Looking for a mini lathe

[hardcase]

I saw one of these at Harbor Freight. Some of their stuff is adequate for the occasional user. I don't want something that is not suitable for building baffles or threading barrels or other misc. small parts stuff. Any recommendations would be appreciated. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=lat ... &FORM=VIRE

[brutis]

If you want to thread barrels I'd be looking at lathes that have at least a 1.5" spindle bore.

Grizzly 1.5" spindle bore lathes.

[Jim Timber]

1.5" is nice. Mine's 1.625 IIRC. But unless you're putting a screwed on action in your headstock, you really don't need more than 1.25" for most barrel contours.

You can fit a spider outside the spindle tube if you need to. Big bored spindles are big lathes (physically) and are going to be a bigger commitment than I think the typical hobbyist is after.

You can make baffles, and thread adapters on anything with a thread gauge and the appropriate leadscrew. That's the biggest issue in hobbyist machinery - most won't cut metric threads.

I'd look for a Hardinge chucker. They use 5C collets (goes up to 1" diameter through the spindle and collets), and then get a 1" shank backing plate 3 and 4 jaw chuck for that. Whole package should be under $1500-$2k for a not-clapped out machine.

[golfindia]

Buy the biggest machine you can afford and have room for. Tiny machines flex, and you'll pull your hair out trying to do anything correctly on one. Threading delrin, AL, sure. Threading forged, or heat treated steel, Ti - no, are just going to ruin tools and your project.

It boils down to 2 questions: Do you just want to make stuff, or do you want to make quality stuff.

Whatever you spend on a machine, double or triple that amount on tooling. Oh, and measuring with turn counts and indicators also becomes a huge PITA, so you'll be pricing DROs eventually.

I see good deals on Cragslist all the time. You can probably get a decent big used machine for the price of a new tiny one.

[Netpackrat]

What golfindia said is basically the same advice as my gunsmith/machinist friend gave me.

[John A.]

I bought a 7x12 Cummins (now also marketed as a grizzly G8688) from a friend of mine, whose Father past away about 4 years ago and he didn't want it collecting dust anymore.

I paid $220 for it, and it had been used very (VERY) little.

Admittedly, I have bought a different chuck for it with a larger inside diameter for $100 so I can thread barrels but am limited to pretty small barrels if sticking them through the headstock with a receiver attached.

I have threaded beretta 92 barrels, uzi 16 inch barrels, plethora of 22lr rifle barrels, 9mm AR barrels, scorpion evo 9mm barrels, 7.62x39 SKS barrel, etc with it no problem.

And it will thread standard AND metric threads, right or left hand too.

I believe these lathes cost about $500 on sale most of the time, and they will do baffles and most intricate cuts really well.

[Jim Timber]

Affordability and space are only part of the equation. My lathe is 8' long and weighs 3200#. You need to be able to get a forklift in to move something like that, or have a bridge crane like I do.

It also runs on a 30A 240V circuit (10hp 3ph spindle motor which I converted to run off a VFD); do you have the ability to power that?

[John S]

I purchased a HF mill about 6 years ago when I started working with 80% lowers. Tje lathes, just like the mills have a stong following and plenty of after market support. I've been thinking about a lathe lately myself and most likely with go with a small grizzly. I don't remember exactly hos much the mill cost, but I do not I've spent at least 5x that on tooling which includes vises, turntable and upgrades including a 3axis DRO.
I've made over a dozen lowers, some from 0% as well as many one off parts for my street rod.

Although not the best, the mini mill fits my shop and power limitations.

[GUNNY14]

I saw one of these at Harbor Freight. Some of their stuff is adequate for the occasional user. I don't want something that is not suitable for building baffles or threading barrels or other misc. small parts stuff. Any recommendations would be appreciated. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=lat ... &FORM=VIRE

that harbor frieght lathe is ok , used one for 7yrs and it finally died

[kassenz]

I have a Unimat micro lathe for sale.

Adj belt drive. I never cut metal with it, mostly just RC car tire foam

https://www.google.com/search?q=unimat+ ... 90&bih=905