Do I need a Lathe?

[AlanBeckett]

maitu,
He was (almost) a bodger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodging
Alan

[Aerodyne]

'£250 plus! I had to sit down quietly and have a small brandy when I read that. '
Unfortunately, Alan, that's the sort of lower limit around. Even with those that start out seemingly cheap, by the time you add things like a chuck (let's face it, useful) and a motor (hard to pedal a lathe) and other apparent non-essentials like the toolpost or the tailstock, up goes the cost.
Obtaining an old lathe is OK if you have the space - most used and old lathes are BIG.
I've visited the Model Engineer's Exhibition a year or so back with the aim of obtaining a lathes, but the prices shocked me and all I actually bought were a few hand tools and a large sheet of aluminium!
If you know of anyone with a bench-top lathe in fair order for a reasonable cost, please let me know.
-Tony

[60 oldjohn]

I use to have a lathe until 5 years ago when we cleard the shed when we moved. It was single speed with the motor and reduction drive belts suspended in the roof and I never bothered rigging it all up at my new home. I do miss having a lathe, and have been looking on Ebay for a reasnobly priced lathe to cut high grade steel rod up to 2inch dia. I dont need a long bed, one foot would be long enough if such a lath were ever made. The one I had years ago was too big for what I need.

John.

[Michaelr]

I bought a "peatol" many years ago and found that to be very good and accurate. Apparantly it had been developed for the aerospace industry so is no toy. It is very small , electric powered with speed change via a belt system and has all of the accessories availabe at reasonable prices.It is truly a bench top lathe
The chap who represents the firm over here is in Birmingham and has been doing it for years so is knowledgeable and reliable, I saw them at the Harrogate model engineering show many years ago that Alan referred to in an earlier post.

http://www.peatol.com/

Mike

[AlanBeckett]

John,
The real question is do you want a lathe with a 2" hole through the Headstock. If so then that's a big lathe I'm afraid. Even my Chipmaster is only good for 35mm. There are so-called Second Operation Lathes which would fit the bill if you do, but they tend to be either expensive or completely knackered.
If not then you can use one of the small lathes as Mike says. The thing to check is the swing over the Cross Slide. Also, of course, you can't hack off 1/8" at a time.
Alan

[Yorkie]

'Mini lathes' seem to be very popular, take up little space, and will cope with most of our likely requirements. The keenly priced well constructed Peatol seems to be held in high regard.

I went to the Harrogate Show Model Engineering Show earlier this year - very large and well worth a visit.

For those who enjoy fettling up old machinery, secondhand lathes in various states of disrepair abound on internet - especially e-bay.

Here's an example of what <£200 will buy:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LATHE-WOOD-TUR...erTools_SM&hash=item19ca54478e&clk_rvr_id=287203423362#ht_500wt_1359

[AlanBeckett]

You can look up most of these old lathes on Tony Griffiths site www.lathes.co.uk.
The Henry Milnes Lathes are at http://www.lathes.co.uk/milnes/
Without being too pessimistic it should be pointed out that these old lathes are inherently worn. That doesn't mean you can't do good work with them, you just have to be more careful. Col, for example, made new bearings and a bearing cap for his, using the lathe itself, when it was completely clapped out. Now it works splendidly. And please don't think that getting the bed reground is an option. £150 is an opening gambit for a simple one. New lathes on the other hand just work, although it's often said that the Chinese ones need to be stripped and cleaned before serious use.
Alan

[60 oldjohn]

Thank you for all your replys. I only require the chuck to take 2inch max. I will have a look at the Peatol and also at Tony's site.

John.

[Yorkie]

An example of what you can get for under £40.00. A good clean up, and it would do the business for anyone with the space for a fairly large lathe, well up to our likely requirements:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180757232595&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:GB:1123

There are always lots of lathes on e-bay and similar sites to suit all requirements, be it large or small, old or new. True, there's always the problem of transport, but I don't think that's a big deal if the price is right - I went down to Colchester to collect my woodturning lathe a couple of years ago. Brand new, still in its box with the guarantee unregistered. List price £999 - I bought it at a 'buy now' price of £575 - a 'discount' of 42.5%!!

[Joe]

I'd have had that it it had been nearer!

- Joe