Borite Carbide boring bars, are they any good?

[Tozguy]

Amen to that,don't forget I'm left handed, we do things bass ackward.
You can imagine how often I've hit the wall and grind to a halt on almost every project I've started.
I am planing on getting rid of some of my woodworking tools to open up some space for a small Southbend lathe.

Ken this is an emergency, you need a lathe, a whole new level of living awaits.

 

[Doubleeboy]

When my very nice Monarch 10ee took an electrical dump on my shoe, I knew it would be a while till I got it back up to snuff. To get my fix of watching metal go round and round I bought a used Harbor Freight mini lathe. They are what they are, so no need to rehash its virtues and weaknesses but it let me make things and it was such a far cry from what a working 10ee is it encouraged me to get off my butt and figure out what was wrong with it and fix. Fifteen years later I still have the mini lathe, use it occasionally for polishing or turning cast iron. Could probably sell it for what I paid for it but no need to. Get a small beater to play with till your dream lathe comes around, mans got to have a lathe or 3.

 

[Ken from ontario]

We all know that will change but in the mean time you could always use the mill to machine like a lathe. It's about as limited as it is milling on a lathe (possibly more) but it can be done & people do it.

As a matter of fact I have been exploring all the possibilities ,(of using my mill like a lathe) ,just got a 3" rotary table and mounted a 3" chuck on it but I find centering the RT/chuck a bit time consuming although once done, it does open up a whole new alternative options.

Ken this is an emergency, you need a lathe, a whole new level of living awaits.

So true.it is an emergency.
I'm convinced I need a lathe but I'm torn between two choices , A= get a new lathe (small) most likely Chinese /import and not deal with worn out parts,ways,bent spindle/lead screw etc, or B= muster up some patience and look for a used but US made one.
I'm seriously leaning toward option A, have been looking at Little Machine Shop LMS #5100 (7 x 16 mini lathe).that size will fit perfectly in my shop and seems to be a very capable lathe.