Best lathe for under $600

[aaron p]

Im wanting to buy a lathe to make simple spacers and polish round small parts on. Most stuff is 1" aluminum or smaller. 90% of the time it will be 6061 aluminum bar. Any recomendations? Do these small mini lathes have power feeds on both X and Z to do facing and turning operations?

[Crevice Reamer]

Originally Posted by aaron p Im wanting to buy a lathe to make simple spacers and polish round small parts on. Most stuff is 1" aluminum or smaller. 90% of the time it will be 6061 aluminum bar. Any recomendations? Do these small mini lathes have power feeds on both X and Z to do facing and turning operations?

This is about the lowest cost dual power feeding lathe:

https://www.travers.com/c4/

This is the Most Bang For Buck mini lathe:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44859

With a 20% off coupon, you can get it for even less than $600.

If you invest a little more, you can get the MOST BFB in a larger lathe:

http://grizzly.com/products/10-x-22-...al-Lathe/G0602

CR.

[aaron p]

Is that OTMT C4 built fairly decent?
Id really like to get a precision mathews 14x40 engine lathe, and just be done with it. Im limited to 1phase 220V in my shop.

[Crevice Reamer]

Originally Posted by aaron p Is that OTMT C4 built fairly decent? Id really like to get a precision mathews 14x40 engine lathe, and just be done with it. Im limited to 1phase 220V in my shop.

IMO, it is a bit pricy. I can say it uses the same electronics/motor as my Grizzly SX3, and they have held up well for me. I have heard some good things about it:

http://www.mini-lathe.com/m4/C4/c4.htm

Just got my C4 lathe!

CR.

[aaron p]

Do they make CNMG, DNMG, and VNMG style insert holders for these small lathes?

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by aaron p Do they make CNMG, DNMG, and VNMG style insert holders for these small lathes?

You can find smaller shank tooling like 5/16, 3/8, and 1/2" that accommodate 80 55 and 35 degree diamond style inserts. The catch is that the inserts aren't double sided but single sided.

Look them up in MSC. They have them, but they are a bit pricey.

BTW The IC is 1/4 not 3/8 like the CNMG's DNMG, VNMG

[aaron p]

you got mail toby.

[tobyaxis]

You have a Reply

[Teyber12]

Originally Posted by Crevice Reamer This is about the lowest cost dual power feeding lathe: https://www.travers.com/c4/ This is the Most Bang For Buck mini lathe: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44859 With a 20% off coupon, you can get it for even less than $600. If you invest a little more, you can get the MOST BFB in a larger lathe: http://grizzly.com/products/10-x-22-...al-Lathe/G0602 CR.

the HF 8x12 lathe is actually $450 on sale right now then you can do 20% off on top of that. I bought one about a hour and a half ago for $360 I recommend you do the same. just go up to the counter and ask if there is a sale on the 8x12. Caleb (has the x3 thread) told me about this.

cheers!

[aaron p]

where can I get the 20% off coupon?

[Teyber12]

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...9&keycode=0000
i printed this out they just scanned the printed peice of paper and all was good

[aaron p]

I checked the harbor freight website and it shows that lathe at $600. Did your local store have a special or was it something else?? Ill buy it for $360. Thats cheap enough for me to make round spacers.