Looking for a Cheap little metal hobby lathe recommendation

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  • george
    Captain
    • Dec 2010
    • 727

    Looking for a Cheap little metal hobby lathe recommendation

    Hello

    After downsizing I am in a wish/want of a Small Metal lathe to fill my needs for R.C sub parts making.

    Can anyone recommend any brand names that have after market parts also available and is fairly cheap?

    Thanks for your Time.
    George

  • He Who Shall Not Be Named
    Moderator
    • Aug 2008
    • 12256

    #2
    Taig!

    and cheap options:

















    David
    Who is John Galt?

    Comment

    • george
      Captain
      • Dec 2010
      • 727

      #3
      Hi
      Thanks for the multiple ideas. Boy the workshop must be a wonderland!

      Comment

      • Subculture
        Admiral
        • Feb 2009
        • 2119

        #4
        The best value is a well looked after secondhand machine. They will tend to come with an array of useful accessories like a 4-jaw chuck, face plate, live and dead centres, jacobs chuck- nearly all of which you'll usually have to buy extra if purchasing a new machines and which can easily double the cost.

        Most model engineers tend to go for a lathe of around 3.5" chuck size, as they offer plenty of versatility and are stout enough to take reasonably serious machining. Myford ML7 has become the gold standard of hobby lathes here in the UK, not sure about across the water.

        Most model submariners can get away with something smaller provided you respect the limitations a diminutive machine imposes.

        Comment

        • george
          Captain
          • Dec 2010
          • 727

          #5
          Why is a four jaw chuck More sought after then a three jaw chuck? I always thought the three jaw chuck was better?

          Comment

          • He Who Shall Not Be Named
            Moderator
            • Aug 2008
            • 12256

            #6
            Originally posted by george
            Why is a four jaw chuck More sought after then a three jaw chuck? I always thought the three jaw chuck was better?
            A three-jaw chuck is easier to use, but does not hold the work with the assurance of a four-jaw chuck. Also, slight off-centric turns can be performed with the four-jaw that you can't do with a three-jaw. And the four-jaw can be set (with the aid of a dial-indicator) to produce a centering to within .0001" -- hard to achieve with a three-jaw, even one that has recently faced jaws.

            Enough. The Internet is your friend. Look this stuff up.

            David
            Who is John Galt?

            Comment

            • george
              Captain
              • Dec 2010
              • 727

              #7
              Thanks for the lesson o wise one.

              Comment

              • He Who Shall Not Be Named
                Moderator
                • Aug 2008
                • 12256

                #8
                Originally posted by george
                Thanks for the lesson o wise one.
                My pleasure, sir.

                David
                Who is John Galt?

                Comment

                • george
                  Captain
                  • Dec 2010
                  • 727

                  #9
                  You have Sir Gone beyond and above in helping me with tips and lessons etc.
                  Thank You

                  Comment

                  • He Who Shall Not Be Named
                    Moderator
                    • Aug 2008
                    • 12256

                    #10
                    Originally posted by george
                    You have Sir Gone beyond and above in helping me with tips and lessons etc.
                    Thank You
                    Your very kind. I'm simply passing on what so many taught me. Trades are not genetic, they have to be demonstrated, learned, applied, and improved upon. That's how a Craft grows from generation to generation.

                    David
                    Who is John Galt?

                    Comment

                    • Goldfish104
                      Ensign
                      • May 2019
                      • 1

                      #11
                      Try the one harbor freight sells. For the price it is unbelievable. I was looking at something for $2400 then saw this for $600. What a machine

                      Comment

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