Mini lathes I need to look into

[mcenhillkParticipant @mcenhillk]

I was all set to buy a Sherline lathe in a couple of months when we actually move into our house. It was the plan for a last year and on the “I’d like that” list longer. That plan took a turn straight into the hedge with their announcement this week. Their lathes are a bit on the small size but they fit well in a second floor townhouse spare bedroom/office. Now I’m looking for something else. I’m currently looking at the bottom end of the Warco or Chester product lines. Is there something else I should be looking at? I need something I can manhandle up two flights of stairs and can run off standard UK house outlets (240V/13A I think). My projects would be in the clock, pocket watches, and tools for the lathe range.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I would include Amadeal in your list of suppliers.

Andrew.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

If you were considering a Sherline, how about a Taig from Rotagrip. They are not as “out of the box” ready as a Sherline was, but very capable if dealing with the sort of things you describe. With riser blocks (and a bit of creativity with tool positioning) mine will turn something about 6″ in diameter.

I bought the version with an ER16 collet headstock and have never regretted it.

There are currently a couple of standard (3/4 x 16) on E-bay. Or if you have deep pockets consider a Cowells.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

… and, if interested in the Taig/Peatol, look here:

http://www.jeffree.co.uk/modelengineering.html

MichaelG.

[DellParticipant @dell]

Personally I would take a hard look at the second hand vintage lathes because they were & probably still are much better built, I have restored a good few Pultra lathes 17/50-17/70 & P types & they take some beating, being English accessories are often to be found.

This is my current Pultra that I use for clock parts the video shows the lack of runout.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Whilst I am impressed by mini lathes, they are pretty heavy to carry upstairs, single handed.

A friend bought a C1 (no longer imported I think) because he did not fancy just that.

Dell’s suggestion of a secondhand ML10 or something like it (in good condition)  would be a good alternative. If you are unsure about a used machine, take someone knowledgeable along with you to check it over. A machine in good condition, with a few scars on the paint might be better than a “refurbished” one with shiny new paint.

Availability of accessories is a point to bear in mind.

If it is a used machine, check it over carefully. An acquaintance bought what looked to be a really good machine, but when it arrived and he moved the toolpost, it revealed severe damage!

Good luck finding a suitable machine

Howard

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Can’t argue with that, Dell

MichaelG.

[Martin of WickParticipant @martinofwick]

So you are looking at either the ubiquitous 7xN type lathe and XX 180 type lathes, which weigh in at 60Kg or less to suit your requirement, which is as good as any place to start.

Others you can consider which are less commonly available include the SEIG products C0 and C1, I think they are difficult to get in this country now, in anycase the C0 may suit but is rather limited, the C1 much better (I may be biased because I have a C1 and apart from drive belt issues (easily sorted) it has never disappointed and can be manhandled easily.

Proxon, are available but rather overpriced (IMHO), and only the larger one has a leadscrew, I think. lathe.

Pultra is a plain turning lathe (no leadscrew) OK for clockwork if that is your bag, but it is very hard to find one that does’t need reconditioning at a sensible price. It is primarily a collet lathe and collets or any other parts and accessories are scarcer than hens teeth and priced accordingly.

Taig is OK, but again no leadscrew and very much a DIY project to motorise, but there is some back up via rotagrip. People do manage to do heroic stuff with these machines, despite it being a very basic offer.

On the ‘any old iron’ market you have Emco Unimats (best bet a Unimat 3 which is the lathe the Seig 0 is based on). Compact 5 is  OK and can probably be lifted, (check on lathes.co). There is another Emco? with a half round bed that come up from time to time – cant recall at present.

You could consider a Myford ML10, pretty compact, a little heavier to lift at 65-70 Kg, but I managed to lug one upstairs by removing the motor and any other bits that could be easily refitted (I qualify as yer actual 7 stone weakling and regularly get sand kicked into my face, for the avoidance of those who might think I am one of those individuals who claim to be able to pick up an ML7 in one hand). The advantage of this lathe is there is a thriving secondary market in parts and tooling due to the ubiquity of its big brother, the ML7. These can be had at modest cost and are solid if quirky performers (but I may be biased).

Cowells lathes are still manufactured  and come onto the second hand market from time to time, not used one myself but everybody else rants and raves about them (an so they should at the price).

Boxford/Emco 8s a bit heavy I think.

Wouldn’t bother with any other old Britiron, unless it in immaculate condition and comes fully loaded with chucks, tooling, accessories and sundries etc, otherwise you are in a world of pain and frustration trying to find parts, backplates unless you are prepared to fabricate everything yourself (and usually they are knackered anyway).

Probably loads of others, but thats my tuppence worth.

 

 

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Do you really need super precision? Clockmakers use hand gravers to finishing parts so a tenth of a thou is not on the cards and rarely needed. Dead parallel and low backlash can be adjusted although some lathes don’t make it easy. Worn slides or ones that were never straight in the first place are the awkward defects which is where the more expensive lathes justify their reputation.

Maybe nowadays small CNC routers should be on the cards.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The 7x Mini-lathes are more like 40kg and less if you strip a few bits off so not a problem to get upstairs.

I have lifted a 210 size lathe myself so could get it up a flight of stairs but would not want to do it every day.

A Micro Lathe such as the C0 is about the same as my Unimat 3 and that is a one hand job, short bed Sherline would be about the same.

