How small of a lathe?

[chapmro]

Hi all,
I'm considering buying a small lathe for the home shop. I've used a large Jet machine in the local maker space, and while it is very capable, it is just huge and only available during working hours, when I am, well, working. I'm considering a smaller machine for home use. Most of my needs will be pretty small, such as parts for espresso machines, typewriters, and the odd old car or two. I've looked at 7x14 mini mills, and they seem too small, but maybe I am overestimating the size I would need. I've looked at 10x22 machines such as Precision Matthews and Grizzly, and they seem maybe too big (450 lbs), and certainly at the very upper end of what I could afford ($2500-$3500). The first problem would just be getting it off the pallet and onto its stand. I have limited help available (1 person), but I do have a 2-ton engine hoist. I was able to get a Precision Matthews PM-25V mill onto a stand by myself without any problem, but these lathes are much heavier, the lathe is a harder shape to lift it seems, and things can go wrong in an instant. So, I have been looking at lathes in the 8x23 size, such as Techtongda, Creworks, etc (brand name doesn't seem to mean much -- all clearly from the same factory). These seem to have some nice properties, such as very big through hole (1.5"), big swing and distance between chuck and tailstock, light weight (180 lbs, easier to move, but is it so light as to not be stable?), variable speed with DRO for rpm, metal gears, and a price about half of the 10x22 lathes or even less. I can't find much in the way of reviews, and I can't post a link (this is only my 2nd post on the forum). Has anyone used any of these machines? I understand I'd be buying a machine that probably needs some work right out of the box to be useful, zero customer service, an unreadable manual. One last choice I've thought about is the Little Machine Shop High-Torque 7500. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[matthewsx]

Hi all,
I'm considering buying a small lathe for the home shop. I've used a large Jet machine in the local maker space, and while it is very capable, it is just huge and only available during working hours, when I am, well, working. I'm considering a smaller machine for home use. Most of my needs will be pretty small, such as parts for espresso machines, typewriters, and the odd old car or two. I've looked at 7x14 mini mills, and they seem too small, but maybe I am overestimating the size I would need. I've looked at 10x22 machines such as Precision Matthews and Grizzly, and they seem maybe too big (450 lbs), and certainly at the very upper end of what I could afford ($2500-$3500). The first problem would just be getting it off the pallet and onto its stand. I have limited help available (1 person), but I do have a 2-ton engine hoist. I was able to get a Precision Matthews PM-25V mill onto a stand by myself without any problem, but these lathes are much heavier, the lathe is a harder shape to lift it seems, and things can go wrong in an instant. So, I have been looking at lathes in the 8x23 size, such as Techtongda, Creworks, etc (brand name doesn't seem to mean much -- all clearly from the same factory). These seem to have some nice properties, such as very big through hole (1.5"), big swing and distance between chuck and tailstock, light weight (180 lbs, easier to move, but is it so light as to not be stable?), variable speed with DRO for rpm, metal gears, and a price about half of the 10x22 lathes or even less. I can't find much in the way of reviews, and I can't post a link (this is only my 2nd post on the forum). Has anyone used any of these machines? I understand I'd be buying a machine that probably needs some work right out of the box to be useful, zero customer service, an unreadable manual. One last choice I've thought about is the Little Machine Shop High-Torque 7500. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

If you’re happy with the precision Matthews I’d stick with them. Weight is a good thing for lathes and if you know where it’s going you only have to move it once. I move my 12x36 lathe by myself with an engine hoist and it’s over 600lbs.

If your time is limited and you’d rather make parts than rebuild a brand new machine stick with the known sellers. PM, Grizzly, and LMS. Anything else is a c***shoot.

John

 

[mickri]

Welcome to the forum.

I have moved my craftsman 12x36 by myself. I stripped everything off of the lathe down to the headstock and bed. Then lifted one end at a time. The tailstock end is the easiest to lift and move. Even the headstock wasn't that bad.

If money is a issue I would look at older used American made lathes. The imports that you mention get horrible reviews. You are basically starting with a bunch of rough cast parts that need final finishing to be truly usable. If you don't want to buy used American lathes stick to the PM, Grizzly and LMS lathes.

 

[rabler]

YouTube machinist Blondihacks recently played "machine tetris" as I believe she called it, using an engine hoist herself with no help. Might want to watch some of her videos. I started with a 10x22, and my interests outgrew that. Keep in mind that spinning even 5 lbs of steel at 500RPM or more needs some weight behind the machine if your part is even slightly off balance to start with, so a lathe benefits from weight much more so than a mill. General advice here is "bigger is better, and yes it costs more." This is usually followed by the comment "Buy once, cry once".

 

[great white]

I’ve got an atlas th42 and a cx601 mill.

I moved them both with my engine hoist, by myself. It can be done, just go slow and double check everything.

