Lathe shopping list/order

[gaz1]

it wont be his last buy thats definate

hes forgotten the tool sharpener as well or build one instead

 

[brightspark]

I only report machine sales. Acquisitions arrive when everyone is out!

makes no odds who is in or knows. if i want something i get it and wife dont bat an eyelid or say owt i get stuff on ebay and she pays the bill from paypal on her card i have to force the cash on to her or i feel guilty

 

[8ob]

makes no odds who is in or knows. if i want something i get it and wife dont bat an eyelid or say owt i get stuff on ebay and she pays the bill from paypal on her card

Thats right BS, any backchat and she can do the dishes, hoovering and make the beds herself

Bob

 

[redlig]

makes no odds who is in or knows. if i want something i get it and wife dont bat an eyelid or say owt

Sounds like a keeper. I bought a piece of kit a week or two back which was almost exactly like one I had already. Said to SHMBO I think I'll sell No 1 in a wistful way to which she replied" why don't you keep both of them.. Result!!

 

[brightspark]

Thats right BS, any backchat and she can do the dishes, hoovering and make the beds herself

Bob

hmm i wash up most times and thats as far as it gets . ohh i make a cup of tea for her every day and i feed the dog

 

[gaz1]

Thats right BS, any backchat and she can do the dishes, hoovering and make the beds herself

Bob

well shes gets it quids in then

i can imagine bob doing the walking, cleaning cooking the meals shopping for food

selling all bobs gear off as hes not pulling his weight around and slacking off with his dutys

oh and she says shes not parting with her clothes shopping but your more than welcome to do the rest

 

[Hopefuldave]

I suggest you don't rush in.

First decide what sort of thing you are going to use it for and ask yourself some questions.

Are you going to be turning precision parts, or just making something roundish?
What size swing do you need? Are you limited on space? Do you have three phase, if not how difficult is it to convert the machine to singlephase, have you budgeted for this?
Do you need screwcutting capabilities? If so do you want a quick change gearbox or are you happy to swap out changewheels? - if so make sure they come with the machine.
Spindle bore and chuck mounting are also things you should consider.

This will dictate what type of machine you should be looking for.
Generally bigger lathes are cheaper than smaller ones due to the lack of appeal for most home workshops. However, they also don't fit in most home workshops.

Look carefully at the accessories that come with the machine - things like steadies, changewheels, backplates and collets can often be impossible or extremely expensive to source, and often missing from cheaper machines.
If you don't need them fine, but if you decide you might later you might be out of luck. At a minimum you want a decent three and four jaw chuck.

Consider how you will load, transport offload and locate the machine - a lot of machines are cheap because they require a significant expenditure in moving them.

Now is not a good time to buy one as the prices have gone mad and £700 doesn't get you much.
You also need to keep in mind that you will need to allocate a significant budget for tooling - often as much as the machine.

I would say bide your time, get your shopping/short list and start watching items on ebay to get a feel for the market.
Do some research in how to assess the condition of a lathe, and never buy blind if you can help it.

The best possible machine will appear shortly after you have just purchased one.

Wot he said ...
ALWAYS worth seeing it running, just as important hearing it (Colchesters are always noisy, but no clunking and grinding!), testing all the functions - if unsure take One Who Knows.
Replacement parts are going to be expensive or unobtainable, tooling just expensive - get as much with it as you can.
Don't be put off because it's 3-phase, *most* can run off a VFD with some links moved in the motor connection box (and it puts hobbyists off, pushes prices down, as do size and weight).
Moving isn't that difficult (I moved 2+ tons of lathe, 2tons of mill on my own, hired a Hilux and plant trailer, found some scaffold poles, bought a hatful of hefty ratchet straps).
You *definitely* want screw cutting (rules out the Boxford TU, a 'training lathe'), quick-change screw cutting box is a big plus as is power feeds with their own shaft. Most inch/metric threading conversion needs a Special Gear, probably 127 or 63 tooth, check it's there!

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[W.olly]

Deluded

Bob

I was wondering if anybody would mention that ha ha

I say that about boats, still not managed to stop just reduce stock lol.

I fancy a shaper but what the hell am i going to do with all these machines i dont know, and dont care ha ha.

Anyway thanks for all the help chaps. ill bide my time, as said no rush as just started to rebuild the work shop. I should have maybe space for a 6-7 foot lathe so not to bad. And ill look into doing a list of my main needs from it then go from there.

thanks all

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Nice technique.

It's going to catch up with him one day - you mark my words....