- Joined
- Jan 8, 2020
- Messages
- 194
Background: I'm an engineer by trade and a machinist at night. My shop is mostly for my own pleasure, but I'm not opposed to the occasional paying job. I'm currently renting space in a warehouse that is occupied by a bunch of creative folks, and I often help them with their projects. The space has crane, forklift, and 3-phase power. However, I'm currently 60 years old and as I get older I might want to move things home so I can putter around without having to drive 20 minutes each way.
I'm about to buy what I hope is my final lathe. The candidates are a Cadillac 1428 and a Clausing Colchester VS12. The Cadillac is literally twice the lathe of the Clausing/Colchester (2300 lbs vs 1170). In my current location the weight is an asset, but if I ever try to move it home to my basement it will be a definite liability.
For anyone not familiar with the Cadillac, it is a Taiwan made clone of a Mori-Seiki design. Built in the mid 1970's. 14" swing x 28" between centers. Manual and some parts are available from Webb Machine in California. This particular one has a D1-4 (or maybe D1-5) spindle, most were made with A-type spindles. Spindle bore is 1.53" (vs 1.37" for the Clausing). Six-speed (83-1800 RPM) all-geared headstock. It has a partial collet closer (drawtube, etc is present, but the spindle adapter sleeve is missing). Comes with a 10" 4-jaw chuck. No 3-jaw, no toolpost, no tailstock drill chuck. So I'll be spending a few hundred to a thousand dollars over the next months to get it properly tooled up.
The Clausing was made in England by Colchester in the mid 1980s. 12" swing and 40" between centers. It comes with a complete collet closer including the adapter sleeve and a bunch of 5C collets, an Aloris tool post, and a tailstock drill chuck. No 3-jaw or 4-jaw chucks. It has a Reeves variable speed drive with two geared speed ranges, 60-400 and 400-2500 RPM, but unlike some Clausings it doesn't have the troublesome hydraulic connection between the control handle and the vari-speed sheaves, instead there is an all-mechanical system of flex shaft, screw, and levers.
Neither can be run under power before purchase, but both have 30-day return options. I have inspected the Cadillac pretty closely and it looks pretty good. I will be looking at the Clausing early next week. Decision time will be immediately after I inspect the Clausing.
Advantage Cadillac: an industrial class machine, heavy and rigid. Even though it is from Taiwan, I suspect that the build quality is at least as good as the Clausing, and the design quality is better. Bigger swing, bigger spindle thru hole.
Advantage Clausing: longer bed, made in an English speaking country, manual written in English instead of Chinglish, possibly better support/parts. Cheaper by about $400, considerably more when considering cost of tooling (but I can spread tooling cost over time). Far easier to move into the basement if/when that time comes.
I'm leaning pretty strongly Cadillac (and have put a deposit down on it) but I'm looking for input from people who have run either or both of those lathes.
I'm about to buy what I hope is my final lathe. The candidates are a Cadillac 1428 and a Clausing Colchester VS12. The Cadillac is literally twice the lathe of the Clausing/Colchester (2300 lbs vs 1170). In my current location the weight is an asset, but if I ever try to move it home to my basement it will be a definite liability.
For anyone not familiar with the Cadillac, it is a Taiwan made clone of a Mori-Seiki design. Built in the mid 1970's. 14" swing x 28" between centers. Manual and some parts are available from Webb Machine in California. This particular one has a D1-4 (or maybe D1-5) spindle, most were made with A-type spindles. Spindle bore is 1.53" (vs 1.37" for the Clausing). Six-speed (83-1800 RPM) all-geared headstock. It has a partial collet closer (drawtube, etc is present, but the spindle adapter sleeve is missing). Comes with a 10" 4-jaw chuck. No 3-jaw, no toolpost, no tailstock drill chuck. So I'll be spending a few hundred to a thousand dollars over the next months to get it properly tooled up.
The Clausing was made in England by Colchester in the mid 1980s. 12" swing and 40" between centers. It comes with a complete collet closer including the adapter sleeve and a bunch of 5C collets, an Aloris tool post, and a tailstock drill chuck. No 3-jaw or 4-jaw chucks. It has a Reeves variable speed drive with two geared speed ranges, 60-400 and 400-2500 RPM, but unlike some Clausings it doesn't have the troublesome hydraulic connection between the control handle and the vari-speed sheaves, instead there is an all-mechanical system of flex shaft, screw, and levers.
Neither can be run under power before purchase, but both have 30-day return options. I have inspected the Cadillac pretty closely and it looks pretty good. I will be looking at the Clausing early next week. Decision time will be immediately after I inspect the Clausing.
Advantage Cadillac: an industrial class machine, heavy and rigid. Even though it is from Taiwan, I suspect that the build quality is at least as good as the Clausing, and the design quality is better. Bigger swing, bigger spindle thru hole.
Advantage Clausing: longer bed, made in an English speaking country, manual written in English instead of Chinglish, possibly better support/parts. Cheaper by about $400, considerably more when considering cost of tooling (but I can spread tooling cost over time). Far easier to move into the basement if/when that time comes.
I'm leaning pretty strongly Cadillac (and have put a deposit down on it) but I'm looking for input from people who have run either or both of those lathes.
