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Thread: First lathe suggestions
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19th Jun 2016, 10:42 PM #1New Member
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First lathe suggestions
Hi All
I am interested in getting into lathe work with a view to eventually do some smith jobs like chamber and fit a barrel.
I'll never be doing anything commercially it's just for me and will always be that way.
Anyhow I have been put off getting a secondhand lathe on account of seeing people ask many thousands of dollars for old lathes that look like they have been left out under a tree.
If I had more experience I might trust myself to pick a lemon when I saw one but my knowledge at the moment is limited to knowing that if I can find a pristine Hardinge hlv-h for sale for $5K I should probably buy it.
As far as new lathes are concerned I've been looking at the HAFCO AL-960B.
Short of that what are good lathes to look out for? Brands, models?
I guess I'd entertain things like a Hercus but it's a bit hard to wrap my head around paying as much for a lathe that has seen 40 years wear as a new Taiwanese one.
The cap on my budget is $5K and if secondhand I'm guessing that would need to have a reasonable amount of tooling.
Thanks
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20th Jun 2016, 02:00 AM #2China
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Don't knock a lathe that has done 40 years service it is how it has been treated that is more of a concern, there are many lathes out there that have done 40 service that will easily do another 40 years and may well out last a new Taiwanese unit, you will pick one up for less expense this will give you more finance to put towards tooling, chamber reamer sets are not cheap, you will need to be aware of the head stock spindle bore as you will need to be able to pass the barrel through it, it will need metric and imperial threading
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20th Jun 2016, 09:07 AM #3New Member
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Thanks China.
Don't get me wrong. I think the adage "They don't make 'em like they used to" especially applies to machinery.
What I am worried about is buying an old worn out lathe without knowing it.
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20th Jun 2016, 09:23 AM #4Pink 10EE owner
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I do not think the Hardinge HLV will fit a barrel down the bore.
Since you have not given a budget. I once had an AL1000C and found it to be a nice lathe.
The next one down the AL960 is rumoured to be satisfactory as well.Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.
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20th Jun 2016, 07:20 PM #5New Member
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23rd Jun 2016, 09:54 AM #6Most Valued Member
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As RC says
a mate of mine has the 1000 from hare forbes...he is doing his own smithing and reckons my 960 (also from HF) is good enough
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12th Nov 2016, 02:02 PM #7New Member
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I bought a 960B from a toolmaking place when they went CNC. Spindle bore is 40mm I think which is enough to accommodate most barrels other than cannon;-) Around $1500 for the lathe left me enough to also get a Chinese mill and some tooling. All works OK and the missus quietened down after I did a few jobs for her.
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29th May 2017, 12:05 PM #8Golden Member
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$1500 that's a good buy mate . I also agree that the AL960 is an ok lathe . The argument that the old lathes are better is like saying a 40 year old car is better for commuting than a new one and that is just not so . I bought a new lathe and a mate bought an old Victor lathe . Mine has been used since day one with no down time , his sits out in the yard with a canvas over it because it broke down and he can't find the parts . Off course there is some fine quality made old lathes out there but finding one that is in good condition is a job for a knowledgeable machinist that can pick a good one and maybe make a new part easily . Just like buying second hand cars , some people are good at it and others get ripped off .
The volume of a pizza of thickness 'a' and radius 'z' is given by pi z z a.
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