Is this metal lathe worth it for £145?

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Simon,

I am selling a virtually brand new Tormach lathe that is the same as the C-3 but has an extended spindle that a 4th Axis Attachment can be fitted to. It is a 110 volt machine but I will supply a Transformer that I bought at the same time as the Lathe. It comes with a 4 way tool post and a small chip tray and cover plus a full set of change wheels and spanners etc.. I just haven't got round to putting it up for sale because I am away for the weekend.

It has only been used 3 or four times, more or less to test it out to see if it functioned properly when used on the milling machine table (which is what it was intended for) and also for a few manual machining jobs. I have some photos of the machine but they are on my desktop computer at home I. If you are interested contact me via the message page.

[Phil StevensonParticipant @philstevenson54758]

I'm another newbie weighing up the pros and cons of small entry level lathes. No-one has mentioned the Chester Conquest http://www.chesterhobbystore.com/conquest-lathe-3965-p.asp. It seems very good value or am I missing something?

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 18/06/2016 18:57:45:

C0 doesn't offer screwcutting. I would recommend a C3 if you can afford it.

Neil

I would honestly agree with you that i cannot do without screwcutting either, so i'd have to go with the C3. But there is the world of (good) taps n dies to fulfil the threading duty. Which i can say does most of the grunt work for your standard metric sizes. You could manage if you weren't fussed about custom threads or the sheer ability to do single pointing where it's advantageous, and were prepared to substitute the uncommon ones where neccessary.

I know in an old book i've got Mr sparey in "the amateurs lathe" had his mind definitely made up about the sort of "plain diameter" turning lathes that were on the market in his day and thought that the leadscrew machines were the only ones worth going for. I don't know if the C0 has an "upgrade kit" for a gear train but it's a start having a leadscrew i guess.

If it's of any consolidation to the OP for my particular lathe, It's the Clarke/sealey/(briefly warco) "6 speed metal lathe" thats been knocking around for a good number of years now. That could certainly do some metal work for you, although i've made a small number of changes to mine with the motor and what not. I would take it this is a bit bulky for the OP tastes. 

Michael W

 

Edited By Michael Walters on 18/06/2016 23:04:05

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Look at the subjects you want to build and see if there is a need for screw cutting, I doubt there is much of a need on a 3.5g loco. I seldom have a need for it, as an example the 2" traction engine that I made I only screwcut one thread on which considering there is about 1200hrs work in it is little use of the facility. Most of the other models I make can quite easily be done without screwcutting too.

I would certainly look for something larger than the C0 though

Edited By JasonB on 19/06/2016 07:37:06

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Phil Stevenson on 18/06/2016 21:47:33:

I'm another newbie weighing up the pros and cons of small entry level lathes. No-one has mentioned the Chester Conquest http://www.chesterhobbystore.com/conquest-lathe-3965-p.asp. It seems very good value or am I missing something?

The Chester Conquest is another version of the C3 Mini-Lathe. There are lots of variations from different suppliers with different bed lengths/motors/specifications/colours…

Screwcutting? If like me you mostly make gadgets and workshop tooling it's probably essential, if you focus on model making, then I agree, less so but always nice to have.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 19/06/2016 09:36:10

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

You still haven't told us what you intend to make with your lathe. Something steam related but what and how big?

Russell.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

I would second the calls to go for a C3-sized lathe over a C0.

The C0 I believe is what some refer to as a "micro lathe" and is similar in size and capability to the Optimum lathe I helped another forum member here get sorted out a while back. He has successfully made a couple of small Bengs Stirling engines with it. So it does work (after a lot of sorting out to get it up to snuff), but it really is too small for general work.

On the other hand, I have another mate locally who bought a C3 off the net and fired it up straight away turning grooves in the outer races of 50mm ball bearings for his motorbike engines. It is leagues ahead of the smaller lathe and well worth the modest extra price. ( I think he got it for about $600, or 300 pounds.) I have used it a couple of times and find it quite nice, a pleasure to use.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Phil, I have a Conquest, I haven't used it yet in an real anger, but it seems to be value for the money. This is my lathe for my small indoor workshop and is only intended to be used for small items. It is as Neil says, just another version of the C3 but don't get it confused with the Super C3, another version is the Warco mini lathe.

Regards Nick.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Russel, from another thread it looks like a 3.5g loco or possibly a 5"g one.

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by JasonB on 19/06/2016 13:19:01:

Russel, from another thread it looks like a 3.5g loco or possibly a 5"g one.

In that case I would imagine he will need at least a 90 mm centre height lathe do do it comfortably.

Russell.

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