New to UK from the States

This topic has 15 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 19 December 2025 at 16:14 by Bazyle.

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16 December 2025 at 21:04 #829013
mcenhillk
Participant
@mcenhillk
I followed my job to the UK this year. I had to leave a lot of my hobbies behind, including my 10″ Atlas lathe. Years gone by, I worked in a machine shop while working my way through school and fell in love with the precision. Now that we are getting settled here (West Suffolk), I’m trying to find something to scratch that mechanical itch but still be “rental property” compatible. In the States, I would be looking at Sherline. Is there something similar on this side of the pond? I think I missed the show/expo season but will be looking for something next year.

Anyway, “Hi!”. I’ll be around.

Kevin
Advert

16 December 2025 at 21:35 #829035
John Haine
Participant
@johnhaine32865
https://millhillsupplies.co.uk/sherline.html
16 December 2025 at 22:07 #829042
Robert Atkinson 2
Participant
@robertatkinson2
Hi Welcome to the UK,

A Sieg C0 would be an option. Available fromvrious sources including:
https://www.axminstertools.com/axminster-model-engineer-series-c0-micro-lathe-505100
I’ve never bought from that supplier. I have a Sieg mill but the supplier retired earlier this year.

Robert.
16 December 2025 at 22:13 #829047
Nigel Graham 2
Participant
@nigelgraham2
I have an Axminster-badged C0 available too – bought a few years ago and never used!
17 December 2025 at 11:16 #829074
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
Sherline or Cowells would be my choice for a small lathe.
17 December 2025 at 11:24 #829076
noel shelley
Participant
@noelshelley55608
Welcome to the UK and to our happy band of engineers. Whilst some have recommended small lathes a Myford super 7 is fairly easy to move, 2 people can lift it, 4 bolts and a few wires and it’s off it’s stand. Simple to set up. It all depends how long you are here for. Best wishes and seasons greetings. Noel.
17 December 2025 at 16:01 #829097
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Welcome Kevin,

Some idea of what you want to make and the restrictions would help.

Sherline are popular here as a small precision lathe with plenty of accessories, not too expensive. Portable, not noisy or messy, so can be used indoors without enraging wife, neighbours or the landlord. With care! Ditto Taig, with fewer accessories.

Minitlathes are borderline. Bigger and more powerful than Sherline, Taig or Cowells. Just about portable if you’re fit. Fairly quiet due to plastic gears and DC motor. But the extra power and size will tempt you into making a mess and annoying the domestic authorities.

Noel recommends a Myford, but not portable, is noisy, and likely to be messy. Swarf everywhere and it has a total loss lubrication system. Though people have successfully contained them indoors, they’re workshop lathes in my opinion. As are all the others of similar size and bigger.

The Cowell’s is the obvious alternative to Sherline, but they’re expensive – built to last, bought by people planning years of hard work. Probably not for folk in temporary accommodation. Super-rich might consider a Schlaublin. Rare for Model Engineers to buy machines of this class.

Proxxon maybe – never touched one myself – they get mixed reviews, as do micro-lathes like the C0. Possibly bought by newcomers with unrealistic expectations who are disappointed.

lathes.co.uk is excellent for second-hand , listing out-of-production machines of all shapes and sizes. Buying second-hand can be hard work because condition matters above all else.

I wouldn’t waste time waiting for a show. It’s become unlikely machinery will be presented unless it’s new and exciting. Buyers travel to showrooms if they want a look-see. I guess most new machines are bought over the internet.

Sherline is a good choice it fits what you do and you’re familiar with their capabilities. Taig if on a smaller budget and don’t need the extras sold by Sherline.

Dave
17 December 2025 at 16:11 #829098
peak4
Participant
@peak4
Hello and welcome; if you’re from over the pond, you might not have come across HomeWorkshop.
It’s a purely advertising site, which hosts ads like this little Unimat, as well as a wide variety of other stuff.
Much about recommendations will depend on your expectations and budget, as well as transport.

https://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&view=show_ad&adid=44930&catid=2

For further details of that model, see Tony’s site mentioned above
https://www.lathes.co.uk/unimat/page6.html

Bill
17 December 2025 at 20:24 #829128
mcenhillk
Participant
@mcenhillk
Thanks for the suggestions, most of those links are new to me. On my Atlas, I was making parts for my Atlas and race car parts. I have an unhealthy fascination with gear cutting and was in the process of making a Eureka Machine for the Atlas. Here? I’ll probably be working on parts for the <insert machine I eventually get here>, and I’ve been looking into clock/watch making (maybe a little model steam work). I’ve looked at some watch makers lathes but they are either of questionable condition (eBay) or brutally expensive and they are pretty much only good for watches. Stepping up a level to Sherline class opens up some more doors, not all of them of course but more. I stumbled across the Cowells lathes a couple of weeks ago, oof those are pricey! That Unimat looks interesting. Looks like I have a project for the evening (after I unpack another box). Anything bigger than that is a no-go for the current house. Our goal was to rent the first year to learn how to live here, figure out where we want to live, and get the credit rating up enough to buy a house. Didn’t find out the credit rating in the States was worthless here till we got here, oh well. Once we are in our next-decade-home, a Myford7 becomes a very desirable option. Proxxon stuff just doesn’t seen right, everything seems fine till you see all of the cast aluminium tool posts and beds. Keith Appleton doesn’t have a problem with them and it able to make/repair some interesting stuff with them.

