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harbor freight
- Thread starter bubbas55
- Start date
These machines are pretty small, but as others have said, you can still do a lot with them, and they are a low cost entry into the hobby to see if you enjoy it or not. The nice thing about them is that they tend to have a pretty decent resale value. If you decide you don't like it, or that you want to move to a larger machine, you can recoup a decent amount of your investment.
I started off with a MicroMark 7x14. Did a lot with it before I upgraded, and sold it for a decent amount.
I started off with a MicroMark 7x14. Did a lot with it before I upgraded, and sold it for a decent amount.
Heh... You can say that again! I was at HF in Bellingham on Saturday and saw one on display. Mentioned to the wife who was with me (bored!!) that I could probably chuck up the whole lathe into mine.
You know... If I had need to turn a lathe.
I just ordered up a 4th axis for my mill, and the chuck and tail stock of it look almost exactly like this lathe.
they sell a starter kit for the mini lather for $50.00...
Another thought for you. The $400 that machine would cost is likely half or more the cost of a nice older 9-12 swing machine that you will not outgrow as fast. Something like an old Logan, Sheldon or Atlas machine. My comment is not meant as a dis to the little 7 x 10 machines, but rather just something else to think about.
Hey Bubba
For the amount you'll have to spend on tooling, you might want to wait til you have about $600 or a little more, and keep your eyes on Craigslist. You can really come up with some incredible deals there for a bigger machine.
These 7x10's are fun, and people like them. I am unsure of the resale if you want to step bigger.
Bernie
For the amount you'll have to spend on tooling, you might want to wait til you have about $600 or a little more, and keep your eyes on Craigslist. You can really come up with some incredible deals there for a bigger machine.
These 7x10's are fun, and people like them. I am unsure of the resale if you want to step bigger.
Bernie
I hate to say it, but I'm with Buck and Bernie. If you can be patient (please don't think that I am) you could spend a few weeks or months watching Craigslist and E-bay and classifieds like in other sources, and then end up with another lathe that even when you outgrow, you'll want to keep for a 2nd operation lathe. I would get one that is a smaller precision toolroom lathe and then later if you want a bigger one that is less precise, then you use it for all the things that don't require the small lathe precision. I kind of wish that I had done things this way. Now I'm looking for a smaller toolroom (maybe even jewler's) lathe, which i would likely use more in my applications than I would the 13x40 that I already have. Just my two bits. Good luck on the patience part, and not to worry too much if you do get the HF lathe, because a lathe that isn't destroyed is a lot like buying a firearm. They don't loose much in value and almost seem to appreciate!
Barry
Bubba- I have gotten REALLY lucky on Craigslist recently.. I got a MINT South Bend Heavy 10 for MUCH less than EBay price.
I have also been very lucky for many items on CL in the past. I mean, don't wait forever, I know you want to get cutting. You might want to give it a few weeks of looking- if you don't find anything, go to HF and grab it! Do you have one near you? The HF store near me has the minilathe out for display.
Lawrence just posted a thread about upgrading the 7x16 minilathe, and Dunc1 posted a very cool page on an IN DEPTH rebuild of the machine. Take a look! Maybe this machine is for you, and some careful rebuild of certain parts would be all you need!
Lawrence said he really likes his machine more now.
The only money spent in the WHOLE rebuild of the lathe was about $30+ bucks (according to Lawrence and the eBay page he posted) for the tapered headstock roller bearings.
Take a look!
Bernie
I have also been very lucky for many items on CL in the past. I mean, don't wait forever, I know you want to get cutting. You might want to give it a few weeks of looking- if you don't find anything, go to HF and grab it! Do you have one near you? The HF store near me has the minilathe out for display.
Lawrence just posted a thread about upgrading the 7x16 minilathe, and Dunc1 posted a very cool page on an IN DEPTH rebuild of the machine. Take a look! Maybe this machine is for you, and some careful rebuild of certain parts would be all you need!
Lawrence said he really likes his machine more now.
The only money spent in the WHOLE rebuild of the lathe was about $30+ bucks (according to Lawrence and the eBay page he posted) for the tapered headstock roller bearings.
Take a look!
Bernie
There are alot of things to consider. Have you ever done machining, do you have projects in mind? What kind of space do you have and how much weight can the floor support. If you have a small space and just want to find out if you like to turn metal into shavings then go for the little machine first. My first lathe was a Central Machinery 7X12. Did I out grow it, YES, but I still have it and use it when doing small parts. Trying to turn 1/8 brass rod on the 13X40 is scary. Working that close to a large chuck spinning at high speeds, well lets just say that the 7X12 feels better. As every one has also stated, buying the tooling will add up quickly and small tooling is cheaper then large tooling.