[Wink HackmanParticipant @winkhackman25989]

If you can afford it, get a Cowells.  New price is prohibitive but used ones pop up reasonably frequently. I had a Sherline but found it a bit lightweight for my needs, found a used Cowells and I wouldn’t part with it.

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

As a collector of micro lathes. The best 2 are Sherline and Cowells.

I wouldn’t be put of buying a Sherline just because they are ceasing trading. They come up for sale secondhand quite often. They are great little machines.

Cowells lathes are wonderful, but insanely expensive. If you can find a good secondhand one go for it.

[Roger BParticipant @rogerb61624]

Maybe look at a Hobbymat. Often available second hand and still made in the Czech Republic.

http://www.tecoznojmo.cz/english/md200.php

 

 

[Martin of Wick]

On Martin of Wick Said:

<SNIP>Pultra is a plain turning lathe (no leadscrew) OK for clockwork if that is your bag, but it is very hard to find one that does’t need reconditioning at a sensible price. It is primarily a collet lathe and collets or any other parts and accessories are scarcer than hens teeth and priced accordingly.

Taig is OK, but again no leadscrew and very much a DIY project to motorise, but there is some back up via rotagrip. People do manage to do heroic stuff with these machines, despite it being a very basic offer.

<SNIP>Probably loads of others, but thats my tuppence worth.

 

Well the basic Sherline isn’t screwcutting either so not fair to hold that against the Pultras. Collets and other parts are available as are small chucks.
This size of lathe tends to be used at higher speeds and not have back gearing which make them unsuited to screwcutting. Sherline do (did?) offer a hand cranked screwcutting accessory though.
I’m biased as I own one but I think the Pultra is a good option. You need to shop around though. Many on sale are overpriced but you can pick up  good one for a lot less than a new Sherline. I picked up a very tidy 1750 earlier this year for under £500.

Robert.

[mcenhillkParticipant @mcenhillk]

Thanks for the list of manufacturers. I’ve seen most of them but there’s a few I haven’t seen yet. If the house purchase process proceeds smoothly, I have a few months to window shop. I’ll keep digging.

I was considering sticking with the Sherline but they are already out of independent jaw chucks, all of the WW collets, and the graving tool rest. 75% of the wish list I set two months ago are gone. I’m sure I could eventually find what I want but I’m not wanting to scrap and scrounge just to get to “step one”.

CNC is 100% off the plate. I work in tech and I’m tired of arguing with 1’s and 0’s. I don’t even want a DRO. That might change as I get older but that’s a problem for future me. If I found a good foot treadle, I’d probably be all over it. Not saying there’s anything wrong with CNC or DROs (the modern world wouldn’t exist without them), but they don’t lift my kilt.

Didn’t even look at the ML10 because the 7 was already too big and adding another 3″ to the diameter would make it even heavier… wait… what?… huh… Today I learned that 7 is bigger than 10. 🙂 Ok, I’ll put that on the pile.

My concern with buying old iron is that you need a shop to recondition shop equipment. I left/sold my entire shop when I moved here last year. I need to bootstrap the shop and if the used equipment needs anything more than a wash, lube, and/or hand tool adjustments, it’s beyond what I can do right now. I’m not opposed to used, but it needs to be ready to run. I’m searching gumtree and Ebay. I’m sure there are brick and mortar stores that sell used machines in this class but I haven’t found them yet.

The one good thing that could come out of Sherline closing is that my wife knows I was looking for that and now that they are gone, I might have to get a bigger lathe. So, as long as she doesn’t read this forum and none of you tell her the other options, I might be able to go up a size for free (in wife points). 🙂

[Martin of WickParticipant @martinofwick]

FYI the ML10 is a smaller lathe than the ML7, about the same footprint as the larger 7xNN. Going off memory, mine is 15 or16 inches between centres and has a centre height of just over 3″  (swings about 6 1/4 in.)

You can read all about it on lathes.com I have seen good examples go for around the £700 point in the last few months (as usual, you will also see highly priced dogs..!). Speed 10 version may be more suited to your application.

I must admit I have never been successful in finding parts for my Pultra at sensible prices. eg collets at 25 to 30 per. and usually pretty manky, x slide hundreds of pounds, graver rests 50 to 70 etc etc. RDG do a few 8mm adapters and blanks for chucks etc at affordable prices (or used to). If you go down the Pultra route get one with everything you need.

 

 

 

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

lf you want to consider a Simat one has been donated to our club and is being sold by the committee to raise funds. If no one in the club wants it any offers will be considered. Don’t think it will go for too much under the circumstances and it must be sold. PM me if you want me to keep you posted.

[DellParticipant @dell]

Pultra accessories do come up & admittedly it has taken a while to find everything I want & need but I also have a Myford 10 so I am also able to make some tooling because I have Rocketronics on it so it’s easy to make accessories for the Pultra, I have made tip over tool rests, fixed steadies, arbor to use ER11 collets.

i am in my mid seventies & when I purchased my Myford i was 70 & I picked it up including the cabinet in a Mercedes B class so it is possible to lift as long as as it’s taken apart.

Here are some pictures of what I have done using my Myford with Rocketronics, the last picture shows an original tip over rest & the taller one is home made for a 17/70 70mm centre so you can see that the Myford 10 is a viable option as well.

[Author]

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