I've had teh 280VF for almost 5 years now and it will take a 0.050" cut off 4" bar. You do loose a little bit of torque when you go to 9-10" work such as flywheels where you need to keep the cut around 0.025" but it snot often you need to use the machine to these max sizes.

The newest 280 lathes have Inverters rather than the DC motor on the older ones like mine so you may not have the problem on the large diameters.

Think this was a 20thou cut on a 10.2" iron flywheel

My mini lathe will cut 1.5mm at 3" dia… Struggles with a 2mm cut (belt slip). But it is fitted with a 0.4 HP 3-phase motor.

Neil

Hi Dean,

One of the Myfords (the cheapest) is a ML 10, you don't think it will be too small? If the ML7 is in good condition you will get a good lathe that will serve you for a long time. My experience is, get a bigger lathe, but one you still can get into your workshop (and afford). I own a 290F lathe, similar to Jason's but with a bigger bore.

Thor

Edited By Thor on 09/04/2014 08:13:00

The old Drummonds are good solid machines, the M series was probbly the best hobbyist size machine

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

Edited By Ady1 on 09/04/2014 09:24:57

Depth of cut on its own is somewhat irrelevant, without a discussion of feedrate and spindle speed. At its most basic, metal removal rate is roughly proportional to power at the spindle (not necessarily the same thing as the motor placard). More power equals a faster removal rate. A rough rule of thumb is that 1 horsepower will remove 1 cubic inch per minute in low carbon steel.

How that rate is achieved by juggling speed, doc and feedrate is another matter. It will depend on the rigidity of the workpiece, the rigidity of the lathe and the type of tooling used among other things.

Andrew

If room is no problem why not a Harrison either L5 or 140, good solid machine, easily converted to single phase, although inverters are relatively cheap now, within your price range and it will hold its value.
Myford's are a good machine but way too small and under powered, and before I get hung for knocking the god of lathes, and yes I know Fred made a full size loco wheel to a tolerance of 0.000000001 on one last week, but Freds my next door neighbour, and I've told him a million times to stop exaggerating. lol

I've had several Harrisons over the years (and a Myford) the Harrisons are pretty much bullet proof, and they have a gap which I find useful, I move mine away from the wall every few months on a pallet truck to clean the suds tank, but its easily moved on rods weights about 600kg

Check out lathes.co.uk to find out all you need