HF 4" x 5" micro lathe for $72.87 ???

[blades]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=95012

Looks like an error in pricing, I believe the last time I looked at this it was about $300.

I just ordered one.

[stephenrc]

I ordered one yesterday. Most likely the price means it's been discontinued by Harbor Freight.

[knudsen]

Wow!!!! Thanks for the tip... I just ordered mine, $82 delivered. What a dael. I always wanted one for tiny work. In my mind, I am giving you a hug blades. Well, OK, just a handshake

[blades]

No problem knudsen, a handshake will do just fine!

Yeah, I had to share this with my fellow CNC Zone / HF peeps. Like Stephen mentioned, I wondered if it meant that HF is discontinuing it. Didn't say they were in the ad, but I also wonder how long it's been lurking on their website for that price. I was just watching a used on on ebay that had 9 bids and went for $204.50 + $48 shipping!

Could be a fun little CNC conversion project.

[knudsen]

I was googling around last night trying to figure out what we bought I have been watching it for a while, but was wondering what the tapers were. Anyway, if you google it you will find it announced on other forums, jewelry forums and stuff.

I was thinking, other uses for these. Could make a heck of a nice sensitive DP. I noticed they spin up pretty good. Polishing station? Something for a CNC mill? If i had another couple hundred clams cash, I would get two more, leave one in the box, wait until the deal disappears, and sell it for more than what the other two cost me. With just the one I ordered, I'll probably keep it as a lathe, unless it just sucks. I'm going to use it on the kitchen table for sure. If I do stuff like that in the house, for some reason, it doesn't count against my shop time

[knudsen]

This might be a good use:

I am considering making an auxiliary mill/drill spindle to mount on the compound slide of my 12x36 (Chinese, no sand in gear box ) lathe.

The intention is to use this to drill radial holes in work held in the lathe chuck and such things as bolt circles and a bit of light milling of radial and longitudional slots etc.

The tooling will be all ER32

The question is what range of speeds should I be aiming for?

Thanks

[HoboCrow]

thanks Blades,

I just placed my Micro Lathe order ... don't know What I'm going to do with it, but had to have one!

Bill S

[knudsen]

don't know What I'm going to do with it, but had to have one!

If a machine tool can be cute, this is it!

[blades]

Think I'll put mine on my keychain!
But seriously, I was thinking that it might make a great milling spindle for my 7x10 lathe. I was thinking about adding one, and this might just fit the bill.
If not, then maybe a damn cute CNC project. NEMA 17's might work well on this, although I'm not thinking too seriously in that direction because I'm nearly done with my 7x10 conversion.

There seems to be a lot of interest in this lathe for that price.... makes me wonder if that's close to what HF pays for it? I always considered it a tad overpriced @ $300, but it does look like a great little lathe for really small work though, or like you mentioned knudsen, a great polishing station!

[knudsen]

Add 12V motor and a cigarette lighter adapter.

I think others had it for sale too, if so, they must have been using whatever the competitive mark-up is. Maybe not, I thunk everyone had it for awhile.

[blades]

Add 12V motor and a cigarette lighter adapter.

No turning while driving!!
That didn't sound right!

[MyCattMaxx]

Looks like a cheap source of parts for making a 4th axis.