Do all lathes make this much noise ?

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

Optimum TU1503V

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

I have found a lathe which is not too heavy ie. I can lift it by myself. It will also turn pieces up to 140 mm diameter so I can machine flywheels if a suitable faceplate can be found.

However, there is a youtube video clip here and I was surprised at how noisy it is :

**LINK**

Are all lathes this noisy ? I thought the motor would have been quite silent and most of the noise would come from the cutting tool on the piece being machined. Noise is a factor as I live in an apartment.

Does anybody know if they make a faceplate for this ? Google searches are turning up nothing.

**LINK**

NOTE : How do you edit the title ?

 

Edited By Brian John on 18/10/2014 09:47:57

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Sounds quite good to me but obviously depends on how high you have your volume turned up as there is nothing to compare the sound level with eg a voice. By the amount of noise from the road outside I would say its a quiet machine much like my larger 280 which is much the same. All thes evariable speed lathes just have a belt from the motor to spindle so not nuch chance of gear noise.

J

PS you can't but I have edited it.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Brian,

Whilst running at speed there is a high pitched whine there is to much back ground noise to see how loud the lathe is.

Martin P

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Brian John on 18/10/2014 09:47:08:

Noise is a factor as I live in an apartment.

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It's a small lathe so I would think once it is on a sturdy table and set up properly it will certainly make far less noise than a washing machine on a spin cycle. That should give it a domestic benchmark.

Things like it being level (even a small lathe) reduce vibration and thus noise not to mention the finish on the material being cut.

It also sounded to me as if the change gears were a little bit 'clattery'. This is probably due to them not being quite correctly adjusted. (the are meant to be adjusted) This will also quieten the machine down especially when given a dollop of something like motorbike chain oil. This will reduce wear and again improve surface finish of machined parts.

Perhaps consider a little bit of board under each leg of the table and sandwich something like the 10mm underlay used to go under wood floors between that and the existing floor.

Nick

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by Nick_G on 18/10/2014 10:17:58:

It also sounded to me as if the change gears were a little bit 'clattery'. This is probably due to them not being quite correctly adjusted.

Yes, certainly sounds like it. You can take them out of engagement when not using them and that should reduce the noise for normal turning operations.

Nick, how does leveling affect the noise?

Russell.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Russell Eberhardt on 18/10/2014 11:25:58:

Nick, how does leveling affect the noise?

Russell.

It doesn't ……….. My bad.!

What I should have said was that all 4 corners have a weight load upon them. OK the headstock end will always have more, but leveling is a good step towards assisting this.

Nick

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Taking them out of engagement will mean a loss of power feed so best to just spend 10mins adjusting them to the right backlash so its easy to flick in and out of feed.

Also not keen on that integral toolpost/topslide

Edited By JasonB on 18/10/2014 12:47:44

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

What is wrong with the integral toolpost / topslide ? In my case : beggars can't be choosers !

Thank you for editing the title.

Has anybody had any personal experience with this brand of lathes ?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Brian,

I don't really think you can tell very much about the lathe's noise level from that video.

• For the first 20 seconds, it isn't switched on … there's just all the racket in the 'shop.
• The microphones on many video cameras have a very peaky frequency response.

I understand that you have no showroom nearby, but; if the noise level might be a deal-breaker, you really need to find a better recording.

MichaelG.

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

Eh???

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Bear in mind you won't be running it that fast 95% of the time!

The toolpost is intended for production use – set up a tool and leave it there all day. Most lathes these days have a four-position toolpost you can use to hold a number of tools or a quick-change toolpost. your problem is that it will be difficult to 'upgrade' without modifying a new topslide to fit.

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by The Merry Miller on 18/10/2014 14:37:39:

Eh???

.

If that is directed at me, could you please explain.

MichaelG.

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Edit: Sorry … just realised it was probably a "joke" response to the original question.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 18/10/2014 16:10:13

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 18/10/2014 16:16:51

[John DurrantParticipant @johndurrant47282]

If you intend to cut metal in an apartment I'm glad I don't live near you.

It is impossible to operate metal cutting machines without creating noise and vibration.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Brian I would have prefered to see a separate tool post, on these little lathes there is some flexing and a post directly mounted on teh cross slide would have been ideal allowing you to just use a topslide when turning tapers.

Secondly it is often handy to be able to mount the tool at an angle which is usually done by rotating the toolpost, this one is fixed.

Thirdly when using tailstock support many of these lathes do not have much overhang of the tailstock so its better if the tool can be mounted on teh right of the toolpost, this one only allows mounting on the left.

