Hi I’m a newcomer

[Anonymous]

I’m searching for a lathe that can make parts for british n and hon30 scale locomotives. Very concerned with driving wheels, axles, and gears. I’ve been eyeing the cowells 90me and cowells vertical milling machine because it’s small and I can pick it up and put it away unlike other astronomically more expensive brands of small lathes and mills that have to be attached to a bench for them to function properly and weigh at the minimum over 500lbs. I have no clue if the cowells is capable of successfully making parts for the scales I want to work in, especially n scale because small parts need extremely tight tolerances. I don’t really know what to look for.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Have you looked for Taig/Peatol or Sherline both capable machines.

[Anonymous]

Yes I have but when I read up about them they seem to be less durable than a cowells 90me.

[Anonymous]

But to be real I’m an idiot so what do I know? Right?

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Ive had my peatols for close to 30 years and I make instrument parts on them most of the time and dont get any complaints. A lot comes down to your skills, tool sharpening etc.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

A good operator can make good things on an old, rattly machine.

What ever you buy, take time to become familiar with the machine and operating it, and work within it’s limitations.

A friend scratch builds O Gauge rolling stock, using a C1 micro lathe (But now no longer imported into UK)

So that might do what you want, if you can find a secondhand one.  Possible, since as folk gain experience, their horizons expand and they want a larger machine, so sell their first one.

If you are unsure, take someone experienced along to examine the machine.

Where are you located?

Maybe, someone can give face to face advice and help.

If you are new to lathe work, do buy a book and study it. (Stan Bray’s”Basic Lathework” No 45 in the Workshop Practice Series, or Harold Hall’s ” Lathework – A Complete Course” WPS 34, are good ones)

No machine will be ideal for every purpose, or have every feature that you need, but there are ways of working around some shortcomings.

Howard

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