What lathes have you had?

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

Chester Cobra combi machine

Chester Model B – regretted from day 1

Myford ML7, never used bought, refurbished and sold to fund other projects

Warco WMT300/2 (the one without the mill head, good machine and often regretted selling on

Warco GH1330, 15 years old and still giving good service

Warco WM250V – 4 years old and still waiting for its CNC or ELS conversion (not decided which yet)

[JC54Participant @jc54]

My first lathe was a 1906-8? 5inch split bed Drummond, still got. Then a much modified Drummond/Myford "M" just sold to make way for an inherited Myford ML7. I wish that I had kept the "M", just hate the ML7. I expect to see the burning crosses out front for speaking such heressy…..

[PlasmaParticipant @plasma]

Warco model not recalled but it got me started

Raglan 5 inch

Raglan loughborough

Boxford X10 times 2 current

Elgo capstan lathe current

Smart and Brown model L current

Hopefully no more to come lol

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Simat 101

Myford Super 7 pre power x-feed (bitsa, had previously been dropped)

Warco 720 (Myford Super 7B power x-feed) I'd really like to find someone else with one of these.

Warco 1330

Not sold any yet and also have my Dad's Record wood lathe, though I've not used it up to press.

Bill

Edited By peak4 on 21/07/2019 19:26:53

[charadamParticipant @charadam]

I started out with a Perris. That lasted a year and was replaced by an ML10.

The ML10 was well-worn and not up to what I wanted, so an ML7 came into the workshop.

Then I was offered a Chipmaster (one of the lathes that I had trained on) and that is still my workhorse.

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

Myford ML2

Myford ML4

Unimat SL

Myford ML7

Krak (antique treadle lathe made by Parkinsons Shipley)

Pultra model P

Harrison L5A

Myford S7

Pultra 1750

Boley watch lathe

Still got the last four

Phil

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

Chronologically:

1. South Bend 9", well tooled. Gone

2. South Bend 10K, almost every accessory. Still have it.

3. Pratt & Whitney 14" x 30". Had been to England and back. Gone

4. Lehmann 20" x 120". Gone

5. Myford Mini-Kop. Gone

6. Warner & Swasey 1A. Gone

7. Clausing Metosa 13" x 30". Gone

8. Unknown 8mm watchmaker's lathe. Still have it.

9. Nardni 16" x 40". Still have it.

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Myford long bed ML7B with clutch that dad claimed to have bought for my 10th birthday in 1967…

Short bed ML7 basket case that I bought in 2000. Got Myfords to re-grind the bed and rebuilt the rest of it. Fitted an inverter bought from John Stevenson to go with a decent 3ph motor. Sold it in 2008 after I inherited the ML7B.

Dad died on Christmas Eve 2003 and I inherited the Myford plus a Hardinge DV59. Never used the Hardinge and it eventually got scrapped!

1952 Hardinge HLV bought in 2006. Rebuilt over four years, using the Myford to re-manufacture all of the apron gearbox shafts and gears. It is my current every-day lathe.

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

I saved pocket money and bought a (round bed) Wade (with no tailstock) just after I left school late 50s. I powered it using my mums sewing machine treadle, I never made anything of real use with it and a neighbour I loaned it to never returned it.

I bought a new Emco SL in the 60s which in spite of being flimsy produced good work and lasted me until I acquired a Raglan Little John in the 80s. I rebuilt it but had to sell it due to a house move problem and ended up latheless for several years.

I then bought a Boxford AUD with VFD etc. I sold it about three years ago because for one job I needed to turn 11" rather than the Boxford 10" and bought a well kitted Harrison M250.

The Harrison is good but I miss the AUD, the Boxford punches well above its weight and is a really versatile machine.

