Topic: The pissed off lathe thread

[scottly]

I was in need of a lathe about 20 years ago, and made several trips to Phoenix, 90 miles away, armed with dial indicators and such to inspect the prospects. Every machine I looked at was clapped out in the ways under the chuck, and some had horrible amounts of run-out in the chucks. The most promising lathe was about 10 foot long, and the way the head-stock mounted on the ways, the bed could have possibly been shorted by 6 feet, placing almost virgin way surfaces under the chuck. In the end, I decided a new Chinese lathe was better than a worn out American one that cost more money.
I paid about $2500, plus $500 shipping, for a Jet 12"x40" belt drive. On the other hand, I once picked up a well used, but still serviceable Clausing 13"x40" for $300. If I had found the Clausing first, I wouldn't have bought the Jet.
 

[scunny]

Damn, now I'm looking at lathes on line.
meant to be making room, not getting more stuff.

[70CB750]

My Logan has a Navy label on it, it sure has some mileage and I have to really try to get some decent precision out of it.

[HondaMan]

I was in need of a lathe about 20 years ago, and made several trips to Phoenix, 90 miles away, armed with dial indicators and such to inspect the prospects. Every machine I looked at was clapped out in the ways under the chuck, and some had horrible amounts of run-out in the chucks. The most promising lathe was about 10 foot long, and the way the head-stock mounted on the ways, the bed could have possibly been shorted by 6 feet, placing almost virgin way surfaces under the chuck. In the end, I decided a new Chinese lathe was better than a worn out American one that cost more money.
I paid about $2500, plus $500 shipping, for a Jet 12"x40" belt drive. On the other hand, I once picked up a well used, but still serviceable Clausing 13"x40" for $300. If I had found the Clausing first, I wouldn't have bought the Jet.

How is the runout near the chuck? That seems to be the weak point on Chinese lathes, due to cheesy bearings in the head.

[scottly]

Last time I checked, it was about .001", which is about as good as most three jaw chucks. One #$%* I have about the Jet is a leaking seal on the spindle, which deposits oil on the pulley and belt if it sits idle for a length of time. Over all, it's been a decent machine.

[scottly]

If it won't hold oil, it sure won't hold air.

[Don R]

 A local machine shop owner was teaching a cnc class at the jr. college. He bought some chinese mills and upgraded them with better bearings and cnc drives so he could teach the class. 

[HondaMan]

A local machine shop owner was teaching a cnc class at the jr. college. He bought some chinese mills and upgraded them with better bearings and cnc drives so he could teach the class.

This is exactly what I'm about to do on my Little Machine Shop lathe. These were made by the same Central Machinery who makes the Harbor Freight versions, but LMC used to send back 60% of them back for poor [fill in the blank] in the early 2000's when I got mine. It has finally worn the chuck-side bearing enough that I have to turn the swingarm bushings on a longer spindle to keep them straight, and I finally got a 14" bed for it (it's only a 10", MAYBE, in stock length - more like 8.8", really...) so after the swingarm rush slows down this summer I'm going to go all thru and re-bearing it with some SKF bearings and the long bed. I found a nice grinder that attaches to the tool post, too, to help me with pistol parts...

[scottly]

What is the swing on your lathe, Mark? Sounds awfully small with only a 9-10" bed..

[Alan F.]

I'm running an old green HF lathe with the old DC motor. You're right they are small, rated at 7 x 10 but effectively 7 x 8 out of the box.
Last year when my control box burned itself up I wound up salvaging a transformer and a rectifier from an old stereo to get it turning again. Single speed with reverse, powerful enough for 80% of the parts I make.

But yes, it's a tiny toy. Mark should really enjoy the longer bed.

[754]

There was An Atlas for sale here in Kelowna, in nice shape..

[BigJimG]

Unfortunately, they're over 100 miles away, at my Dad's place.  Here is his collection.  An insanely large 14HP Monarch, and 8 x 36 (I think) Clausing, and a 6 x ?  South Bend.  All three phase, which is why he got them so cheap.  Someday I'd like to convert the South Bend to single phase and "Borrow" it, as I don't have the room or the need for much bigger.

[Don R]

 My buddy just upgraded his lathe. If I had more room in the shop I'd be looking at his old one.

[754]

I think you are looking at it the wrong way..it should be I am making room so I can get it in my shop ..sort of thing.

 Meanwhile, my lathe I love , that I bought brand new is still sitting,  been about 3 years since I was powered up. I will have to get a Rotophase.

[754]

 I just try not to think about it because it makes me sad not having it wired now. I never had a new bike but I bought this brand new..

[RAFster122s]

How much is a Rotophase Frank?

[754]

Hoping to get a used 7.5 HP RPC for around 750 to 900..
 There are cheaper units but not as efficient.

[Terry in Australia]

I love my big Chinese screw cutting lathe, with a 3 foot bed and 16 inch swing, although a little bit more swing would be great. I can't think of a time when I needed a longer bed, my cousin's lathe had a 10 foot bed, but it was never needed, and when he sold his Suzuki dealership the guy who bought his shop, sold the lathe and bought one like mine.

I haven't seen any big chinese lathes with poor quality bearings, my lathe is 25 years old now and I haven't noticed any slop in the bearings, but then again, some of the toy lathes out there are just rubbish, and should be avoided at all costs. When it comes to lathes, you really do get what you pay for.    

[strynboen]

i have a old Danish lathe..and a small chinese (lathe)..to make fine threds and small parts..for spedometres and clock parts..it Works fine..just need a lot of adjusting and often need to be teighten up,,as it weares inn.so not a bay and just, use Tool..