Precision mini/micro lathe?

[Dianne BestParticipant @diannebest69516]

Posted by IanT on 17/10/2016 16:54:35:

Hi Dianne,

I think a Taig could handle most of that work but the large flywheel on the Trevithick might be interesting. I think it's about 7ft diameter – so at 1:8 – that would scale to about 10.5". You might need some help with that or need to devise a very cunning rotary milling set-up!

Regards,

IanT

I will always have my 1940 Southbend 10" for larger stuff.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

NDIY and IanT

Check out the link I provided to see Lee Valley's metalworking Taig offerings.

Thanks, but it's not me that needs/wants a mini lathe – and my SIL brings their catalogue(s) over almost every year for me to drool over.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Ajohnw on 17/10/2016 17:58:53:

They guy that played with the tailstock and looked to have a warped bed bugs me a little Neil. He dashed into mods mentioned on the web – lapping the height of the tail stock. A thing that shouldn't need to be done.

John

I have to agree; I reckon a good 50% of the 'faults' in new machines (of any kind) that appear here turn out to be poor adjustment, poor technique or the result of something completely different to the 'obvious' cause.

Neil

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Ah! – I didn't twig that you still had the big guy Dianne.

I effectively run two workshops – one indoors with a small lathe (2.5"  )  and my 'Shed' where I keep my bigger machines but which is unheated and doesn't get used too much in the winter as a result (and it gets no-where near as cold here as it does where you are!). However, all our Canadian family have nice big warm basements, so they don't suffer from quite the same problems – assuming they can get their heavy stuff down there!

Looks like a new Taig will set you back $385 Canadian from Lee Valley but then there will be some extras to buy on top but I'd guess you might find a good second-user one for a good deal less with a bit of luck and some patience. Maybe because of Lee Valley – the Taig seems to be a quite popular choice in northern parts. I guess if Canadian Tire sold Sherline, it might be somewhat different.

Anyway, good luck with your search and please let us know what you end up with.

Regards,

IanT

 

Edited By IanT on 17/10/2016 23:13:24

[Dianne BestParticipant @diannebest69516]

Thanks Ian. I will report back on what I get. I will be watching for used and that may determine what I get.

Yes, our winters are COLD! My shop is the back half of a 48×24 foot metal-clad, insulated, with wood heat so it only gets heated when I am working out there. I also restore old motorcycles so it gets used quite a bit in the winter – no time in the summer

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by IanT on 17/10/2016 23:12:25:

However, all our Canadian family have nice big warm basements, so they don't suffer from quite the same problems – assuming they can get their heavy stuff down there!

In my case it's called "paying someone else to do it"

… and yes, it's nice and warm in Winter, cool in Summer and dry all year.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 17/10/2016 20:43:39:

Posted by Ajohnw on 17/10/2016 17:58:53:

They guy that played with the tailstock and looked to have a warped bed bugs me a little Neil. He dashed into mods mentioned on the web – lapping the height of the tail stock. A thing that shouldn't need to be done.

John

I have to agree; I reckon a good 50% of the 'faults' in new machines (of any kind) that appear here turn out to be poor adjustment, poor technique or the result of something completely different to the 'obvious' cause.

Neil

I'd agree with that, don't get me wrong i've been disappointed by some electric motors on the machines i bought but i don't think i've ever had a machine with a genuine out of the box fault, to the contrary i would say it looks like everything was prepared(decent amount of preservatives, no damage, inspection certificates) as good as it could've been. Besides which it isn't all that bad to stick a different motor on it that you are happy with! 

PS. maybe when clarke delivered my lathe without a pallet truck, that was a pretty hectic day, but maybe i should've known it would need one! Being left with the machine on the pavement was probably a fuss i could've done without, the delivery of the mill from warco went alot smoother. 

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 18/10/2016 06:00:34

[Dianne BestParticipant @diannebest69516]

After doing an awful lot of research on specs, availability, and costs, I have decided to go with the Taig "Micro Lathe II". I like its specs – better than most of the Asian imports – the lathe and its accessories are available locally so that means local support. The Taig will nicely handle the making parts that are too small to work easily on my old 10" Southbend.

Thanks for all the suggestions and discussion – it helped a great deal!

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

You'll probably help the Taig by not buying the riser blocks Dianne. They make them so that a certain scale loco can be made on the machine. I did some what might be called heavy work on mine and using those won't have helped in terms of head distortion. The results of that were couple of thou taper over about 4". As I ran the slides nice and smooth and on the tight size it was easy to get that back to a couple of 1/10,000" of an inch in steps.

I used to cover the lathe in swarf at times to the point where it was hard to see what I was doing. One thing to watch for is swarf collecting on the rack. Unless they have changed it the teeth face upwards.

John

–

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by IanT on 17/10/2016 16:54:35:

Hi Dianne,

I think a Taig could handle most of that work but the large flywheel on the Trevithick might be interesting. I think it's about 7ft diameter – so at 1:8 – that would scale to about 10.5". You might need some help with that or need to devise a very cunning rotary milling set-up!

Make it like the real flywheel – riveted plates!

Neil

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Pleased to be of help Dianne – and I'll look forward to seeing that flywheel eventually (riveted or not!)

We've not been over for a year or two now but we've had Canadian family here in-between. However, there is hope on the horizon – apparently they are going to open a Tim Hortons in UK real soon! So hopefully we'll be able to get a decent donut over here before too long!!

Regards,

IanT

[Dianne BestParticipant @diannebest69516]

With the 10" Southbend, I don't need riser blocks, though I did use them on the Southbend to machine a 24" flywheel!

The flywheel, wheels, and gear blanks are already cast for the Trevethick engine. I printed them in 3D and had them investment cast last year. My first iteration of the boiler didn't produce enough steam so the project has been stalled since then.

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