Fourth, similar to above if you want to be able to turn diameters close to the machines limit then you often beed to mount the tool on teh sid eof teh toolpost towards you, again you can't with this one.

Also as you do not have a mill I would be looking for a lathe that has a slotted cross slide so you can mount work or a vertical slide to it which will allow you to do some milling.

J

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

A very old ME carried an article about using a lathe on wooden floorboards and reducing noise – the suggestion was to put each foot of the bench in a box of sand to deaden the transmission of vibration to the floor. You can get modern anti-vibration mounts that do the same thing.

My lathe has the same clicking from the tumbler reverse etc.but is quieter than our sewing machine. With the tumbler gears disengaged its about as noisy as a desk fan on 'high'. If I get an attack of the 'chatters' all bets are off until I get the speed right!

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 18/10/2014 17:43:15:

You can get modern anti-vibration mounts that do the same thing.

.

Not sure about its availability in suitable sizes, but Sorbothane is amazing stuff.

MichaelG.

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Edit: added link to the "engineering" site

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 18/10/2014 18:12:05

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Hold out for a bigger lathe. Like the 'mini lathe' on the Warco site (other vendors are available) which have a better toolpost. It only weights 35kg which you can lift in stages with levers and pulleys if yo can't get a helping hand.

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

I think I could lift 35 kg by myself. I sometimes have to do that at work when people show up at the hotel with very heavy bags. The problem is that most lathes are either small (10-20kg) and limited in what they can do or they are very large (50kg). There does not seem to be much in between. I thought the Sieg C0 would solve my problems but read my other thread to see what problems I had with damaged goods on delivery…twice !

I live in apartments but they all have concrete floors now.

I would agree that the lack of a moveable tool post would be very restricting.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Brian,

Look at the C3 size lathes as Bazyle suggests.

Neil

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

I would like to keep it under 35 KG is possible. The Sieg C3 is too heavy at 50KG. The Warco looks good bit it is not available in Australia.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Brian John on 19/10/2014 04:30:25:

I thought the Sieg C0 would solve my problems but read my other thread to see what problems I had with damaged goods on delivery…twice !

I live in apartments but they all have concrete floors now.

 

 

I 'think' that thread was in relation to an Austrailian vendor and not that Ketan guy at ARC that there were issues with damaged delivery. Having spoken to him I am in little doubt that IF there were any issues they would be sorted uber pronto.

If you have solid floors I doubt you will have an problem with the noise from a small lathe. It's not like a wooden joist and floorboards where any vibration could end up 'drumming'

The floor you have (if it's a modernish property) is probably concrete beams with what resembles a T shaped block that slots between them. This is then covered over in a couple of inch's of screed.

 

Nick

Edit :- Oooops. Just realised you are THAT guy that in Austrailia. 

Edited By Nick_G on 19/10/2014 09:59:36

[Derek999Participant @derek999]

Why is the weight so much of a problem?

A more substantially built machine, correctly set-up, should produce far less chatter than a lighter one, and this is the most likely source of objectionable noise. My neighbours (all properties in the road are detatched) were asking me what I was dismantling until mine was properly sorted!

Also, a C3 sized machine comes without the shortcomings that others have pointed to, and probably for considerably less money, together with superb back-up from Ketan for example (usual disclaimers).

The extra weight makes it less portable, but then who wishes to dance around the workshop with it in their arms?The range of accessories is almost infinite compared with the machine shown, and the community which has grown with these Chinese models is incredible.

It's a no-brainer in my opinion. You'll have far more fun, far more help, and have a much more versatile lathe to boot.

Mine has given me some headaches, but all due to my own shortcomings and lack of knowledge, and has taught me a great deal, which as you approach your seventies, is no small thing. I love it!

The very best of luck with whatever you decide to purchase, but DO consider all of the alternatives first.

Derek

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Brian wants a light one as it wil have to be put away after each use as he has no workshop to dance around in and I'm sure his other half would not like it left standing in the kitchen/study or whatever room he has to use.

He is also in Australia so a bit far for Ketan to sort.

Second hand Emco Unimat 3 or Compact 5 would fit the bill. Or if they are available in Oz then a new Hobbymat MD200 tips the scales at 36kg

 

J

Edited By JasonB on 19/10/2014 12:02:03

[Keith MoatParticipant @keithmoat36026]

Posted by Brian John on 19/10/2014 09:44:56:

I would like to keep it under 35 KG is possible. The Sieg C3 is too heavy at 50KG. The Warco looks good bit it is not available in Australia.

My Warco with all metal gears is very noisy, I was thinking of downgrading to nylon gears for that reason.

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