IanP

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by RJW on 21/07/2019 17:07:18:

1st ever lathe was a Boxford CUD, back int' pre internet days when lathes were bought and sold via Exchange & Mart, major cack handed screw up one day and somehow stripped the teeth off the mainshaft gear :/

Myford ML7, one owner from new, beautiful well maintained machine, and the one I Really should have kept,

Star 8mm Watchmaker's lathe, smallest workhorse with good range of accessories, (still use)

Boley 8mm Watchmaker's lathe, bought from estate of 1st Myford (Stalag VIIb inscription in box lid & a keeper)

Myford ML7 bought from late friend when he was needing to shut up shop, needs a lot of fettling (still use)

Unimat 1, found it to be a fiddle to use and flimsy, didn't like it at all and got rid,

Unimat 3 + milling head & attachments, not a bad bit of kit, but asset stripped it for insane money which paid for my Cowells 90 & kit

Sieg C1 + M1 mill, many mod's and tweaks to that machine and half decent if you weren't in a hurry, (sold last week)

Cowells 90 with good range of accessories (overhauled and still use)

oh how true – Exchange & Mart – remember those times well scouring the ads.

Mine;

Flexispeed/Simat/Norfolk – what got me interested in lathes.

1966 Colchester roundhead Student 6" (my favourite – should never have sold it)

196? Colchester roundhead Triumph 7 1/2"

1969 fully tooled Boxford VSL (current).

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

Started with a lovely Boxford AUD, fully kitted, purchased by my Dad . Dad was a Cabinet Maker, and worked at Link Belt Africa Limited in South Africa and the toolroom was to die for..Although I was a little to young to know it..They purchased a Schaublin and the Boxford was 'surplus' – for R1000.00, in 1968 ( about £500.00 then).

I was 11 then…

At 22 years old I bought a Chinese unknown, bigger than the AUD, and sold it again within a month.

Then a good condition EMCO Maximat V10P, which I still have after 40 years and recently refurbished totally, added ELS, etc. And 2 years ago purchased a new EMCO 14D..

Sold the AUD a year after the V10 purchase

These two lathes are a pleasure to use…

V10

14D

 

EDIT – forgot to add…Watchmakers lathe that belonged to my late Father-in-Law – Ashamed to admit I have only cleaned it up and not yet used it..

 

Joe

 

 

 

Edited By Joseph Noci 1 on 22/07/2019 09:59:14

[Jon Freeman 2Participant @jonfreeman2]

Bought a Myford ML7 new while still at school – up at 4.am every day doing several paper-rounds to pay for it.

Carried this around for over 40 years, then bought a 'Chester Challenger', the idea was to carry on doing small stuff on the Myford. After a year or so it was apparent the Challenger was being used for all jobs of all sizes, sold Myford.

[Andy CarruthersParticipant @andycarruthers33275]

WM180 – Somewhat modified and my regular use lathe

WM240 – Need to fix or replace the motor and I expect this will either be sold or become my regular use machine

I will upgrade one to ELS when Clough42 produces his kit

[Mick DobsonParticipant @mickdobson]

Unimat SL. Got this about 1981, still going strong. I made a high level tailstock and raising block for the headstock for larger jobs when needed. But normally use as standard.

Myford ML4. For a couple of years.

Myford ML7B. Great machine and quite versatile, surprising what these will do as long as they are decent condition.

Chester Coventry gearhead (same as a Warco 1332), bought new in 1997. This is a green Chester, before they changed colour to grey. My main lathe and very good at most things. But not Colchester or Harrison quality.

Myford ML7 Trileva and Portass Dreadnought , bought as a job lot.

I sold the Trileva and the original ML7B and kept the Portass Dreadnought instead. All the main parts have the maker's stamp identifier. I made a longer cross slide for this as well as a new set up for the motor and countershaft. Also modified the headstock to a Myford nose register so that popular accessories will fit.

.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

I am afraid I score very badly on this one, since I have had and still have only one lathe, a Chester Craftsman long bed. Since I am still learning and time is not on my side, I doubt if I will ever get another lathe, as this one does all I need and is very understanding re my lack of skills.

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

Got a bank loan at 18 to buy a Zyto lathe for £45. I recall making some cardboard dials for the cross slide.

Sold it and got an ML7. Sold that for £750 to buy a Super 7 for the same price! Still have it; I went to Nottingham to buy a gearbox and QC tooling several years ago.

Unimat 3, which seldom gets used other than mounting the head on a post on the Myford cross slide.

