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3rd Apr 2011, 12:20 AM #1Product designer retired
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- Nov 2006
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- Heidelberg, Victoria
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- 79
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- 2,074
What's an Emco compact 8 lathe worth?
Many many years ago, I fell in love with the Emco series of lathes. I had all their brochures, and drooled for hours and dreamed of owning one.
I probably fell for the nice orange paint colour, and the modern styling as opposed to the Hercus traditional style.
The Compact 8 seemed to be the ideal hobby size. Eventually, Emco went out of business, and so did my dreams.
One has popped up for sale at approx $1100.
Should I let it go? Are they any good? Anyone got one?
I really don't need another lathe, I already have the baby Emco Unimat 3 lathe/mill, and a nearly finished 9" Hercus.
It's just a teenage dream fulfilled, maybe.
Ken
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3rd Apr 2011, 12:29 AM #2Most Valued Member
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- Jul 2010
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- Melbourne
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teenage dream fulfilled for $1100....... I'd call that a bargin.
Stuart
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3rd Apr 2011, 12:55 AM #3Product designer retired
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- Nov 2006
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- Heidelberg, Victoria
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- 79
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A boyhood dream
Thanks Stu for the encouragement.
When I was a kid in Tech school, I reckoned the HP calculators were the ants pants, and they were.
Today I have two, and still flog them to death. Even have an ancient one with the red led display.
Back then, the FJ Holden was something to die for. The girl I married had a nice grey one with red leather seats, an FJ Special. The girl has since gone, should have kept the Holden.
Once in a band, I badly wanted a Fender guitar, that didn't happen, and finished up with a copy.
Sorry, I'm just waffling on. I reckon all of us have some boyhood dream that's not fulfilled.
What's yours?
Ken
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3rd Apr 2011, 01:02 AM #4Most Valued Member
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- Jul 2010
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- Melbourne
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- 9,088
My father had a Hp calculator with neon(I think, certainly not LCD or LED) display. It's programable for long caluations, must be nearly 40years old. He may even still have it lol
A shed full of tools.... I'm well on the way.
Stuart
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3rd Apr 2011, 01:39 AM #5.
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
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- Perth WA
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- 71
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- 6,458
Buy it Ken. Then you can start the hunt for the matching mill.
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3rd Apr 2011, 04:31 AM #6
The guy who repairs my watches lives 2km from Ken, and he has one of those. Too bad he's only eighty with (apparently) more years left in him.
Ken, I believe I'd get the Emco, finish the Hercus and flog it as a "dream-come-true" lathe on ebay. You'd get at least $1100 for it.
GQ
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3rd Apr 2011, 09:17 AM #7.
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- Nov 2008
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- Perth WA
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I've given it more thought.
I just had a quick read on Tony's site. The Compact 8 has no gearbox, no backgear and no reverse. Your AR does. You can still buy new parts from Hercus and there are plenty of second hand parts available. And orange? Will that suit your neighbour's garage decor?
At least the mill's the right colour.
BT
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3rd Apr 2011, 09:19 AM #8Most Valued Member
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- Nov 2008
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- North Brisbane. Qld. Australia
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- 70
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Did the same with the Unimat3. Many years ago there was a place at Redcliffe which had them. I would go in every time I went to Redcliffe to drool over them. Eventually ended up with two brand new ones with a heap of gear to go with them through Ebay. Since regretfully resold one.
Nev
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3rd Apr 2011, 12:07 PM #9
Oh that one! Obviously I was thinking of the bigger model. I have read that the compact 8 was the model the Chinese copied for their small lathe offering...and hence the lack of back gear and low speeds world-wide today.
Ken's Arboga is twice the mill that Emco one is anyway-a pint of paint and he'd be away to the races.
As far as better lathes than the Hercus and it's South Bend copy, what else is there in a small sized lathe that would be an improvement? (Not Myford). I get the feeling that if you want more features or oomph then its a 1240 Chinese lathe or an older toolroom thing, either of which require industrial rigging and power. Thoughts?
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3rd Apr 2011, 12:24 PM #10.
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- Perth WA
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A big void.
I can't think of anything out there that fills the gap between the utilitarian Hercus and SB lathes and the toolroom category. I know nothing about Chinese and Taiwanese lathes.
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3rd Apr 2011, 05:19 PM #11Product designer retired
- Join Date
- Nov 2006
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- Heidelberg, Victoria
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- 79
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- 2,074
mmm, the literature on Tony's site, isn't too kind to the Compact 8.
As a kid, I thought it was the bees knees. Reckon I'll stick with the good old Hercus and put the money I'll save into a concrete slab.
AB, you reckon you can still buy new parts from Hercus. I've only seen things like 9" lathe spindles, spanners and name plates. Do they have a secret stash?
Ken
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3rd Apr 2011, 06:42 PM #12Distracted Member
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- Lower Lakes SA
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3rd Apr 2011, 08:08 PM #13Senior Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2011
- Location
- Mornington Peninsula
- Posts
- 183
I am a proud owner of a compact 8 lathe and it's quite simply WORKS!
It just does everything a lathe should do but I find it very easy to use.
The belt gear change is not ideal but changing gears is easy enough.
On the UK lathe website there is a run down on the pros and cons of a compact 8.
Cheers
Justin
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3rd Apr 2011, 08:36 PM #14Product designer retired
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- Nov 2006
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- Heidelberg, Victoria
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- 79
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Justin, is it a serious problem that there's no quick change gearbox, or reverse on the lead screw.
Please say more about your Compact 8. A photo would be nice.
Ken
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3rd Apr 2011, 09:39 PM #15Senior Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2011
- Location
- Mornington Peninsula
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- 183
Happy to get you some photos!
I'll be in the shed tomorrow night so I'll take a few photos.
One thing I have noticed is that I get excellent surface finish on steel and aluminum using carbide tipped tools. My understanding is that too do that requires a reasonably ridgid and strong lathe. The Compact 8 does it very well.
It's made in Austria and is built to DIN tool room quality standards. It is actually a precision bit of gear.
The guy I bought it from salvaged it from his son in law. The son in law had put it, wait for it, on the hard rubbish collection! After his grandfather passed away.
I paid $1400 for mine on eBay and it came with virtually all you could need.
Worth a read:
Page Title
Cheers
Justin