Busy Bee 10 x 18 B22227L

[quick toy]

Hi guys,
I am completly new at this, and need to start somewhere. (Ok, I did take machine shop way back when the wheel was invented, and remember a little but...)
I am looking into picking up a Busy Bee 10 x 18 B2227L Lathe. I read through most of the posts regarding this lathe, and see that a few own it, and are on the whole pretty happy with it.
My questions are, what are the things I need to buy initially with it ( i.e. cutting tools, holders, etc?, I'm not sure what it comes with) to do simple things like threading rod, and turning down bar stock. Also, any other first hand advice and experiences you want to share about the setup, and things to watch out for?

Thanks
Paul

[in2steam]

A link is always helpful, I think that that lathe is the same one that grizzly offers in the 10x22 range. Since they are up in the great white north with you then that should work. I cannot comment on what it comes with, if contact the seller I am sure they can supply that.

At anyrate, take your budget for the machine and in most cases double that, and you will have a machine with tooling suitable to use for average operations. Its always hard to say what someone needs, and this of course is a debate in of itself. I always recomend that someone start with HSS toolbits, learn to run those then move onto carbide bits if the need arises, I would say that most of the operations done buy average home shop machinsts don't need anything more some find that carbide is all they use, but I prefer HSS. A decent drill index, and a set of center drills(the good quality ones) and counter sinks. I would invest in a quick change tool post, I cannot recomend one in particular as the toolpost itself determines what you need so you may want to see if the seller has one avaliable. A standard complement of mics and calipers of course, I find that a smaller surface block is handy for checking and laying out with a height or surface gauge. Vee-blocks, angle plates, and a decent 4-jaw(my assumption is that it does not come with one) chucks are pretty much importortant if you plan to do other then roundstock finishing operations. Milling attachments are handy esp if you don't have a mill, a full range of collets are nice for accurate work, and a decent clamp kit(its hard say what works best as you need determine that) for the odd to hold job. A decent level(machinst or better), a good quality combo square with angle and center finder, a ground finished piece of rod for checking setups, and nice set of files, all this in the last sentence should be of finer qaulity, the more you pay the better it is. Some other important things if you do alot of threading, a center finder, thread gauges, a turret is handy for those runs were you do alot of center drilling, drilling, reaming, tapping. For off center work, a good 4 jaw chuck, bison for instance, a wiggler, and possibly a few extra angle blocks and vee blocks. You can make alot fixtures, like tap holders, depth gauges for indicators, and test indicators. One thing I did buy recently and don't know why I never had it before was a indicator holder that can flex every which way one from Harbor freight the other from a company called flexbar, this makes mounting easy and you can move to any position you desire and lock it. For BTC work, a good live center, you can make dead centers from 12L14 or similiar, and if you can get one for that lathe a taper attachment(my geuess is no). A gallon of wd40, or similiar for degreasing the lathe, a bundle of rags for that job, and another for when you start to use the lathe. A box of cheap brushes, a few peices of flexible plastic for a way cover, a decent oil can, a nice small 6" bench grinder with a 60 and 100 grit wheel, an 8" would be better but not needed, lathes and grinders run hand in hand esp with HSS toolbits.


does this help?

I currently own a 9x20 grizzly and a smaller taig.
besides other machines.
chris

[quick toy]

http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/pictu...&NTITEM=B2227L

Thank you! That helps a lot. I have a lot of info to look into.
Are there any online tutorials that you know of, that discuss the leveling and initial setup of a lathe?

Paul

[vulcom1]

Not sure what part of the country you are in but I buy from the Calgary store. They will help you also and don't be afraid to ask a question. Tell them you are new at it and want to learn. Besides the regular cutting tools(hss) to start I would also have a 4 jaw chuck. I have seen some of the smaller types where it was a problem mounting one and to me it is a necessity as a 3 jaw is only so accurate especially if you have to take the work out and then put it back.
I am going to look at one when I get to the city. I have an Atlas(old) and was thinking of something smaller.
John

[metalbyter]

The 10x18 is a great deal.
I bought one about 6 months ago and I love it.
I bought mine from the Busy Bee in New Westminster, and had the opportunity to see one beside the 9x20. What a difference the 9x20 is a lot smaller and lighter than the 10x18.
After some basic wiping the grease off I was using it with no modifications
I was parting off 1 1/2" SS. Not 1 or 2 pieces but 100s.
I use the 4 way tool post on my lathes and I bought 5 more for the 10x18
as well as a tailstock turret from the Little Machine Shop.
The best feature for me is the gear box for the spindle, I do a lot of repetetive work drilling, tapping, counter sink, turning and parting,
I could not imagine changing belts for every opperation.
I use carbide insert as well as HSS tooling.
There is a Yahoo group pm1027lathe that has some good info about this lathe.

