Think I need a lathe

[Mr Fro]

Well, I say need...

There must be about 4 things that I can think to make so I reckon that using man logic, I can justify the expense.

The problem is that I know somewhere between little and nothing about them so need a bit of noddy advice - this one is good, that one is a munter...

So far I've seen a couple of Myford ML10 around 450-550 quid that look pretty clean - they're appealing because they're relatively small and could probably go on a wheeled bench. I've also seen a Colechester Student on the ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/colcheste...240V-3PHASE-/252066981285?hash=item3ab05ce5a5. Looks a bit ragged and has some surface rust but I understand they are pretty good. Plus the guy is throwing a new single phase motor into the bargain. This thing looks like a monster yet (if shown a bit of love) it could last me well and for some reason is inexplicably cheap *if it works*.

I've only got a double garage in which the wife selfishly insists on keeping her Lotus so I'm mindful of space as I have a couple of bikes in there too along with all my other workshop gear (workbench, welding table, rollercab, couple of shelving racks, etc).

So good people of much knowledge, am I barking up the wrong tree, the right tree or am I just barking?

Cheers,
Fro

 

[Mr shiney]

Every man needs a lathe and a milling machine.... I have a Myford Super 7 and love it.

 

[Maker]

I've only got a double garage in which the wife selfishly insists on keeping her Lotus so I'm mindful of space as I have a couple of bikes in there too along with all my other workshop gear (workbench, welding table, rollercab, couple of shelving racks, etc).

I've got a bigish lathe, mill, roller cab and work bench in a (small ) single garage with a fair bit of space left over, so you can't complain about the space for that big lathe.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Well, you wouldn't be wheeling that Colchester around on a trolley. Sounds like something Myford/small Boxford would suit your 'needs' ( ), although sellers tend to overvalue their Myfords.

Even something like this [this one's finished] if you're patient https://www.apexauctions.co.uk/auction/itemDetails.htm?lotId=36459

 

[Bladevane]

Personally I would go for the bigger lathe on the basis that you can do smaller jobs on a big lather but the reverse is not true. Depends what you want it for. Gamet bearings are a joy- hollow rollers. The Colchester also had hardened bedways. The rust is probably surface only. Can you get a look at it before bidding?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Thread cleaned up, please don't post graphic images like that on here.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Surely we do not need to see the minced up remains of someone's loved one to know that big machinery is VERY dangerous and is to be treated with respect.
Think we might end up handing out some ban replies to this thread if you can't all behave.
The decision was made, the image has been removed, please respect that decision.

 

[waddycall]

The op wanted advice on what type of lathe to get.

 

[brightspark]

The op wanted advice on what type of lathe to get.

and as usual the thread deviates to a full blown argument about health and safety

 

[Maker]

Got across 240 volt DC not something I would recommend

I'll try to take it back on track; Keep an eye on eBay for bargians, get something in good condition, preferably something like the a Colchester or Harrison and don't pay through the nose for a "Restored" (Read repainted and gibs overtightened) Myford

 

[doubleboost]

The op wanted advice on what type of lathe to get.

The biggest one you can fit in to the space available
You can do small work on a big lathe

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I have a myford super 7, I sometimes wish I had gone for something a little bigger but then I don't often actually **need** anything bigger. It does what I need it to do, to a reasonable level of accuracy, down to a thou. Only argument from me would be that as soon as you put Myford in the item description the price flies up :/

 

[Mr Fro]

Okay. Well, thanks to the half dozen or so non health and safety related posts. I do of course totally disagree that a lathe is the most dangerous thing in the workshop - that accolade is saved for the wife when she discovers I've spent x amount on a new bit of kit.

To be frank guys, I appreciate the seriousness of what some are trying to say but the dick swinging is getting quite tiresome - pretty much every thread I see on here zooms past the original point and off in to the distance, never to be seen again.

