Beginer lathe

[ethanstorey]

Hi all I have always fancied buying a lathe for a few odd jobs I have the option of a hobbymat md65 with mill or a south bend 9 inch what would people recommend Is the best? I am just a beginner so please bear that in mind

 

[minimutly]

South bend 9 inch for certain.

 

[123hotchef]

The south bend gets my vote also

 

[oldbikedavey]

The South Bend was designed to work in order to be sold.
Very practical, very well thought out, and with considerable scope in its application.
No 'Tart's Handbag' about those things.....

 

[addjunkie]

Southbend for me too. Though we did have a member who used a hobbymat I think it was for some nice model stuff, not seen him post for a while.

What ever you buy make sure it all works, you dont want a project to learn on.

Obviously once you learn how to use the a lather youll need a mill too.

This isnt far from you, and would also be wellworth a look. Ignore the POA and ring him.

Boxford Metal Lathe - Page 1

Bede Tools and Machinery , New and Used Quality Tooling and Light Machinery Bought and Sold , Supplying the Model Engineer and Light Engineering Industy.Popular makes of Lathes including :Boxford , Colchester Etc ....

www.bedetools.com

 

[E T]

Southbend anytime, but it also depends if it's a 9A, 9B or 9C.
I wouldn't want to be without the gearbox of the 9A.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Southbend...I've had a 'hobby' lathe and it was terrible, I now have a smart and brown and there is a world of difference

 

[Morris]

Southbend. My first home lathe and it was great.

 

[BrokenBiker]

youll need a mill too.

You sound just like the voices in my head

 

[dobbslc]

South Bend all day long.
Here's mine.

 

[minimutly]

South Bend all day long.
Here's mine.
View attachment 528520

Needs a tray..

 

[dobbslc]

Needs a tray..

I does but I haven't got round to sorting something out yet. Early days though as I only got it in 2021

 

[ethanstorey]

Thanks for all the replies the only problem is would be very expensive to get the south bend transported there is a myford lathe local to me are they Any good?

 

[dobbslc]

Bit smaller but decent lathes.
It depends on what you want to make as to how big a lathe is needed. If you want to skim brake discs then a Myford is probably no good.

 

[ethanstorey]

I belive it to be a myford ml1 and it's only to make small bushes and spacers for my landrover series 2a project so that's why I thought the hobbymat will be best biggest thing I would turn is a 70mm pulley

 

[123hotchef]

Southbend for me too. Though we did have a member who used a hobbymat I think it was for some nice model stuff, not seen him post for a while.

What ever you buy make sure it all works, you dont want a project to learn on.

Obviously once you learn how to use the a lather youll need a mill too.

This isnt far from you, and would also be wellworth a look. Ignore the POA and ring him.

Boxford Metal Lathe - Page 1

Bede Tools and Machinery , New and Used Quality Tooling and Light Machinery Bought and Sold , Supplying the Model Engineer and Light Engineering Industy.Popular makes of Lathes including :Boxford , Colchester Etc ....

www.bedetools.com

same as my first and only lathe, I love it

 

[addjunkie]

I belive it to be a myford ml1 and it's only to make small bushes and spacers for my landrover series 2a project so that's why I thought the hobbymat will be best biggest thing I would turn is a 70mm pulley

You say that now, but the ML1 must be a fair old age. Can you screw cut with it, how badly worn is it. Once you have a lathe you will wonder how you ever managed without one. Buy right buy once, like any tool.

Ring the guy in Jarrow advertising the little boxford. The POA is a pain, but hes really ok to deal with.

 

[jo1010]

I belive it to be a myford ml1 and it's only to make small bushes and spacers......

A ml1 would be fairly rare .....have you had a look at this comprehensive resource....

Myford ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4 lathes

Myford ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4 lathes. The first lathe made by Myford from the early 1930s onwards. Light machines and build-down to a price but, for what they were, effective lathes. Many hundreds were sold until replaced by the ML7

www.lathes.co.uk

.....to identify further?
The Southbend is generally heavier with a bigger swing than the myfords ( though footprints are probably not all that different). Both have their devotees though. There are always a lot of myfords for sale too though prices can sometimes be driven up due to popularity.
I'd probably say look at some in the flesh and see which appeals more ( and try to judge condition before buying too).....but for smaller jobs the myfords do have some appeal...

 

[jo1010]

My other advice is not to over-think a purchase - often the first lathe owned is not the one you end up with (a bit like welding machines there)....so maybe don't buy the highest spec one you can get (and then not use a lot of it's functions).

 

[Gragson]

that's why I thought the hobbymat will be best biggest thing I would turn is a 70mm pulley

Hobbymats for the size are quite good/rigid for a mini lathe/mill depending on condition of course.
I've not got space for anything bigger right now and I wouldn't be without them, used often for smaller machining. But you will quickly get tired of the capacity limitations, Dom (Optima) who's not around anymore used to manage some amazing stuff on his but it took a lot of thought and planning.

I guess the pro of a Hobbymat is you usually get back what you bought it for £200-£300 for an ok one.
Try and avoid the lathe mounted mill setup, they are not rigid enough. Standalone hobbymat mini mill is much better.
The other pro is that you can literally pick them up and stick it on a shelf being only about 45kg.



When I grow up I would love a southbend @dobbslc that looks great, I should keep my eye out!