT3. If one had native 5C collet capability it would be well worth the additional cost. (Usually native 5C is only on 10"+ lathes) Spindle mounting style. Tapered is "better" than threaded. Most cheaper lathes are threaded spindle (how the chucks mount) Threaded chucks are generally cheaper though Quick Change gearbox? The cheaper one might be change gears. Not just a threading issue cause the gearbox lets you quickly change power feeding rates too. BIG ONE: Are the feed dials calibrated in true english? i.e. .100" per turn. Some are metric with english marks. If you want metric lathe get a metric lathe, if you think/design in english units it's very nice to have the crosslide .100" per turn. (or .050" per turn like a sherline) .039" per turn is metric (1 mm) Post links to the two your thinking of. Also, where do you live? If california or east coast then consider old used iron. Very plentiful lathes on the coasts. If you live in Denver like me, they can be very hard to find (I have a South Bend 9" model A) I wouldn't trade it for any of the Harbor Freight types... |
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08-09-2005, 01:49 PM
| #5 | |
| Rock Stacker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dallas
Posts: 94
| Quote:
I live in Texas. These were the two I was looking at: www.lathemaster.com/LATHEMASTER8x14Lathe.htm http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...ctId=625&R=625 | |
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08-09-2005, 03:19 PM
| #6 |
| Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Longmont, CO
Posts: 905
| I think I'd go with the Jet. But then again the 8" would probably serve you well too. The Jet will probably cost a small fortune to ship? Jet has Quick Change gearbox, hardened ways and more size. The Jet competes with the old South Bend 9" for specifications. I don't think they have back gear though. Prolly need to order up the bench too. Starting to get a lot more expensive than the 8" A sherline lathe with the same equipment would cost more. I do like my sherline though. Me? I bought an Enco Unimat, then a sherline mill, then a sherline lathe, then a South Bend 9" lathe then a Taig mill. Would it have been better to just buy the South Bend and the Bridgeport I'm sure to buy someday in the future, first? Probably but then again I might not have gotten started if I had to wait for the "perfect" machine. ANY lathe is better than no lathe. |
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08-09-2005, 05:29 PM
| #7 |
| Rock Stacker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dallas
Posts: 94
| By the time I buy all of the stuff to equip the Sherline, I am within 100 bucks of the Jet. I have a nice bench in my garage that will hold the lathe. What is the back gear? I think the jet ie reversable if that is what you mean. $160 to ship it. |
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08-09-2005, 10:07 PM
| #8 |
| Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Longmont, CO
Posts: 905
| Back gear is kinda like 4-lo It adds further reduction to the motor pulley system. Usefull when threading especially when threading big threads. A 1-1/2 - 8 thread is .125" per revolution. That's 21 inches per minute at 170 rpm which is pretty fast. I think my SouthBend in back gear is about 40 rpm. Really nice for threading. Or knurling. I'd say go with the Jet if you can afford it. You never regret getting the better tool, always seem to regret going "cheap" |
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08-10-2005, 12:29 AM
| #9 |
| Rock Stacker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dallas
Posts: 94
| I think that is my choice, thanks for the info man! |
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