Mark

[quick toy]

Deleted double post

[quick toy]

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the info. I'm out east (Toronto Ontario) but have lived in B.C.

Paul

[quick toy]

Anybody have the manual, or know where I can find one online?

Paul

[quick toy]

Ok guys, I'm taking the plunge. I'm off to buy the Busy Bee Craftex B2227L tomorrow and pick it up on Saturday. I have spent the last 2 weeks searching posts, reading all I can, and trying do digest all the info I have found. All in all it seems like this is a pretty good lathe for it's level.
It's on sale right now, and a lot of the tooling that goes with it as well, so I'm going to pick up the steady rest, follow rest, 4 jaw chuck, and face plate, stand, and a couple of HSS bits, and a bench grinder. One question I do have is about tool posts. For those that own the B2227L what are you using? I hear that the one that comes with it is a bit of a pain. I have read a little about 4 way holders, QC, and the type with separate tool holders, and am a little confused. Who uses what, and where did you buy?

Thanks,
Paul
BTW I almost bought a 3 in 1 Craftex B2229 off Ebay for "real" cheap, but the seller pulled his item saying it blew a motor, and he was going to "fix it up." I said I was willing to buy it "as is," but he didn't respond. (Hmmm...He might have sold it privately) Anyhow, I was willing to take the chance, and do the "treadmill motor" conversion on it. From the pics it didn't look that bad, and I figured for the price I really couldn't lose. I guess the good thing that came out of this, is that I know a lot more about 3 in 1's now. (I did a lot of research and reading on them. )

[in2steam]

Paul,

My experience is not with that lathe in particular, but I have worked with all of those types, by far the easiest to use is the QCTP(with seperate holders). 4 way turrets are good on some lathes and others they are a pain, but given the choice i would still go with a QCTP. Lantern style holders(the old style tool post) are nice for some things, but for the most part not needed. My grizzly has a 4 way turret but you can really only use 2 of the 4, and its about as easy to change the bit as it is to use the turret feature. QCTP are rated on the swing of the lathe, I believe that a 10" is into the 200 or B series, I could be mistaken though, they normal specify what size range the holder is. The aloris is pretty much the standard by which all others are judged, I have used a generic no name, phase II, and a aloris, the aloris was the nicest but the phase II would suit just fine. I recomend a wedge type if you are planning on doing some heavy cutting, the pistons work OK, but they are not as firm as the wedge, again the wedges are also almost double the price. If you are using HSS you will find the ablity to easily change height with the thumb wheel makes on center cutting easier, with insert and cemented tools thats not as much of an issue as they normally are on center or really close. Doing that on a turret is a pain and on a lantern style post its slight chore.

One other thing you might want to get is a machinst level, when you set up your machine you will want it as level as possible, a starret #98 is a good example, leveling the bed and the table if possible.

Chris

[quick toy]

Thanks for the input Chris, it's all making more sense.
Another question, is 1/2" pretty well the std for tool bits?

Paul

[GrahamC]

I just bought one of the 10x18 lathes and am just getting it set up. This is not my first lathe and I have used some other rather large industrial types as well. What made me go with this one was it's size and weight compared to the more common 9x20 lathes - obviously physically larger and hence heavier plus I liked the gearhead feature.

As to quick change tool posts, you wouldn't go wrong with the ones already mentioned however, busybee lists one:
http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/pictu...3&NTITEM=B1883

that is also a good option. Not as "quick change" as the others but better than the turret post that it comes with - it and additional tool holders are also on sale right now. I like it, works well for me.

cheers, Graham in Embrun near Ottawa Canada