Good day all, fairly new member here and have been impressed with the mindset of this forum. No puffed chests and just people that want to get along and help each other.
Well it is time to buy a lathe. It is all I think about these days. I want to work towards a full rounded shop.
I will try to not ramble on too much but I should let you all know my intentions. I spent 14 years in the industry with a general machinist ticket having spent time in Screw Machine shops and Jobbing shops. I took a job on the east coast of Canada after a holiday. Things were swell for some time and then I had a bad accident and returned to work a year later and work was so slow I ended up taking another job on and ended up driving a Zamboni for a living for over a decade.
Been a hard year with my mother and a close friend passing away. It changed things for me and realized I want a change in my life and miss machining dearly. I am planning on moving back to the Toronto area in a few years and hope to have enough equipment to run a shop.
I don't want to borrow any money and have sold a motorcycle to help get me started with another to sell.
My plans are to get my hands back in machining and also to improve my skills over the next few years to be able to find work as a machinist if I need to. Not many arena jobs out there. Having my own equipment would enable me to challenge myself and not worry about time for a customer to improve my skills.
I am worried about retirement having spent time over seas and not paying into my pension for quite a few years. So even if it takes me ten years that's ok. It's to be a hobby shop to help out down the rd. financially and take a shot at running a shop.
I can't afford to buy pure industrial machines but feel quality can still be delivered with my budget. It is going to be a hobby for some time. Work on just setting things up over the next few years.
So I have come to ask for help on choosing a lathe. There a a few machines I am interested in. Three from Precision Matthews the pm 1236 pm 1340 gt, and the 1440gs and one from Eisen the 1440E.
Two machines from China and two from Taiwan. I believe Matts machines are better than most other imports.
I wanted a Taiwanese Machine from the start but the 1440gs has my attention with the ability to cut worms with DP and Modular threading available. Japanese NSK Spindle Bearings and some great specs with the PM name on it which to me adds some quality from what I have read.
Nothing needs to be said about the 1340gt as we all know it is a fantastic machine for what it is. Then there is the pm 1236. Ok a bit on the small side but it really does seem like a good machine that has a great reputation over the years and with 3 phase a vfd and good tooling it should be a great machine. The Eisen is another great Taiwanese machine which stretches my budget a bit. Too many things to buy.
I understand there may be some quality differences but I would be ok if the machines needed tuning. I plan to go just single phase now as my wiring to my garage is taking a fair chunk of change using Ocean Tech. cable and over building it to make sure it comes with me when I make the move. Hopefully when I do move back all I need is four walls a roof and an electrician to get me going.
The Canadian Dollar is terrible and not too concerned about using single phase now. Even if the motors went on the Chinese machines I'd be ok with that. As long as I can get there one day. Tuning it and good tooling to make them better is no problem. I just don't want a casting flaw or something terrible down the rd.
So any thoughts on these machines for my choices. The 1440gs is my first choice. I hope to order this week.
This is a huge decision for me at 49 years old. Can't go backwards at this stage.
I think in this day and age there is a niche market for a crafty machinist!
Well it is time to buy a lathe. It is all I think about these days. I want to work towards a full rounded shop.
I will try to not ramble on too much but I should let you all know my intentions. I spent 14 years in the industry with a general machinist ticket having spent time in Screw Machine shops and Jobbing shops. I took a job on the east coast of Canada after a holiday. Things were swell for some time and then I had a bad accident and returned to work a year later and work was so slow I ended up taking another job on and ended up driving a Zamboni for a living for over a decade.
Been a hard year with my mother and a close friend passing away. It changed things for me and realized I want a change in my life and miss machining dearly. I am planning on moving back to the Toronto area in a few years and hope to have enough equipment to run a shop.
I don't want to borrow any money and have sold a motorcycle to help get me started with another to sell.
My plans are to get my hands back in machining and also to improve my skills over the next few years to be able to find work as a machinist if I need to. Not many arena jobs out there. Having my own equipment would enable me to challenge myself and not worry about time for a customer to improve my skills.
I am worried about retirement having spent time over seas and not paying into my pension for quite a few years. So even if it takes me ten years that's ok. It's to be a hobby shop to help out down the rd. financially and take a shot at running a shop.
I can't afford to buy pure industrial machines but feel quality can still be delivered with my budget. It is going to be a hobby for some time. Work on just setting things up over the next few years.
So I have come to ask for help on choosing a lathe. There a a few machines I am interested in. Three from Precision Matthews the pm 1236 pm 1340 gt, and the 1440gs and one from Eisen the 1440E.
Two machines from China and two from Taiwan. I believe Matts machines are better than most other imports.
I wanted a Taiwanese Machine from the start but the 1440gs has my attention with the ability to cut worms with DP and Modular threading available. Japanese NSK Spindle Bearings and some great specs with the PM name on it which to me adds some quality from what I have read.
Nothing needs to be said about the 1340gt as we all know it is a fantastic machine for what it is. Then there is the pm 1236. Ok a bit on the small side but it really does seem like a good machine that has a great reputation over the years and with 3 phase a vfd and good tooling it should be a great machine. The Eisen is another great Taiwanese machine which stretches my budget a bit. Too many things to buy.
I understand there may be some quality differences but I would be ok if the machines needed tuning. I plan to go just single phase now as my wiring to my garage is taking a fair chunk of change using Ocean Tech. cable and over building it to make sure it comes with me when I make the move. Hopefully when I do move back all I need is four walls a roof and an electrician to get me going.
The Canadian Dollar is terrible and not too concerned about using single phase now. Even if the motors went on the Chinese machines I'd be ok with that. As long as I can get there one day. Tuning it and good tooling to make them better is no problem. I just don't want a casting flaw or something terrible down the rd.
So any thoughts on these machines for my choices. The 1440gs is my first choice. I hope to order this week.
This is a huge decision for me at 49 years old. Can't go backwards at this stage.
I think in this day and age there is a niche market for a crafty machinist!