Buying my first lathe, no experience and need help

[richl]

take your time, there is no telling what could turn up in the next couple of months. When I was looking for a lathe back in 2003, I was positive I was going to get a new grizzly g0602, a 10x22 inch lathe... what happened was a 13x40 enco lathe turned up. Its been a bit of a challenge to get her working, but after getting her working well, and finally getting tooling for her, its really been a good lathe.
It does not mean you will find something bigger that fits into your budget, but letting lots of people know you are looking for a lathe, joining any machining groups reasonably close to you, networking with people on machining sites, scouring any and all classified ads around you... who knows what could turn up.
Most of what has been mentioned here is great info, especially buying something new... but, there are deals out there and if you dont mind getting dirty and fixing, a used machine may not be a bad deal...

hth
Rich

 

[tomh]

Yes just wipe the oil/grease/ cosmoline that is on it when you get it off. The manual will show the points to oil and the type to use. You will find some books on amazon that a man from England also called tubal cain published. The workshop practice series #5 # 15 & #28 by tubal cain are just a few.

 

[Gr1m3eaper]

One quick look at that machine: It's a stay away.
Al

What do you mean by stay away? Yes i know its a chinese machine as a lot of the mini/smallish lathes are nowadays but the company who makes them has been in business for 25+ years, sells 30,000 machines a year and is Australian based so spares are easy to come past so i feel confident that theyre decent machines.

@richl yeah im taking my time, probabely going to be a while before i buy one will be doing lots of research beforw i take the plunge. Id love to get a big one but ive gotta be careful with space, thats the main concern ATM. Id much rather buy one that works straight off the bat but if i can find one that doesnt need much to get it going i might go that route.

@tomh alright ill keep that in mind, im going to a place that sells the SIEG lathes i attached a link to in the previous post on the weekend to see what theyre like in person. I live in Victoria, Australia so im hoping to find more places that will help me, not too many clubs or business that sell lathes to suit my needs unfortunately ah good ol tubalcain, been watching him for a while. Would his books be on ebay?

 

[Chipper5783]

Hi Gr1, I think you are taking the right approach with reading, spending time on the internet machining videos and saving your funds. I get it that you probably come across some great tooling buys, but suggest you avoid most of them, because opportunities will still show up when you are better able to use the stuff you buy. Don't get sucked into thinking you'll never find a deal like that again.

Knurling tool? Make a pinch style. Several good plans on the internet. I made the one in Lautard's book - it works great. You can buy the pinch style pretty cheap, but I found I learned quite a bit - so my vote is still that you should make it yourself. The cut style (perhaps it is "Kut" ?) are probably good, but expensive (never used one). There are several bump style, which I have used successfully - but the pinch style just work so slick (apparently a game changer on a small machine, but work fine on a good solid machine).

I don't really understand your hesitation with putting 3 phase in at your parent's place (it is not a big deal, think of it a part of the lathe). That's exactly what I did with my 15" lathe (and I was 21) - just hard wired the lathe right into the converter, hardwired the converter right to a breaker (its not any more difficult than wiring in a welding machine). I only had the one machine back then (it was in mom & dad's basement for 12 years). When I got another machine (15 years later) I made up a 3 phase distribution panel. Obviously you take the phase converter with you when you go. I am puzzled by your comment that getting 3 phase not being worth the investment (when you have not actually done it). I have done it and it was a great investment.

Tom is right about going with a new machine. Maybe not brand new - let someone else put the first scratch on it (which drops the price significantly). My first machine was perhaps a year old - regardless, everything worked. Now 34 years later, it is still new newest machine in the fleet.

Set yourself a goal of going and looking at one machine a month (at least one) and have a really good look, like you are actually going to buy it. However, commit to yourself that you won't actually buy it - just look. Do that for at least one year. That will teach you what your local machinery market is like. With that information you will be in a much better position to recognize what a "good buy" is for you.

