Originally Posted by nbritton  I can't spend a penny over $700 (daily limit on CC), what's the biggest and best lathe I can get? I need the lathe mainly for threading and the other things that can't be easily done with a CNC converted Sieg X2.
I'm currently eyeballing the MicroLux 7x14 (Sieg C3) and HF 8x12 (is this a mislabeled 8x14?). Space is not an issue, I'd go with a 9x20 if I could find one under $700.
Thanks. |
hello! welcome!
first off, let me say i am very new to machining so forgive noobish answers. I got a micro-mark 7x14" lathe a week ago for my 16th birthday. It shows it's weakness while spinning large, 12" long 2.25"diameter copper, as it struggles, but overall it is a very good lathe. i think you need to ask yourself what are you going to be using this for? on longer items, you can but them on the inside of the chuck, and if its 1" or so in diameter you can feed it through the rear of the headstock(near gears) so you can spin much longer pieces.
The harbor freight 9x20"(or is it 9x19"....) can be had on sale for 699.99$. You can pick it up at a local HF to avoid shipping. i was going to get it, however it felt a little on the "cheap" side. I know nothing of its performance, but i have had a tendency to break almost everything i have gotten from harbor freight. (while being somewhat careful
), so i avoided it. The first thing that caught my eye on the HF was how much "play" there was on the carriage knobs. each one turned 45-90 degrees.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/9-x-...ch-Lathe/G4000
You said 700$ is your budget, so you really need to calculate in all the tools, et cetera you will also need.
Digital caliper
Depth finder
Grinder+ many tool bits (for making custom bits)
Live end(comes in handy)
(possibly) 4 jaw chuck with adapter
tailstock drill chuck
centers for drill
lubricating oil
and so much more.. Seriously it adds up. So keep that in mind and you may want to go even cheaper then the micro-mark. However the digital tachometer is very accurate, and the lathe itself is very "sound" and feels of very high quality to me. Its 680$ shipped, and unfortunately doesn't come with to many features.
So really decide what your spinning. If you don't need the extra length or if yoru spinning thin diameter and long peices so you can feed through headstock, i would get the cummins 7x12" lathe, which comes with lots of accessories, for 400$. Win/Win.
Regards,
Reed Teyber.
P.s. sorry for any spelling mistakes, its 11:30 here and im sick
