K: Tools Do I need a metal turning lathe?

[Black Flash]

Danno,

Jack Barker told me about 30 years ago that no man should be without a lathe. HE WAS RIGHT!
I first bought a small Emco lathe which soon turned out to be too small.
Years alter I had the chance to buy a squarehead Colchester Student, best thing I ever bought as it easily cuts imperial and metric threads. I use it at least once a week and I simply couldn't be without a lathe now, not for bikes only but for many other jobs around the house, garden, cars etc..

Go for the right size from a start, another lesson from Peter Volkers : They are never too big, they are always to small. I got the 25 inch version and it's ok for me, I would have preferred the 40 inches, but I simply didn't have the space.

Bernd

 

[Dave61]

Hi
I’m currently trying to make some sort of workshop out of my single garage. Got 3 bikes including a C Rapide.
I had to sell a rather dated pillar drill, a wood turning lathe and a large free standing circular saw
due to house move.
Now sort of starting again as regards useful machines an I’m down to an electric grinder
and free standing disc/belt sander.
Have managed so far without a metal turning lathe but I do need another drill or mill drill.
There’s quite a few hobby type machines that would fit the bill and a fairly small footprint is important.
Someone suggested that the Clarke CL500M lathe and mill drill from Machine Mart is good value and would save getting seperate machines. Could just about accommodate one.
Otherwise just a hobby mill drill would do as I’ll have a solid bench and vice for basic thread tapping and general use.
I guess many Vin owners are kitted out with lathes.
Any ideas appreciated.

Danno,
Like Stu said once you've got one you'll wonder how you managed without one.
I've only got a 8x16 hobby lathe from Armadeal last year but they don't seem to have them anymore.
Arceurotrade have the Sieg lathes & are considerably cheaper than the same machines Axminster sell.
I like old machinery as they are more robust, I'm a Joiner & my workshop has predominantly old machines, but I don't know enough about old metal lathes to make a good choice for a home workshop.
All I can add is buy the biggest you can afford & allow for buying tooling & accessories & a brushless motor is preferable.
Cheers
Dave

 

[danno]

It all depends on what you want to be doing.

I need to look into what a lathe can do but at least would like to make up studs,
bolts, clean up threads (although I have tins and tins of imperial taps and dies).
I’m not sure but on the odd occasion I’ve needed a particular bolt.
Years ago, someone from the VOC kindly made up a couple of longer tank bolts
for the headstock on my Rapide.
The threads in the frame weren’t gripping. £10.00, job done.
Other than that, I haven’t felt that it’s a ‘must have’.
Any specialist parts I usually buy.

The Clark CL500M might be limited but the size is the max I could possibly go with
single garage and three bikes. Would need to extent garage back for a larger one.
Not sure whether a seperate drill/mill would be better than integrated but I’m really
limited for space.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cl500m-metal-lathemill-drill/

The CL300M is more manageable. Surely would be better than nothing.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cl300m-metal-lathe/

Anything I can’t do, I’d take somewhere or have made up.
Not sure if ‘hobby lathes’ are a modern thing but I can’t have anything bigger.
Also gearbox, power, RPM, belt drive I’m not too clear about.

 

[Black Flash]

Danno,

Just another suggestion before you buy a lathe. Now that everything is moving towards CNC machinery, second hand lathes tend to be around in good numbers to choose from. Beware of buying rebranded chinese stuff, they are cheap for a reason, usually they are quite light from their castings and tend to vibrate much more than an old sturdy built lathe.
Have a look at lathes.co.uk the website will give you tons of informations regarding all kind of lathes and is sorted my manufacturers. You can learn a lot about the lathes that are up for offers in the second hand market from this website.
Personally I would rather buy a 25 year old second hand machine than a new machine with chinese origin.

Bernd

 

[danno]

Danno,

Just another suggestion before you buy a lathe. Now that everything is moving towards CNC machinery, second hand lathes tend to be around in good numbers to choose from. Beware of buying rebranded chinese stuff, they are cheap for a reason, usually they are quite light from their castings and tend to vibrate much more than an old sturdy built lathe.
Have a look at lathes.co.uk the website will give you tons of informations regarding all kind of lathes and is sorted my manufacturers. You can learn a lot about the lathes that are up for offers in the second hand market from this website.
Personally I would rather buy a 25 year old second hand machine than a new machine with chinese origin.