Any chance you can get yourself into a community college / night class / weekend workshop?

Regards, David

 

[12bolts]

Hi Grim,
Another good forum, (and aussie orientated) to watch for is http://metalworkforums.com/

Cheers Phil

 

[Gr1m3eaper]

@Chipper5783 yeah ive been looking at lathe videos for a few years but only been getting serious about learning the past 3 months. Ill leave the tooling a lone until i find a lathe and better understand the things i want to make, how to use the tooling etc.

Oh really? Sweet ill have a look for some plans, would making a knurling tool be a good first machining project? When you say pinch style do you mean the ones where you have to tighten the wheels down as you make passes vs the ones that just roll along the work piece?

Ah ive got no problem with getting a 3 phase lathe and using a converter as long as it fits in my shed, my problem is actually getting proper 3 phase power installed. Im just using an extension cord plugged into the house for power whenever i use the shed atm so ill be getting some 20A breakers and power installed before i get that, ill save getting proper three phase power for when i move and have much more space to work with.

Yeah after reading the comments and all the input ill definently be going for something new or very close, something that has all the features i want and wont give me any headaches so that when i get my lathe i can just enjoy it and not get frustrated. Ive got 2 places im going to this weekend to look at lathes, measure some up, look at prices, features, quality, how i like them etc. Take some pics, ask some questions. Hmm ive not thought about it but if i can find something cheap that fits into my schedule ill definently give it a go.

Hi Grim,
Another good forum, (and aussie orientated) to watch for is http://metalworkforums.com/

Cheers Phil

Cheers mate ill give them a look when i get home from work, want to try and find a local based hobbyist meeting or club to try and pic the brains of the gentleman with lots of experience, reckon id get a lot out of that has anyone got pics of the lathes theyre using? Would love to see it.

 

[12bolts]

Grim,
Mine as purchased

Cleaning it up and painting

And back in working order

Not suggesting you should attempt this. But there is nothing wrong with old iron provided you know what to look out for. Depending on your experience and ability........But here in FNQ it can be few and far between machines. Need to take what you can get sometimes..... Your location should open up better opportunities. (I used to live in KooW.R. before I saw the light)
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/dandenong-south/miscellaneous-goods/cyl-grinder-hercus/1131393549
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/croydon-north/miscellaneous-goods/metal-turning-lathe/1138264695
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/wyndham-vale/miscellaneous-goods/hafco-1000d-metal-lathe/1138289767
http://www.lockwoodcompany.com.au/S2924.htm https://www.mgs.net.au/auction/catalogue.html?d=2296
I appreciate that most of these are gone, but thats jsut a quick look back over the past month or so.

Cheers Phil

 

[ronny]

Hey guys im hoping some people on here can help me out. Ive never done any type of machining before, ive watched a lot of youtube videos on lathes and have decided that i want to buy a lathe and have a crack at machining. Ive been looking on ebay for about 6 months+ keeping my eye out for a good deal, reliable, not too expensive and is a good first step in the door. ive attached some pictures and im hoping that somebody can tell me what its worth so i dont overpay. Also any maintenance tips, first tools i should buy etc would be a great help. Cheers guys

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I may have some information to help. If you are interested message me ron-lyn@bigpond.net.au.

 

[markba633csi]

One thing I did like about the first old lathe was the t-slotted cross slide, and it was a gap-bed, both desirable features. Also the carriage handwheel on the right makes me think it might have been an English lathe? But without belt guards- not a great choice for a first machine. You don't want to learn by getting hurt.
For 100 dollars I would have bought it and fixed it up, but certainly not 500.
Mark S.

 

[Silverbullet]

Keep an eye on craigslist , machinery auctions , farm sales. Lots of places to pick up a nice lathe. I just have agreed to buy a rusty junk lathe. I only want the legs to mount my planer on . If you look at it , looks like a rusty pile but add a little work and it would be what you had bid on.