 

[lchris21]

Mr F,

As previously posted......(somewhere here??) Decide on what you want to do, how much space you've got and how much you want to spend?? Don't overlook the logistics of getting the lathe from its old and into its new home. This can add quite a few quid if you're not geared up for it or never done it before.
If you want a lathe on a trolley, then the bench mounted Myford size will be be decent enough. Anything mounted on its original cabinet will be a sizeable top heavy chunk of iron though, so I'd be looking into a permanent home, or if its not on a cabinet a fixed bench for it??
There's plenty out there for £500 budget. That Colchester will probably clean up, needs to converting to single phase with the included motor or a VFD, but there are others out there ready to plug and play.
Just avoid the far eastern machine mart boat anchors.
If you see anything you fancy post it up, and we'll have a butchers for you....

 

[lchris21]

here's one on your doorstep. great to learn on.....

in your budget, even got a couple of tools to get you going

Whatever you end up buying............there's always another lathe on your horizon

https://www.gumtree.com/p/lathes/-metal-lathe-/1130385338

 

[Maker]

Regarding getting it home, you can get a small lathe fixed to a pallet and delivered for usually less than £60. You can also get extra long pallets for bigger ones but I've not looked into the delivery price yet, it probably won't be much more than £60.

 

[Mr Fro]

here's one on your doorstep. great to learn on.....

in your budget, even got a couple of tools to get you going

Whatever you end up buying............there's always another lathe on your horizon

https://www.gumtree.com/p/lathes/-metal-lathe-/1130385338

Funnily enough, that was one that I was looking at! There's another Myford pretty close on the same site - it's cleaner and a bit more expensive. I've been looking close to home to avoid the logistical nightmares...

Impressive as the Colchester looks - Mrs Fro wasn't what you'd call "enthusiastic" about it so it'll probably be a smaller one for me. Plus I like the idea of being able to move it about relatively easily.

So what are the differences between the ML7 and ML10? I've had a search on-line and apart from a lengthy history lesson on both, there's not much info about sizes/capacities etc.

Cheers,
Fro

 

[gaz1]

I can only post what i got told on here

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/considering-a-lathe-but-so-unsure.51978/

with some extra advice on the link in end I bought a myford ml4 for 120

through looking for parts for it I came across this ml7

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/bought-another-lathe-ml7-with-homemade-gearbox.55999/

was a bargain for the price and the extra parts I got with it

there was enough interest by others with the homemade gearbox so I posted that on the forums as well

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/myford-ml7-homemade-gearbox.56156/

what i can tell you is the ml7 and parts and the wood frame all fit into a vaxhall 7 seater estate car if you dont mind the oily smell 2 people to lift it that was strong enough

 

[lchris21]

Funnily enough, that was one that I was looking at! There's another Myford pretty close on the same site - it's cleaner and a bit more expensive. I've been looking close to home to avoid the logistical nightmares...

Impressive as the Colchester looks - Mrs Fro wasn't what you'd call "enthusiastic" about it so it'll probably be a smaller one for me. Plus I like the idea of being able to move it about relatively easily.

So what are the differences between the ML7 and ML10? I've had a search on-line and apart from a lengthy history lesson on both, there's not much info about sizes/capacities etc.

Cheers,
Fro

I'm no expert on the myford marque, but they have a huge following. There's oodles of info out there on them. First port of call would be http://www.lathes.co.uk/myford/index.html

get yourself a cup of coffee and dive in...........

 

[gaz1]

ml7 is 3 1/2" to centre
ml10 is bigger
Now out of production in all its forms, the ML10 at 3.25" centre height and 13" (later 18") between centres was Myford's smallest modern lathe. Designed as an economical machine, especially suitable for beginners It occupied 35.75" in length (an ML7 was 42") and around 22" in width (almost identical to an ML7).

http://www.lathes.co.uk/myford-ml7/

http://www.lathes.co.uk/myfordml10/

this one tells you the difference where the above info was taken from