Boxford 280, which is a lovely machine, very under-rated. Designed by the same chap who designed the Harrison M300, I understand. Plan was to sell the S7 to pay for it, but a windfall meant that I could keep them both; it’s just a bit of a squeeze in the shed now. Great to have an Imperial and a metric lathe.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by larry phelan 1 on 22/07/2019 12:50:57:

I am afraid I score very badly on this one, since I have had and still have only one lathe, a Chester Craftsman long bed. Since I am still learning and time is not on my side, I doubt if I will ever get another lathe, as this one does all I need and is very understanding re my lack of skills.

With tongue firmly in cheek, I note that people who buy classic lathes go through several whereas fans of oriental only buy one!

An explanation might be that those old classic lathes aren't well designed and/or are knackered. Obviously unsatisfactory compared with new Chinese lathes of modern design.

More likely is chaps who are serious about lathes like trying out different models. Getting and playing with yet another lathe is all part of the fun because they all have interesting quirks and positive features. Some people feel the same about sexual partners…

Dave

 

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 22/07/2019 16:53:27

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

The worst lathe I had: An old pre-1890s "Sebastian Lathe Co." 9" diam swing lathe that used to be treadle powered. Chatter-city, tough to change speeds, no dials.

Best lathe I have: An Emco Compact-8. In fact, for a while I had two of these, one to CNC. Sold one, the one left has the CNC VFD on it, which is great. (did not complete CNC config)

Lathe I wished I had not sold: An Emco Unimat-SL. Sold it and got the Sebastian. What can I say. Sigh.

Lathe I don't know why I still have it: Kerry 1124. Not even plugged in for a couple of years; thought of building bigger projects, but hindsight is 20/20. The Emco is like a sports car, the Kerry like one of those articulated lorries. Give me the sports car any day. My projects appear to be downsizing, thus:

Newest lathe: Sherline, metric, with steppers and LinuxCNC control from my aborted Emco conversion above. Was thinking about their CNC Chucker lathe, but will see. The Sherline works very well; need spindle encoder for cutting threads. Also got handwheels, so can remove the step motors, and put the handwheels on. Wish, though, that the fasteners were also metric. At least they are not BA or Whitworth!

One area of manufacture that I have not purchased a lathe from: Asia. No issues, just never had the opportunity.

[DanielParticipant @daniel]

Another oriental fan, here.

I have a Warco GH1322, and after 5 years,

it's still way better than I am.

ATB,

Daniel

[JAParticipant @ja]

My first lathe was a pre-war Myford bought from the father of a friend at work for almost nothing. Rebuilt it, used it (it was quite a nice lathe), and sold it to a work colleague when I got my second in 2000.

The second lathe was a factory reconditioned Myford Super 7 bought with the cashing in of shares from the company share save scheme. Later it was fitted with a gearbox. In 2010 it was traded in for the third lathe.

The third lathe is a Myford Connoisseur that I bought using an inheritance. I chose to have all the trimmings like DRO and do not regret buying it. The only complain I have is with the quality of the Wanner oil gun. The old Myford company ceased trading about 6 months later.

The only lathe I can see myself buying in the future is a Cowell 90ME.

I know nothing about Chinese lathes.

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by JA on 22/07/2019 17:56:22:

The only complain I have is with the quality of the Wanner oil gun.

Be grateful that you are not having to use the dreadful plastic thing that Myfords used to sell!

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember32069]

[This posting has been removed]

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

Ok, time for a laugh!

Initially, I wanted to make some replacement wheels for a Mainline 00 gauge Class 45 diesel outline locomotive. So I set about making my own lathe. You can guess the rest!

Realizing that I didn't know what I was doing, and still obsessed with making those wheels, I bought a Unimat 1. Made a start, but then realized the lathe was only a toy.

Went out and bought a second hand Hobbymat MD65. Discovered it was facing convex, removed the speed chart plate to discover a large casting flaw. Machine changed by the importers. Frightened myself silly trying to screwcut at minimum speed – 250rpm so bought the Essel Engineering speed reducer kit and also made a mandrel handle. Then I got sick of catching my hand on the tailstock so decided to buy a new lathe on the grounds that I now knew enough to know that I didn't know enough. Yes, I know that sounds odd, but break it down into clauses and it might start to make sense.

