As a novice in this world of small engineering, I am still looking for a lathe. I may have the oportunity to purchase a Smart & Brown SABEL Engineering Lathe and wonder what you good folks think of it's suitability for a none-engineer like me.

regards

Brian

Thanks Michael,

I have only seen a photo of the lathe so far and it looks okay to me. The owner assures me that it is functioning okay but just needs a good clean. The issue with the availability & price of spares seems to be an issue with a lot of older lathes so I guess if I buy it I will have to live with that. The lathe is being offered for £200 so that sounds like a bargain to me.

I'll let you know how I get on

regards

Brian

The following is how it has been described on the email that the owner has sent with the photo:

'This lathe is in working order, but needs a bit of TLC to bring it back to its former self.
It is at least 40 years old and has been stored for the last 10 years.
It is 240v single phase and included are 3 & 4 jaw chucks, centres and various tools.'

I called him on the phone and that was when he told me it was working okay but just needed a good clean up. It has been run occasionally while in storage to keep it running okay.

I would have thought that a faceplate would make a worthwhile project for me to make, surely it is just a piece of steel (round of course) with holes/slots in it and a suitable thread to fasten it to the headstock.

Olly does make me wonder but then Ady's comments are quite encouraging.

regards

Brian

Watch very little on the box as it is.

I am mainly a woodworker and like to think quite practical too, not averse to a bit of blood, sweat & tears. I've been watching some youtube videos and reading books about engineering and am keen to have a go.

No idea what I want to make but some of the books I've been reading have plenty of tool projects to get me going.

The lathe is being sold by a member of our local woodturners club.

regards

Brian

Well, I went to look at the lathe yesterday and for better or for worse have agreed to buy it. It is situated in a tiny village called Y Fron in the hills above Caernarfon in North Wales. Very bleak & misty up there yesterday but a beautiful place with stunning views when the weather is fine.

I will be collecting it in two weeks time and it will have to be dismantled somewhat in order to move it. I looked at a Colchester Student a couple of months ago but that one was just huge, far too big for me. This SABEL is a lot more manageable.

As for the condition of the lathe, while I am no expert, everything did seem to be in quite reasonable condition. There is some surface rust but this can easily be cleaned up. I think it will teach me a lot about the lathe just moving it and cleaning it and during that process I should get a good feel for how it is going to operate.

The lathe used to belong to the sellers father who has apparently bought a larger Boxford and no longer has need of this one

At £200 it does appear to be a real bargain and there is a wooden box included that contains a 3 jaw self centering chuck, a 4 jaw independent chuck, drill chuck for the tailstock and a faceplate together with a few other bits & pieces. Even if I don't take up this hobby of small engineering, which I doubt, I am sure, as Bazyle indicates above, I should have no trouble moving it on.

So people, expect a few (no – a lot) of silly novice questions in the coming months

regards

Brian

Thanks Norman,

I have already found that newsgroup and downloaded the user manual & parts list but thanks anyway. The only thing I get confused with newsgroups as all the messages seem to be mixed up and just listed in the order they are posted. Not like on forums where things are more organised.

Still another useful resource nevertheless,

regards

Brian