Where to Buy ?

[Kris BParticipant @krisb]

After many years of putting up with mini lathes of questionable accuracy, I have decided to make the jump to a better quality machine in the shape of a Myford Super 7 with a screw cutting gearbox.

I do not have enough experience to repair any defects in such a machine, and I might not even recognise that something was wrong.

To try to avoid any difficulties, I have decided to dig deep and buy a machine at the top end of the price range in the hope that it will not need any modifications to carry out good accurate work.

There seems to be a handful of dealers around the country that specialise in "little used" or "as new condition" machines that have not been repainted or refurbished in any way, but have had so little use as to still be in almost perfect condition.

There are also refurbished machines available from Myford themselves claiming to have been completely reconditioned where necessary and to have been returned to "as new" condition.

The prices for all of these machines seem to be very similar, with the Myford ones actually working out slightly cheaper overall.

Does anyone have any views on whether an old machine in very good condition is likely to be as good, better or worse than a possibly tired machine that has been thoroughly overhauled ?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Kris BParticipant @krisb]

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

If as you intimate you can afford to buy a reconditioned machine from Myford I would say that is the preferred option. To evidence the truth of this, I spoke to Myford about a year go and they operate a kind of new lamps for old service which is proving popular with Myford owners. You part exchange your old Myford for a reconditioned job. So essentially you have people swapping a Myford of know provenance for a reconditioned machine which does tend to prove the point that Myford recons are better than good used lathes or a the very least that existing owners believe that to be the case. The link is from their website and tells you what they do. They also give you a 2 year parts Guarantee

**LINK**

regards Martin

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

I would look for a good second hand one from a bereavement sale or similar. Probably half the price of a dealer one. They are about because where else do the dealers get them?

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

You might David, but Kris said he didn't want to do that.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I believe now owned by RDG since Myford ( Nottingham ) went defunct.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Not exactly mechman, I understand that the Father sold RDG to his son (or maybe son in law) and the Dad and his daughter run Myford. They are separate entities by the relational connections are obvious. Myford was purchased entire.

regards Martin

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Alan runs Myford, Richard runs RDG.

At least someone had the vision and courage to salvage Myford, but remember just like the "old" company, use them or lose them.

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

get a boxford half the price and a better lathe

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

But where do you get new Boxford spares and accessories from?

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

A myford reconditioned one without a doubt and look after it.

Also don't be too sure that a lathe from a bereavement sale will be wonderful. It might be or it might not be. It is more likely if the previous owner bought it new.

Hard to explain but a dealers view of a functional lathe that is capable of doing work is for instance rather different to mine.

One thing to remember though. The cost of fully equipping a lathe is generally reckoned to be the same as the lathe. It probably still is if top line equipment is bought along with a full set of collets etc. Often used privately sold machines will come with all or most of the bits and pieces that are generally needed – but then their is the risk of all not being as it ideally should be.

John

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[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

Posted by KWIL on 22/10/2015 09:43:45:

But where do you get new Boxford spares and accessories from?

ebay

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Kris,

I'm sure you know your own mind but my impression is that (for the kind of money you seem to thinking of spending) you could in fact purchase a new (Asian) lathe that should meet the accuracy requirements of most people here. At least that's what the various reviews I've read in recent years seem to be saying. It seems the quality of these machines has improved over the years.

I've no particular axe to grind, my main workhorse is a very elderly Myford Super 7 that has seen better days. It was undoubtedly a quality machine when first made and generally I can manage (or put up with) it's shortcomings. But I didn't pay silly money for it and if I intended to replace it with something better (and more expensive) then I would certainly look at the new mid-range lathes now available.

Regards,

IanT

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

First time I have read what Myford do to recondition a lathe. Found it a bit strange that they say their recon machines will "last a lifetime if not longer" which kind of begs the question why did the original myfords need to have all that recon work done on them as the parts obviously did not last a lifetime+

J (ducking for cover)

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

Have look at the Ceriani range of lathes sold by PRO Machine Tools who advertise on tis site. Ceriani lathes are made in Italy a country with a proud reputation for sound engineering.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by JasonB on 22/10/2015 10:19:58:

First time I have read what Myford do to recondition a lathe. Found it a bit strange that they say their recon machines will "last a lifetime if not longer" which kind of begs the question why did the original myfords need to have all that recon work done on them as the parts obviously did not last a lifetime+

J (ducking for cover)

.