If money and space were unlimited, I’d love a fully decked out Deckel FP1 but that’s not happening anytime soon.

Thank Bill for the link to HomeWorkshop. I’ll give them a look.

Ugg… Tony’s site is almost unusable from the ads. I’m perfectly fine paying a reasonable amount to support the site but that doesn’t seem to be an option. I love it and hate it at the same time. Doesn’t stop me from going there, it’s a gold mine of information.
17 December 2025 at 21:50 #829140
Bill Phinn
Participant
@billphinn90025
On 17 December 2025 at 20:24 mcenhillk Said:

Tony’s site is almost unusable from the ads. I’m perfectly fine paying a reasonable amount to support the site but that doesn’t seem to be an option. I love it and hate it at the same time. Doesn’t stop me from going there, it’s a gold mine of information.

Have you tried using an ad-blocker? Other than in the for sale and wanted section, I don’t get a single advert on that site.

Rental property compatible depends on your landlord to some extent, I suppose. I don’t think I’d object if a tenant of mine had a biggish lathe, as long as he kept things clean and the floor joists (if applicable) could safely take the weight.
18 December 2025 at 15:42 #829257
lukeama123
Participant
@lukeama123
Hi Kevin,

Welcome to the UK and to the forum! It’s great to hear about your passion for machining. We’re a company that sells lathes, milling machines, and other machining equipment, so it might be worth checking out what we have.

We’ll do our best to see if we have something that works for you and fits with your setup. Looking forward to seeing you around the forum!

You’ll also notice our banner on the forum, usually halfway down the page, and we also advertise in the magazine.

Cheers,
Luke
Amadeal Ltd.
18 December 2025 at 21:36 #829306
JA
Participant
@ja
Kevin

I am sure I am repeating what others have said.

Although many are against Myfords they are still well supported by the company that bought out the old, great, Beeston firm. If I was going to buy a used one I would contact the local model engineering club. My local club advertises within the membership machine tools from deceased members’ estates. Usually these come well tooled and in good condition.

As for Cowells lathes, you simply do not see them for sale second hand, for good reason.

As an owner of both a Cowells and a Myford S7 lathe I am absolutely impartial.

JA
19 December 2025 at 08:38 #829331
John Haine
Participant
@johnhaine32865
Have you come across SMEE?

https://www.sm-ee.co.uk/

HQ in South London, they have well equipped workshops for the heavier stuff, good events both f2f and online. Where are you located in Suffolk? Depending on your nearest train station you can reach them with one change on Thameslink.
19 December 2025 at 13:31 #829357
Howard Lewis
Participant
@howardlewis46836
FWIW, my suggestion is to obtain a lathe that is a little bigger than you, initially think.

Your horizons will expand and in the future you will want to do work, that you never envisaged at this time.

You can do small work on a big lathe but the converse is more difficult.

(I have machined 10 BA screws on a 12″ swing lathe, but never expected to be boring a hole well off centre of a 6″ diameter piece of cast iron!.)

Old lathes can show wear and spares / accessories hard / impossible to find.

Myfords (The older smaller ones as well) are useful lathes, and have a huge following (With attendant prices) But spares and accessories are more easily available.

I started with a ML7 but found it wanting, for my purposes, so changed to a larger machine.

We all choose the machine that seems to suit our needs best.

Howard
19 December 2025 at 16:08 #829379
mcenhillk
Participant
@mcenhillk
Thanks for the suggestion @lukeama123. A little big for my space available though.

@ja, a Myford7 has always been on the list even when I was in the States. My shift from cars to clocks/watches and the need to put the “shop” on the dining room table are pushing me away from that. I’m trying to find some like minded groups near the Bury St Edmunds area.

I have not come across that group @johnhaine32865, thanks for the link. I’d like to find something closer to home but options are always welcomed.

Totally agree @howardlewis46836. No matter what tool you settle on, you’ll need something bigger/smaller/faster/stronger/precise. Since I’m looking at living space as my workspace, I’ll have to stick to the micro lathe size. This might all change in a year, but right now, I need a shop in a box (a large-ish box).
19 December 2025 at 16:14 #829386
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Have a look at the Hobbymat aka MD65. This does have a lot of shortcomings admittedly but is very self-contained. It weighs in at about 70lbs so 40 years ago I was able to struggle it up the stairs to my flat on my own. I actually knew someone who took his on a caravanning (trailer) holiday and used it on his knees in the evening.

There is a Men’s Shed in Bury st Edmunds and although they don’t do any metalwork it is worth getting in contact with them as some will certainly be active with the harder materials and may know of spare machines and materials. https://mensshedbse.org.uk/
Ditto the local model railway club.
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