Looked around and ended up with a choice of three – 910 type lathe, Warco 220 & Myford series 7. Decided that the 910 offered too much for the money hence it was cut down in a number of respects. Quickly came to the conclusion that the Myford was way outside my budget. That left the Warco 220.

That was in 1994, since which time the 220 has served me well in that I have learned a lot, including the fact that the 220 isn't the best lathe in the world. Nevertheless I have achieved various things with it. Unfortunately, I have also found a few problems which I have lived with, but recently I seem to have developed some problems with bearings. Not sure what, but if I can't improve it, then it might be lathe change time and so far I'm fancying one of the WM250 series. Which will be something of a pity given the accessories I've got and made for the 220.

Oh, and by the way, I never did make those wheels. In fact, the locomotive, and indeed all the 00 gauge stuff I had went to my elder son many years ago, so those wheels never will be made.

Peter G. Shaw

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

A lot of folks will know I started with a Clarke CL300M mini-lathe in '99, which suddenly seems an awfully long time ago…

I then picked up an Super Adept for 'entertainment value'.

Nearly two years ago, Ketan made me an offer I couldn't refuse on an SC4.

I'm firmly of the belief that MOST problems people have with mini-lathes are down to a combination of inexperience and not knowing how to set them up properly – as evidenced that I had to get the expertience and learn the set up to get the best out of mine. I suspect that all lathes of this basic design lumped together could possibly outnumber any other lathe produced – ever!

Having had encounters with quite a range of lathes since, I'm pretty much convinced that the SC4 would have the potential to take the same position for hobbyists as the ML7/S7 did in their day – if there wasn't so much competition. Any machine can be improved (bear in mind whole series and books were written on improving Myfords) and I have some ideas for the Super – SC4, one of which is a really fun modification.

Neil

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

As an Apprentice worked briefly on Edgwicks, Ward 2A Capstan, Dean Smith and Grace 20" swing, and a Herbert No7 Preoptive Turret The DSG and nerbert wer both new machines, so were my favourites.

After 30 years or so, increasingly hankering after a lathe bought a used Myford ML7. Fitted a Long Cross Slide, Micrometer Dials, and new Countershaft and bushes. Acquired a Rodney milling attachment, as an alternative to the single bolt swivelling Vertical Slide. Did not like what milling did to the lathe, so bought a Warco Economy Mill/Drill (Largest that I could fit in, at the time ).

Fed up with the 2MT headstock, and lack of rigidity, so sold the ML7 and accessories.

Have briefly used a friend's Raglan 5" Little John, very impressed by it. Have briefly used a Loughborough at The WaterWorks Museum, a good little lathe but completely basic, only graduated dials, but it is a training lathe.

Even more briefly, have used their Colchester, so not really able to comment.

Have been involved in sorting out a couple of Myford ML 4s

On retiring, bought an Engineers ToolRoom BL12-24 (Warco BH600 or Chester Craftsman look alike, with dual dials ). Came fully equipped, plus VFD. Have had it since September 2003 and am quite happy with it, have yet to try to exceed it's capabilities. It gets used for everything, including jobs that could be done on the Conquest Super, which must say something!

Bought a Super Adept; tidied it up but never really cut metal with it, (Regarded it rather as a toy! ) so sold to a pal who was taken with it, and likely to actually use it.

As a pure extravagance, bought a very slightly used Chester Conquest Super. Chester wanted £100+ plus for bits to convert to ordinary dials, so it awaits new batteries for the DROs. have made various bits for it, 100T gears, Saddle / Cross Slide Lock, Graduated Leadscrew Handwheel, Mandrel handle and improved Tailstock lock. Have yet to use it in anger, but it seems a reasonable machine.

Despite how I view the Myford 7 Series, marvellous work is produced on them. Obviously, by folk who are more skilled, less heavy handed than me, and do work more suited to them.

Howard

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