Hello everyone
I am new to this forum and am new to anything that is related to lathes and milling. I need guidance in purchasing a tool. The problem lies in the fact that I do not know which tool or if I should buy new or used. I will let you know what I want to do so that might help. I do a lot of mechanical repairs on cars and motorcycle as well as electronics and woodworking as a hobby. Diversified I know. Sometimes, I would like to be able to make my own things instead of buying. One example is making a set of forward controls for my motorcycle. This consists of round and flat metal parts that would put the shifter and brake in a more forward position so I would not have to ride cramped all the time. Price for ready made around here, is from $700 to over $1000. Turning rotor disks when they are perfectly good instead of buying new. Price for turning is $20.00 each. Mostly it would be to make custom parts. Now turning 12" rotors would require a lathe with a minimum 12.5" clearance over the bed and to machine flat parts would require a milling I would imagine. Now here in the Montreal area, I have been looking at lathes on the used market. I have found many in my price range of $1500.00. They range from small Hardinge turret lathes @ $650.00 to larger engine 10" to 17" lathes (Southbend, Atlas, etc). Some of them have 3 phase motors that would need replacing and they weigh over 1000 pounds. So, I need to set this up in a small garage that 2 or 3 people could bring in.This would put the weight at 600 pounds or less. It needs single phase 110/220V motor. Now, knowing nothing about machining and knowing no one that could come with me, I am hesitant in buying used. Some of these things are quite old and I do not want to put money into a lathe other than maybe having to buy a motor. On the other hand, I saw on this forum that Busybee tools is selling a Craftex 13" X 24 for less than $2000. This is new and under warranty. I am also considering the fact that I will have to learn to operate whichever machine I buy plus tooling and stock. Most of my custom work would be with aluminum and steel, and drilling accurate holes. So, this is long winded but describes well enough what I am into. I would appreciate any type of feedback.
Thank's a bunch
Don

Hello everyone
I am new to this forum and am new to anything that is related to lathes and milling. I need guidance in purchasing a tool. The problem lies in the fact that I do not know which tool or if I should buy new or used. I will let you know what I want to do so that might help. I do a lot of mechanical repairs on cars and motorcycle as well as electronics and woodworking as a hobby. Diversified I know. Sometimes, I would like to be able to make my own things instead of buying. One example is making a set of forward controls for my motorcycle. This consists of round and flat metal parts that would put the shifter and brake in a more forward position so I would not have to ride cramped all the time. Price for ready made around here, is from $700 to over $1000. Turning rotor disks when they are perfectly good instead of buying new. Price for turning is $20.00 each. Mostly it would be to make custom parts. Now turning 12" rotors would require a lathe with a minimum 12.5" clearance over the bed and to machine flat parts would require a milling I would imagine. Now here in the Montreal area, I have been looking at lathes on the used market. I have found many in my price range of $1500.00. They range from small Hardinge turret lathes @ $650.00 to larger engine 10" to 17" lathes (Southbend, Atlas, etc). Some of them have 3 phase motors that would need replacing and they weigh over 1000 pounds. So, I need to set this up in a small garage that 2 or 3 people could bring in.This would put the weight at 600 pounds or less. It needs single phase 110/220V motor. Now, knowing nothing about machining and knowing no one that could come with me, I am hesitant in buying used. Some of these things are quite old and I do not want to put money into a lathe other than maybe having to buy a motor. On the other hand, I saw on this forum that Busybee tools is selling a Craftex 13" X 24 for less than $2000. This is new and under warranty. I am also considering the fact that I will have to learn to operate whichever machine I buy plus tooling and stock. Most of my custom work would be with aluminum and steel, and drilling accurate holes. So, this is long winded but describes well enough what I am into. I would appreciate any type of feedback.
Thank's a bunch
Don

The american iron you mentioned is going to be a much better starting point than the imports, hands down. With either machine you are going to put more money into it if you want to use it. Tooling is a large expense, as well as good measurement tools.
The Hardinge's are good for what they were designed for, but a turret lathe like that has some definite limitations. The one I have at work has no tailstock, so this limits what you can do on the machine.
You don't have to ditch a 3 phase motor, you can use a VFD or a rotary phase converter. The VFD will give you the added advantage of speed adjustment. This goes for a mill as well.

Thank you for the reply. I will be looking in the area this coming week for something reasonable. There are 2 local machinery auctions coming up next week. I will take a look there for starters. Still wondering which of the mentioned machines to get first. Just like in woodworking. There are pros and cons for the radial arm saw and the table saw.
Don

While you're waiting for the upcoming sale, check out the MIT Training videos (http://techtv.mit.edu/genres/24-how-to/videos/142-machine-shop-1).
Should give you some much needed info, several of the 10 videos cover Lathe and Milling Machine usage.
Could help in picking out a machine.
Hoss

You should look to see if you can reduce your maximum workpiece size requirement. Investing $2000 to $3000 in order to be able to machine a brake disc once every 6 months is not necessarily a good idea. Also the fact that a lathe can physically swing a 12" workpiece does not necessarily mean it will produce the accuracy required. Even commercial shops sometimes have machining operations that exceed their size capabilities and have to farmed it out.

Just another angle to look at the issue.

Phil


Thank you for the reply. I will be looking in the area this coming week for something reasonable. There are 2 local machinery auctions coming up next week. I will take a look there for starters. Still wondering which of the mentioned machines to get first. Just like in woodworking. There are pros and cons for the radial arm saw and the table saw.
Don

Great idea. Thank's

I will study both, the lathe and milling machine. You are right in the fact that brake rotors once in a while is not sufficient for that much of an investment. I only have $1500.00 to put up for this and I want to get max for my $$.
Will watch all of the MIT training videos. That should give me a better perspective as to what I really need.
Don