Welcome Matthew.

John Stevenson has a C0 and thinks quite a lot of it.

If you look HERE you can see how it compares to his 10 horsepower TOS. I doubt he would have one if it didn't do the jobs he asks of it.

I think the C0 is very much a machine for people whose main hobby is not engineering, but it would still allow you to tackle small engineering jobs. My dad has a very old Unimat of similar size and power that he uses just for odd parts for model boats.

Neil

Might be able to get a Unimat SL for the higher end of that budget.

You could buy the often completly over priced Super Adept lathes for £100.

E.W Lathes are worth looking out for. There is a long thread about them on this forum and they do appear on ebay from time to time. I'm sure you are aware of it but the "lathes.co.uk" website has lots of useful info on many different types.

Regards.

David.

I use a Pultra every day in my work but considering your health condition ,i think something ready to use like the CO you mention would be better for you plus it has a lead screw which is my only complaint about Pultra`s.

Heres some photos of mine it was cheap for a Pultra ,i did it up and power it by a inverter whichi got for  £20 brand new off ebay .

Edited By mark smith 20 on 10/03/2016 10:30:52

Edited By mark smith 20 on 10/03/2016 10:32:41

It might be possible to find a used Hobbymat in that price range. The thing that would concern me about the CO is the 5" between centres – if that is correct as adding a chuck and a drill chuck wouldn't leave much at all and what ever people are making holes usually have to be drilled.

Of the Unimats I would suggest the 4 not the SL. I feel that the SL is a little like the Super Adept. They fetch far too high a price for what they are. Same applies to many old lathes on ebay.

Having owned both though the Hobbymat is a much better small general use lathe. Extra bits and pieces are expensive on both. Hobbymat's can have an adjustment problem – people sometimes mess them up.

When looking for used lathes don't forget Gumtree and also Preloved.

Shakes and shudders suggesting this but I suspect your budget would stretch to a Peatol. I'd better duck now as people will be throwing bricks at me over the web. However when I could easily use machines at work it was the first machine I bought for home. Here is a photo of me seriously abusing it working on a Boxford spindle. I have done much much worse things on it.

They have their problems but I don't think they need worry you. As they come the can turn very precise components in all respects. Over time especially if way too much is asked of them the headstock distorts and they will turn tapered components that were once dead parallel. In my case that was circa 0.002" over 4" after some serious abuse with the riser blocks on so that I could fit the part I needed to turn.

I often wonder why I sold it. I did buy a lot of the bits and pieces to go with it. In that mode all sorts of things can be made. Looking at the UK price list they still supply it with a 1/4hp motor but that may have changed. It's generally sold as a kit but the instructions that come with it are excellent.

John

–

The only other one that springs to mind is this one

**LINK**

Never used or handled one but I do know that this seller has sold rather a lot of them and the next size up.

There is also this one which may be found used at times

**LINK**

John

–

I think Harry's is the only one with 14" centres Neil hence lining to it some are 10 I believe – drilling holes again.

I only noticed because at one point he was selling upgrade beds. I do buy some tooling off him. He's another like Arc who has a pretty good reputation. He has various sizes of cobalt hss and some decent reamers too.

John

–

.

http://www.m-p.co.uk/muk/acrobat/clarke/cl300m-instructions.pdf  

and … **LINK**

[although I wouldn't trust the claimed horsepower ]

£225 might be a good price

MichaelG.

.

Our worthy Editor should be able to advise.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 12/03/2016 13:09:10

That's the lathe I have. Perfectly usable, mine is 18 years old and still going (but much modified and some parts renewed). To be honest the Clarke models are SIEG and have probably benefited from improved quality control over the years, but mini-lathes from some of the other suppliers have higher specs – longer bed (up to 16", quick release tailstock, brushless motor are the three most useful 'upgrades' IMHO.

Five pages on the CL300M by mike Cox in the latest Model Engineer's Workshop (issue 239).

Available HERE

Rumour is a new book on Mini Lathes is coming out soon with advice on choosing one

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 12/03/2016 15:12:08

.

Are you going to tell us why ?

MichaelG.

Thanks, Matthew

I had to ask; because this is a significant step up from what I would consider a small lathe. … One day, someone will find this thread when they too are looking for guidance.

Delighted that you have found your ideal match [before spending the money]

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 12/03/2016 20:49:14