Because you have to live to 85 to be able to save up for one so only 10 years or so left and a decent lathe should last that.

Can I borrow your cover ?

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Paul 1950, I did say NEW Boxford not second hand.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by KWIL on 22/10/2015 09:43:45:

But where do you get new Boxford spares and accessories from?

**LINK**

They claim to hold spares for their manual machines.

(And you can get a 280 'still heavily greased' for under £3K and I know which of S7 and 280 I'd prefer…)

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 22/10/2015 11:13:10

[Johnboy25Participant @johnboy25]

KWIL…

Re. New Boxford spares. Try John Ward from **LINK**

From what I can gather he's an illusive charter by all accounts – meant in a positive way. You will see what parts that he can manufactures on his website. I sure that he could do other replacements for the Boxford if asked. I have been told that phoning him around teatime/ early evening may be the best time to get hold of him.

Regards

John

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Boxford do hold spares for the older machines. Rather a lot of them. There is a parts list on their web site with if I remember correctly prices and superseded etc. They will also recon machines. Might even have stock, never asked. One problem might be that the old boxfords are essentially a more expensive lathe than myfords. They did cut prices of the ME10 to similar levels. Rumour has it to reduce stocks of casting for the rear drive machines.

Actually I feel that if Boxford bought up old ones and recon'd them they would sell well. They can be good as a used buy. Bed wear apart from the error it introduces into the work isn't such a problem on this style of bed. That's why it's generally used. Cross slides wear just like any other lathe. Often headstock bearings have never been adjusted. It can be difficult. While they maintain the size of the spindle nose to very fine limits they have to account for bearing tolerances as they are outside of their control. I suspect many are too tight to allow easy adjustment. This is true of many lathes.

John Ward will make bits and pieces for many lathes. Including T slotted cross slides for ones that have never come with one.

There is another option on Myfords. Buy one and have the needed bit's recon'd. That's likely to be cross slide, bed regrind, saddle fit and spindle. They may tweak up the tail stock centre but that's easy to do with a morse taper reamer providing it's not been done too often. A test mandrel will be needed to align the head and some seem to have problems doing that and wont accept that the grub screws that come in from the side are intended for tweaking and think they use some sort of magic on them. No doubt they would quote a price for doing this anyway. The prices they quote are still very reasonable. I wouldn't want an ordinary machine tool recon' company to do it as I doubt if they would take the care needed for minor regrinds.

There are signs people can look for when buying a used lathe. Take my ME10 off ebay. The pictures showed a hand turning rest and several well made home made tools. It had most of the bits and pieces people can buy for them. This all strongly suggests model engineer. The serial number dates it to 1977. Minor wear to the cross slide, no wear I am aware of to the bed, headstock bearings never adjusted. A wobble on a rather large pulley on the countershaft that so far I haven't managed to fix but I recently found that the motor needs swinging through 180 degrees and doing that may well fix that – it sets up a vibration that leaves vague marks on work when very light cuts are taken. Then there is the other type of model engineer lathe – few bit and maybe hardly used at all. It happens but it's hard to be certain.

John

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[KWILParticipant @kwil]

John Ward is OK, good standards.

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by Johnboy25 on 22/10/2015 11:19:14:

From what I can gather he's an illusive charter by all accounts – meant in a positive way.

I don't even know what that means …. positive or negative.

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Bandersnatch,

What is meant is that he is difficult to get hold of. ( especially in the summer months when he is away a lot.)

But well worth the effort for the things he produces to a high standard.

Edited By Robbo on 22/10/2015 22:26:39

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Robbo,

Please forgive the pedantry, but, I think you meant elusive.

MichaelG.

[Enough!Participant @enough]

…. so …. "elusive character" ?

Sorry – never occurred to me that it was a typo.

[Author]

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