Hitchcocks Forum

Advice please fellas.
I'm thinking of getting a lathe.
Now, I've already worked out that what I SHOULD get is a proper, big, all cast, English, floor standing model. Trouble is, I haven't the room or the money. I read that Chinese "Mini" lathes are a lot better than they were a few years ago so the question is;
Can I get reasonable results from one of these?
Are some makes better than others?

It depends on what you are intending to make.

For what its worth & other people may advise otherwise there are plenty of old Boxfords & Myford ML7's
available for little money.I got rid of my lathe as a few minutes turning generated far to much swarf
in the garage in close proximity to the motorcycles. Find a mate thats got one & use his thats what mates are for. Only joking if you read this Trev.
Regards Bri e

Get a Boxford. There is a wonderful site that sells used engineering machinery, it has a notice board for private sales. I had a quick search for it and found other sites that were selling lathes but wanted huge amounts of money for them. I use mine a lot from simple spacers, special bolts, cleaning up old bolts, making brass fittings for petrol lines, sidecar supports - loads of stuff. I have even used it to turn hardwood finials for my garden shed. You will find loads of bike related jobs to do on a lathe.

Obvious really www.lathes.co.uk

Like I said, I haven't got the room for a Myford or Boxford. All the models I've seen are floor standing.

This one doesn't look to be all that big, but it will probably do the job...


Myford

Myford Super 7 is a brilliant small lathe and has the considerable advantage of a gearbox which saves endless setting u of change wheels. They are robust and beautifully made and hold their value so that if you decide to sell you don't have to give it away..

Hi matey !!----------- is this the sort of thing you have in mind ?? >>>>>>>>>> http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... etal-lathe >>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue ... Mini-Lathe >> http://www.chestermachinetools.com/conq ... 3966-p.asp

The link that Exile has posted is a lovely looking tool and even though it has a stand it can be sat on a bench no probs.