Yes, I have. Sweet machines; but, availability in USA is an issue.
I have a complete motor and controller out of a treadmill that I scrapped. I have heard of a lot of guys using them for lathe and mill motors. Can’t remember what the hp was. I just couldn’t bare seeing it go to waistI have no specific intention of biying a Taig anytime soon, though I've been nursing the urge for nearly 30 years, I do have a small batch of comparably sized lathes. 1/4 hp has to be overkill for something that size (their Marathon seems to be equivalent to a washing machine motor). I have for instance a smaller Boston Gear motor, for hp it says .05 TE. 1.35 amps. A chunky little monkey, weighs at least 10 lbs. Now I have yet to cast/machine or buy a pulley for it, but I want to say that has to be sufficient for a Taig/Edelstaal Machinex 5/Unimat 3/watch/clock latje. Or a Sherline. Maybe I'm wrong, but their motor seems cumbersome.
I'm also eyeing a 1/8 hp 3600 rpm motor. Again I would expect that to be sufficient (more so).
I jhave been eyeballing a unimat that’s been on marketplace for months now. Asking price is reasonable so I wasn’t real sure why it’s taking so long to sellYes, I have. Sweet machines; but, availability in USA is an issue.
I was also hoping to hear about the accuracy of Unimat's as the used ones are (SL) are relatively abundant on the used market. However, some think they are made of gold based on their asking price. It's no wonder some of them stay on Craigslist forever.
A question I'd like to pose to Taig users.
Their stock motor is rated 1/4 h.p. My original Atlas 618, a far more heaftier lathe also had a 1/4 h.p. motor. I never saw it as being deficient, within the lathes limits. So why does a Taig need a comparably rated motor?
My Taig lathes use a Gates Polyflex belt 3M500.Taig very much markets their machines to customizers, you can buy them piece by piece. I suspect the Marathon 1/4hp motor is offered as a convenience to customers who don't want to source their own motor. Like many parts of the Taig machines this motor was probably selected for being functional, and affordable.
Many Taig owners do source their own motor. Variable speed options are popular, treadmill motors, sewing machine motors, even the motor from the Sherline has been used.
Sherline only has a 60w (1/12hp) variable speed motor but has beefier v-belts than Taig which uses 1/8" o-rings. I don't know how much power the Taig belts can transfer, but doubtful it is anywhere close to 1/4hp.
I have the 1/4hp motor on my Taig. It works but it is large and probably outweighs the lathe. Since I specifically wanted the Taig to set up as a highly portable "travel" lathe I have been looking at smaller options. I would think a 1/10 - 1/15 hp variable speed universal motor as used on many watchmakers lathes would be a decent option.
Yeah the Taig is all about economy. I am not in no way putting it down. I would imagine they have a relationship with Marathon. Finding the ideal most convenient sized motor of sufficiemt power, w/o spending 200$+, is not easy to say the least. So, they offer that, and the price isn't terrible.
If or rather when I buy a Taig, I won't be using their pulleys and belts. That and the chucks I don't have a fondness for.
The price of the lathe can climb easily. That is if you go for the upgraded headstocks. The 5c option looks like a beast. And pricey.
My Taig lathes use a Gates Polyflex belt 3M500.