Topic: METAL LATHE - help a noob out

[brandEn]

I have been wanting a lathe for a while now. I don't know #$%* about machining but I want to learn some basics. My Dad is a picker and has been keeping his eye out for a lathe for me. Well he found one and its only $100. He does know much about it. Do any of you? All I have is this one picture. Any help appreciated. Just wondering if this is a good starter lathe.

[Bailgang]

Looks like a lathe, mill, drill combo. Provided everything works on it then $100 is a steal because I paid around $2k for mine brand new years ago. Mine has more than paid for itself but you'll find tooling costs add up quick.

[brandEn]

Yes it is a combo lathe. He said that the guy told him its from Harbor Freight and was about $700 new a few years ago. Not sure if it includes any tooling.

[Bailgang]

Tooling costs depends on what you want to do with it. Mine is a Smithy1220-xl (not to be confused with shopsmith) and the list of accessories available can add up to a bunch of $. If yours weighs any where near mine than make sure you have a very sturdy work bench to set it on because it's heavy. Mine cost a bit more because I opted for the Kennedy bench to set mine on.

[faux fiddy]

We've got a bit more  lathe that we'd sell you for a bit more.

For $100 you can hardly go wrong.

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, for 100 bucks, you can't go wrong mate. I've had lathes for the last 25 years or so, and they are an excellent tool for any shop. Tooling is cheap on eBay, and there are plenty of guys here who use them enough to give you any advice you need. Go get it!

[brandEn]

Thanks fellas

[70CB750]

Every lathe has limits, no matter how big you go, you will always ened up wishing for bigger 

Great catch, btw.

Terry is right, tooling can be bought on ebay, also steel, brass, aluminum stock, cut to order if you wish.

Than there is grizzly and enco for tools you will not find on ebay:

https://www.grizzly.com/

http://www.use-enco.com/

If you sign up for enco catalog and email, they have free shipping and % down every month, well worth it.

I found that the chinese SHARS brand of tools is decent quality:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/discount_machine/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

Good luck 

[Bailgang]

Every lathe has limits, no matter how big you go, you will always ened up wishing for bigger 

+1
It didn't take me long before I wished I had gone with the next model larger.

[754]

Get the SouthBend How to run a Lathe book.
 Learn to sharpen your own tools..
Memorize CSx4/dia.....and your basic fpm  for common materials, and it will all start working out..

[Terry in Australia]

Every lathe has limits, no matter how big you go, you will always ened up wishing for bigger 

+1
It didn't take me long before I wished I had gone with the next model larger.

I was lucky, I restored a CB350F and my mate wanted it more than I did, so he traded me a new geared head lathe with 17" swing and a 3 foot bed, plus $1000 of tooling for it. I don't think I'll ever need a bigger lathe, but a little bench top precision lathe would be a nice addition to the workshop..........

[Redline it]

jump on that sale even it doesn't work.