MicroMark 7x14 vs HF 8x12?

[thudson]

I think I already know the answer to this, but I thought I'd let the experts chime in.

I just received a coupon knocking $50 off the price of the Microlux 7x14 lathe ($590 + $65 freight, no tax).

I can get the HF-44859 8x12, using a twenty percent off coupon for $439, no shipping cost, and around $40 sales tax.

$655 Microlux weight 90 lbs
$479 HF - weight 254 lbs

Is there any reason I shouldn't purchase the HF 8x12?

[bodysnatcher]

IMHO....the 7x14 is a toy compared to the 8x14.

Owning the 8x14, i'm chewing 5 x 5 round steel/bronze

the 7x14's just can't do that...

no comparison in my opinion....8x14 eats any 7x12/14 for lunch

bill z

[RotarySMP]

I have a 7x12 and agree with bill. Get the more massive machine. The only reasons to get a 7x are if you are totally space limited (like me - it is in a corner of the balcony of an inner city apartment), or if you thing is making miniature stuff and will never turn bigger stuff.

[knudsen]

A heavier lathe is a better lathe. It's easier to make small parts on a big lathe than to make big parts on a small lathe. Any edge of the slightly more nimble size of a 7 x can be regained on an 8 x by adding a small 4 jaw chuck. This, from a happy 7 x owner.

[TroyO]

There are a few downsides to the 8X, just to be fair.

No variable speed. It's a fairly painless upgrade, though.

Accessories are harder to come by. (Make your own, or wait out Harbor Freight... or drop a few more $$ and get them from LMS.)

There's fewer tried and trued mods out there w/reference sites that walk you through it. (Although there may be fewer... there's several really great ones in this thread 8X14 lathe Slow Mod

It's one heavy beast... you can't just toss it in the trunk of the car... you WILL need a buddy, LOL.

All that being said.... I can't see paying more to do less.

[BobWarfield]

The 8x14 is a solid lathe. It's a copy of a small Emco Austrian lathe, BTW. There is a Yahoo Group dedicated to these lathes:

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/8x18Lathe/

There are a number of manufacturers. Not only is it a better better than the 7x14, it also handily beats the 9x20.

Lathemaster makes the most "pimped out" versions (aside from Emco, of course), and I have the 9x30 from them.

The Harbor Freight is a real steal, and a perfect starting point for a great little CNC lathe.

Cheers,

BW

[thudson]

Thanks for all the input. That was pretty much my inclination.

Ages ago I naively bought a flimsy wood lathe, that was nothing but a vibrating pile of frustration. I eventually sold it and swore off woodturning. So I know that weight is an advantage, except of course, when I need to move it.

[bodysnatcher]

just remember if you've seen the 7x14 lathe...well the 8x14 is 3 times as large...you sint movin it yourself...that i promise..

[knudsen]

One of the best things about the 7 x, as TroyO alludes to, is its' following. As you discovered from your wood lathe, the heavier weight is only a setup issue, and worth the effort. Grab the $100 electric hoist while at HF. I can't lift anything any more. I use the hoist to lift itself up to the rafters, then set it up Just don't get under the damned thing, ever, even unloaded/unpowered.

[machinechick]

Another way you could move the 8x pretty much by yourself is with a hydraulic scissor table cart (can pick it up the same place you get the lathe if you want and if they stock it). I modded my cart a little and put a "riser" on it so I could (or perhaps, in my case, have the resident caveman) push the crate out of the uhaul van onto the cart, then it's an easier "shove-baby step lift" right onto the table your going to use. (this of course works fine if you don't have stairs!). When there's a will there's a way!

[bodysnatcher]

well i carried the sucker 17 stairs down into the basement...alone...so how did i do it?..took it all apart everything..still could not life the main rail body so i dollied that down the stairs...hope i never have to move dont wanna do that again

[thudson]

One of the best things about the 7 x, as TroyO alludes to, is its' following.

Yeah, that's why I'm still debating about the 7x. HF has the 7x10 discounted to 399 right now, with the 20 off coupon that would be 320 and I could spend the extra dough on tooling. Honestly, for my intended uses I could probably get by with something the size of the Taig lathe.