Can I ask members for their advice on these two…???

[Martin Watson 1Participant @martinwatson1]

Posted by Dave Halford on 10/01/2021 19:01:55:

Don't forget new ones need setting up as well, they do not work their best straight out of the box.

Don't waste the guarantee by buying too early, I did that with a roll/bend/shear 3 way machine that was very poor.

Cheers Dave…I've picked up some decent books and one details setting up etc…

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

It is worth considering the uses to which the lathe will be put. If space and budget will allow, my advice would be to buy a little larger than you first think. You can do small work on a large machine, but the reverse can be difficult, frustrating, if not impossible.

Your budget should include an allowance for tooling and measuring equipment. Don't forget a 4 jaw independent chuck You will need one before too long!

If you are a newbie, making a few simple accessories or tools can save money, help familiarise you with the machine, and provide useful learning experience. Some of the gadgets may be unique to your machine and workshop.

Articles in M E W will show the kind of things that have been made, to make life easier, or to improve / extend the capabilities of your machine. Your version may be a scaled up, or down, even improved / specific to your machine, version of that shown in the article, but will be useful, all the same.

Before launching into a purchase, it may be worth obtaining and reading a few books. They will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. The knowledge will not be wasted.

Zeus Charts are always useful. Still using mine bought in 1958, and later editions.

L H Sparey "The Amateur's Lathe" Focuses on the Myford ML7 but sets out basic principles.

Ian Bradley "The Amateur's Workshop" Deals with matters additional to lathe work, a good companion to Sparey

Tubal Cain "Model Engineers Handbook" is a very useful reference book containing all sorts of data that will be needed from time to time.

Dave Fenner and Neil Wyatt have both written books on the mini lathe.

Harold Hall has written books on a variety of subjects pertaining to Model Engineering

The Workshop Practice Series contains booklets covering a wide variety of subjects, including Drills, taps and Dies, Screwcutting etc.

There are other books specifically on Screwcutting in the lathe, when your horizons expand

HTH

Howard

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

There's another advantage too of buying a popular brand, new or good-quality second-hand.

If you need ask advice on here for some difficult turning operation, say what make and model lathe it is, for then it's very likely you'll elicit answers from people familiar with that machine or one of its stable, and who may have performed similar tasks on theirs.

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