When picking them up off the floor/pallet, I rig them then lift then an inch or two. I then check the balance and give them some good shakes to make sure they’re balanced and my lifting straps don’t slip.

When moving them, I keep them as low to the floor as possible just in case something slips or breaks. The only time they get more than a few inches off the floor is when I lift them to put them on their stands. If its something with a built in stand, its only an inch or two off the ground when moving.

My engine hoist is actually used to remove engines as well as move heavy stuff around the shop. So I have a “load leveler”, which is simply a screw device that I can use to move the pivot point back and forth to balance the load. I use it when moving heavy things around to get the balance just right before trying to move it.


It can be done, you just have to realize as the weight gets closer to your cranes limits, the slower and more carefully you have to go.

And never get an unbalanced load on your engine crane. They tip over easily when unbalanced and it usually happens all at once and very fast. if that should happen, don’t try and save it, just get out of its way and let it happen.

Machine parts can be replaced, body parts can’t….

 

[slow-poke]

I had a 7" and then an Emco 8" and found both too small, I now have a 10x22 and it seems to work quite well for my hobby use. My CX706 BusyBee (Canada) clone of PM1022, is just the right size for my limited space. I like the power cross feed, some similar 10" lathes don't have that feature and I use it all the time.

 

[Huub Buis]

I have a small (150 LBS) and larger (700 LBS) lathe. If I had to choose, I would keep the larger lathe and buy a small 80 mm chuck. My "shop" is at the first floor and to move the larger lathe, I also had to take the lathe completely apart and it took me about 8 days to get it done.

 

[7milesup]

Whenever I see titles like "How small of a Lathe (or mill)?" my immediate thought that runs through my mind is HUGE!

 

[RJSakowski]

I have been happy with my Grizzly G0602 (10 x 22). My previous lathe was an Atlas/Craftsman 6x18 which I found too small. The 602 isn't a fancy lathe but generally speaking rather well built, considering the cost. The PM 10x22 has better features but also higher cost. The 602 weighs in at 453 lbs, shipping wt. but if you remove the crate, the two chucks and faceplate, and the follower and steady rest, you will lose over 100 lbs. While a hoist is the best way to maneuver it, at the cost of a few beers, several friends can lift the lathe up to a bench or stand.

If you want something lighter, the Grizzly G4000 is the little brother. At just under 300 lbs, shipping wt. it is more easily move about. It has a 3/4 hp motor vs the 1 hp on the 602 and an inch less swing and 3 inches less travel. I have worked with that lathe too and I was impressed sufficiently with it that it was the primary reason for deciding to go with the 602 rather than a different brand.

My maneuvered the 602 crate into place in my basement shop by sliding the pallet using a pry bar to walk it. To lift my 602 onto the stand, I installed a sky hook in the floor joists above and used a come-along. This was a non eventful; single person endeavor.

 

[luap]

Hi all,
I'm considering buying a small lathe for the home shop. I've used a large Jet machine in the local maker space, and while it is very capable, it is just huge and only available during working hours, when I am, well, working. I'm considering a smaller machine for home use. Most of my needs will be pretty small, such as parts for espresso machines, typewriters, and the odd old car or two. I've looked at 7x14 mini mills, and they seem too small, but maybe I am overestimating the size I would need. I've looked at 10x22 machines such as Precision Matthews and Grizzly, and they seem maybe too big (450 lbs), and certainly at the very upper end of what I could afford ($2500-$3500). The first problem would just be getting it off the pallet and onto its stand. I have limited help available (1 person), but I do have a 2-ton engine hoist. I was able to get a Precision Matthews PM-25V mill onto a stand by myself without any problem, but these lathes are much heavier, the lathe is a harder shape to lift it seems, and things can go wrong in an instant. So, I have been looking at lathes in the 8x23 size, such as Techtongda, Creworks, etc (brand name doesn't seem to mean much -- all clearly from the same factory). These seem to have some nice properties, such as very big through hole (1.5"), big swing and distance between chuck and tailstock, light weight (180 lbs, easier to move, but is it so light as to not be stable?), variable speed with DRO for rpm, metal gears, and a price about half of the 10x22 lathes or even less. I can't find much in the way of reviews, and I can't post a link (this is only my 2nd post on the forum). Has anyone used any of these machines? I understand I'd be buying a machine that probably needs some work right out of the box to be useful, zero customer service, an unreadable manual. One last choice I've thought about is the Little Machine Shop High-Torque 7500. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

I have seen The little Machine Shop.I thought they were fabulous.
Have dealers magazine. Also....

My two cents
Have several Depression era books on making a lathe from a large piston acting as a headstock,maybe a railroad rail or something as the lathe bed an another large piston for a tailstock .
The rest is according to plans ,must be available on the internet.
I should build one, maybe a shipswheel style handle for the tailstock.a foot treadle ,(for the carbon people?)
a extra large flywheel etc.....