Upgrade from SC3 lathe

This topic has 65 replies, 24 voices, and was last updated 13 February 2019 at 15:39 by not done it yet.

Viewing 16 posts - 51 through 66 (of 66 total)

← 1 2 3

Author

Posts
16 November 2018 at 15:20 #380922
ega
Participant
@ega
Posted by Joseph Noci 1 on 16/11/2018 14:56:20:.

…

But a very neat gadget I did purchase is the ER collet tailstock turret – I use that so very regularly that I wonder how I did without it before. It does take some care though – not snagging your hand or side of the head on that porcupine to the left of you…

Is this a turret with multiple ER chucks? Can you perhaps point to or post a photo of this interesting-sounding accessory?
Advert

16 November 2018 at 15:29 #380923
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
I would have thought that could be done with any turret that has parallel tooling holes, just cut down some plain shank ER collets to the right length and away you go.

You could do similar to Joe's turret on your SC4 with one of these and some parallel shank ER collet chucks, bit like this one on Neil's SC4

Edited By JasonB on 17/11/2018 07:39:30
16 November 2018 at 16:02 #380930
Joseph Noci 1
Participant
@josephnoci1
.ega, it looks like this:

Joe
16 November 2018 at 16:07 #380932
Joseph Noci 1
Participant
@josephnoci1
I had my head so far in the chucks story, I did not even realise how good an advert I posted for Vero Electronics..The ruler was given to me by a Vero rep. at least 20 years ago and just gets used around the shop now- Do I need to do something about this? I can edit the text out and re-post if mods will first delete that post…

Sorry about that.

Joe
16 November 2018 at 17:24 #380941
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
I wouldn't worry about promoting Vero, unless you are also worried about plugging Emco, Rohm and Bison as well!
16 November 2018 at 17:37 #380946
ega
Participant
@ega
Joseph Noci:

Many thanks. I note in the second photo that you have rotated the turret body away from the operator. I am always looking for ways to reduce tool projection on my own device, hence my interest.
12 February 2019 at 20:22 #396010
IRT
Participant
@irt
Finally got around to having a look at an SC4 today.

Could not really find fault in it, but it was not the step up in size that I was expecting from the SC3. Not as much metal on the compound slide as I had hoped for.

I think I need something a little bigger so back to looking at Warco, and the Warco 250V.

Unfortunately it is a 176 mile journey to Warco to see one.

Is there anyone in Staffordshire/Shropshire area using one, willing to would let me have a look at it, and share their views and experiences?

The contingency play is to search out decent metric AUD/BUD but that is proving harder than I had expected.
12 February 2019 at 21:27 #396016
Vic
Participant
@vic
Another one to look out for may be the Viceroy.

**LINK**

A mate who works in a school says they got rid of two of them some years back and they showed little sign of any hard use.
12 February 2019 at 21:51 #396020
IRT
Participant
@irt
The Viceroy is 54" long. I don't think I could fit one in. I am very restricted in my choice by the space I have available.
12 February 2019 at 23:38 #396031
Hopper
Participant
@hopper
Posted by Ian Thomson 2 on 12/02/2019 20:22:50:

Finally got around to having a look at an SC4 today.

Could not really find fault in it, but it was not the step up in size that I was expecting from the SC3. Not as much metal on the compound slide as I had hoped for.

Perhaps revisit your original idea in your first post and think about a Boxford? A low mileage example would be a good machine. Perhaps get some help via the forum with finding or inspecting a good example? Or one from a dealer with some kind of guarantee or warranty?

I know the Australian equivalent South Bend clone, the Hercus, is a very good machine, having used them over the years at various jobs and tech college etc. They are good and solid. Sort of the next size up from a Myford.

Also a good used Raglan would be worth looking into as well.
13 February 2019 at 06:21 #396035
IRT
Participant
@irt
The Raglan is one on my shortlist. What appeared to be a good example came up on ebay a few weeks ago and not too far from me. Unfortunately the seller would not let me go and look at it before the bidding ended. It may have been a good lathe, but I wasn't going to risk it.
13 February 2019 at 06:53 #396036
Hopper
Participant
@hopper
Posted by Ian Thomson 2 on 13/02/2019 06:21:40:

The Raglan is one on my shortlist. What appeared to be a good example came up on ebay a few weeks ago and not too far from me. Unfortunately the seller would not let me go and look at it before the bidding ended. It may have been a good lathe, but I wasn't going to risk it.

Wise move. I would not buy sight-unseen unless the price was rockbottom giveaway low.

The thing with buying used is you have to be prepared to put the time in to wait for good machine to come up at a good price. New is certainly the convenient option.
13 February 2019 at 08:30 #396044
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by Ian Thomson 2 on 12/02/2019 20:22:50:

Finally got around to having a look at an SC4 today.

Could not really find fault in it, but it was not the step up in size that I was expecting from the SC3. Not as much metal on the compound slide as I had hoped for.

I think I need something a little bigger so back to looking at Warco, and the Warco 250V.

Unfortunately it is a 176 mile journey to Warco to see one.

Is there anyone in Staffordshire/Shropshire area using one, willing to would let me have a look at it, and share their views and experiences?

The contingency play is to search out decent metric AUD/BUD but that is proving harder than I had expected.

The compound on the SC4 seems to be fine in practice.

Have you had a look at an AUD/BUD yet? Although the centre height is 1/2" higher than the SC4 and an inch more than a mini lathe/S7, and the between centres distance is only an inch more than the SC4 500.

If you want a significantly greater capacity you may need to look for something a tad bigger again like a Colchester Student.

Neil
13 February 2019 at 08:50 #396046
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
There are several other sellers of "250" or "280" size lathes around the country that you could go and look at even if you eventually decide to buy the Warco one, they all have the same basic construction which will give you a good idea of size and mass, fine detail may vary but not size..

Chesters would be the closest

Edited By JasonB on 13/02/2019 08:55:50
13 February 2019 at 13:01 #396078
IRT
Participant
@irt
I have considered the Colchester offerings too, I can't even squeeze the bantam in to the space available .

I will have a driver over to the Chester showroom next time I get a day off.
13 February 2019 at 15:39 #396099
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
Posted by Ian Thomson 2 on 13/02/2019 06:21:40:

The Raglan is one on my shortlist. What appeared to be a good example came up on ebay a few weeks ago and not too far from me. Unfortunately the seller would not let me go and look at it before the bidding ended. It may have been a good lathe, but I wasn't going to risk it.

I generally keep an eye on Raglans as they arise on epay etc. There was one 5”, recently on epay, that had no changewheels or gear train and an almost empty apron. It was a BIN reduced, steadily, from £650 down to £300. Glad you didn’t get that one! Seller was a right bent epayer as he knew it was very incomplete!

Apparently a good looking 5“ was sold recently as a Colchester, or similar. Buyer either got a good bargain (at £300 including an original taper turning accessory, amongst other tooling), or would have been mightily surprised!

I would recommend the 5” with QCGB over a Little John any day. The LJ (with QCGB) was a good lathe but the 5” is far superior in several ways.

My QCGB 5” came with two fair quality chucks (TOSS), both steadies and faceplate (along with sundry other tooling) – and was already fitted with a 230V three phase motor and VFD.
Author

Posts