Thanks, useful to know.
I guess the RPM isn’t low enough. Thought maybe a lathe could lessen the need
for the numerous taps and dies I have.
Just looking at the manual of the Clarke CL300M, it mentions imperial thread cutting and includes 26tpi.
This is a Taiwan built lathe and it has a pretty decent selection of TPI, 40 pitches in Imperial thread. It also has metric gears which can be installed to cut 40 pitches in metric thread.
All in all its a very decent little lathe. It was given to me by a good friend. He inherited it with his business, but none of his workers would use it as it cut on a unintentional taper, about 15 thou per foot. They preferred to use a larger Eastern European lathe that ran close to true.
One phone call to Dan Smith and some over the phone instructions on lathe setup sorted out the taper problem on this TIDA lathe.
Later on I found the operating manual at back of the lower cabinet. The manual gave virtually the same setup instructions as Dan provided.
I guess no one ever read the manual nor did they go thru the steps for setup. End result the lathe is as new.
My friend tried to use this lathe as trade in on a milling machine, however the machine tool dealer only offered a couple of hundred dollars for it.
He kindly dropped it off at my shop rather than let it go cheap to the dealer. I added the DRO and quick change tool post.
So I would not turn my nose up at an import lathe, especially the Taiwan machines, they aren't half bad. It's way nicer than any of the lathes we had in the High School metal work shop. And we had to fight to get use of those junkers!
Ive machined 3/8 wide x 3/8" deep bullnose cuts 2" apart on 2" Dia 304 ss shafting pairs 4 feet long on this little lathe. That's 48 bullnose cuts per shaft pair and about three 5 gallon pails full of SS shavings.
It did a fine job, but took two full days.
The Monarch did the same job in 4 hrs.
But the little lathe will get you there eventually, just as long as the item falls within the capacity.
For small jobs, making spacers, bushings etc either the big machine or small machine will do it with ease.
Glen
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