Bernd

Thanks. Will check that out.
£1378.00 for the CL500M is quite a lot but I suppose it’s cheap for a new lathe compared to a better quality new equivalent.
I suppose I’m tempted by ease of purchase, delivery, warranty etc.

 

[mercurycrest]

I need to look into what a lathe can do but at least would like to make up studs,
bolts, clean up threads (although I have tins and tins of imperial taps and dies).
I’m not sure but on the odd occasion I’ve needed a particular bolt.
Years ago, someone from the VOC kindly made up a couple of longer tank bolts
for the headstock on my Rapide.
The threads in the frame weren’t gripping. £10.00, job done.
Other than that, I haven’t felt that it’s a ‘must have’.
Any specialist parts I usually buy.

The Clark CL500M might be limited but the size is the max I could possibly go with
single garage and three bikes. Would need to extent garage back for a larger one.
Not sure whether a seperate drill/mill would be better than integrated but I’m really
limited for space.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cl500m-metal-lathemill-drill/

The CL300M is more manageable. Surely would be better than nothing.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cl300m-metal-lathe/

Anything I can’t do, I’d take somewhere or have made up.
Not sure if ‘hobby lathes’ are a modern thing but I can’t have anything bigger.
Also gearbox, power, RPM, belt drive I’m not too clear about.

Hi Danno,
Watch this, you'll learn a lot you need to know about small lathes:

Cheers, John

 

[danno]

Hi Danno,
Watch this, you'll learn a lot you need to know about small lathes:

Cheers, John

Great, that’s just the thing.
Thanks.

 

[oexing]

Problem with "good old lathes" is the weight. To be open, you don´t really want that in our cases as you´d plan to carry it somewhere without good access for transport machinery. And another point, most times the motor is in the base - extra weight - so no way to just place the lathe on a bench for saving space for other stuff. I got three Chinese lathes, all new , one from Taiwan , 1984, when Red China was not as active like today. Small lathes can be a nuisance as handles may be too close to each other when you have to do hand feed - most of the time really , do try each candidate for size and operation - might come a bit frustrating ergonomically. You just have to look at ALL items on the machine for choosing a decent type there are many versions of almost identic types. And really , some finishes are not all that elegant or perfect - but then, what´s your needs from it today ? The Myfords are a religion, not an argument, compared to what you get from China, no way I´d want to have antiques , had them when I was a lot younger. A Colchester is great, Weiler too, but weight is prohibitive for many. But be prepared with old, worn machinery, you´d start another restauration with it while still busy enough with your bikes - would not want this.
For deciding, I´d want a gear type lathe, an extra frequency converter hooked on it too, in combination definitely ! That saves you from endless gear changes in between, just needed for high torque cases like big drills or parting off and big work pieces. A fixed belt drive type , no gear box, variable speed motor type would NOT be my choice really , no guts at very low speeds, imagine thread cutting - no way. A large through hole in the spindle is nice to have, Camlock quick change spindle head certainly, these traditional old huge threaded flanges antediluvian - no way . Induction hardened vee-bedways a must - and so on, an extra forum discussion possibly . . .

Vic

 

[Dave61]

Thanks. Will check that out.
£1378.00 for the CL500M is quite a lot but I suppose it’s cheap for a new lathe compared to a better quality new equivalent.
I suppose I’m tempted by ease of purchase, delivery, warranty etc.

Danno,
Have a look at

SIEG SC4-510 HiTorque Lathe - Arc Euro Trade

SIEG SC4-510 HiTorque Lathe - Belt Drive with powerful 1000w Brushless Motor

www.arceurotrade.co.uk

All the mini lathes seem to be made in China but the ones supplied by Arceurotrade have got quite a reasonable reputation & the company seem quite good if you look on any of the model Engineering forums.
A friend has the SC6 & it seems far more robust then mine.
Cheers
Dave

 

[stu spalding]

I agree with Bernd, but if you do go for an older machine you ought to have a fully sorted engineer with you to take a look at it. When I started I didn't know an end mill from a slot drill but my CL500M has allowed me to teach myself a lot without too much hassle, (and a little help from my friends). Cheers, Stu.