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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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    59
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    6,540

    Default Anyone thinking of getting a mini-lathe?

    Lately I've been watching a bit of 'This Old Tony'. In this episode he talks about the issues he found with a generic mini-lathe

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05vUCdzhoe4

    Having watched the video, I found it a reasonable examination of these machines without either the outright condemnation or boosting that these machines attract from either side. Worth watching I think if you are contemplating a lathe and wonder whether one of these may do the job (spoiler... Maybe.)

    Michael

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Age
    67
    Posts
    362

    Default

    Thank`s for posting, it brings up some points I had not though of as regards getting a small lathe in the future.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Griffith NSW
    Posts
    435

    Default

    I like how impartial tony was, but after seeing THIS review, theres not a chance Id buy one. In saying that, its not the things that the reviewer says because he is relatively uneducated in what it is he's doing (and I dont begrudge him that, we all started somewhere), the footage is damning enough. Things bent, not fitting correctly, the geartrain damage. It really is a dogs breakfast.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    This Tony is funny, like seeing both his hands on ends of the lathe at an impossible stretch, at the beginning.
    I had a similar lathe, I'd add that the fit and finish on mine was terrible, and not really improvable.
    But one thing all Chinese lathes excel at is the nice satin chrome easy to read dials - wish my Hercus had those.
    For similar money though, a used Hercus in reasonable condition is a far better prospect.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    The small lathe is, as someone once described, a lathe in kit form, assembled to ensure all the parts are there.
    It requires dismantling and cleaning thoroughly, then re-assmbling and adjusted to requirements. I had one that was given to me by my Brother, it was a nightmare, couldn't keep drive belts and motor pulleys in it. The gears are plastic which are shared with its other nightmare, the Mini Mill. I've replaced the plastic gears several times, then put in the metal ones, that was great but if you made a mistake, ie. bumped the DOC, it would strip the motor pulley, which is keyed, or strip the teeth off the motor pulley. The circuit board is also a problem, as I've also replaced several of them.
    The Mini Mill is in the same catagory. I'm sorry to say that they're biggest POS, I've come across.
    When he asked for them back, I nearly got a speeding ticket getting them back to him.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    26

    Default

    I've had a Sieg C3 (mini lathe) and a Sieg X2 (mini mill) for about 15 and 13 years, respectively. Both have worked well and have generally been reliable, both have worked at or beyond their limits. The only time that I have actually broken anything was earlier this year, taking a too aggressive interrupted cut on some cast iron which broke the plastic gears in the headstock.
    Sure I've done stuff like added taper roller bearings, tapered gibs to the saddle, which have all improved the lathe, but basically it's a really good small lathe, and the mill is an adequate small mill. Neither machine is perfect, certainly, the finish is pretty basic, the castings are not as nicely finished as some, but this is all pretty superficial stuff as far as I'm concerned.
    Before I got my lathe, I enquired of Minitech the cost of an admittedly well optioned Myford, the answer came back at over $15,000 with a (from memory) 6 or 7 month lead time. So I got the Sieg lathe for about $1,000, with roughly the same options/extras as the Myford quote and ex stock delivery.
    In my opinion the lathe is better than the mill overall, which had a few issues as delivered. The silly spring thing in an attempt to counterbalance the weight of the head, has been replaced by a gas strut kit from LMS, the silly drive system has been upgraded to a belt drive also from LMS. The "Z" leadscrew lash up is a bit tatty, but I now know it's limitations and it does at least work....sort of. I think that the new mills e.g. the Sieg SX2.7 would be a significant improvement over my Sieg X2, and if I was in the market I would go for a Sieg SC4 over just about any secondhand lathe. Pretty much any secondhand Hercus will have it's age counted in decades now, with a probable really tough life, so buying secondhand can be a challenge, an interesting challenge maybe, but probably a bit risky.
    Anyway, just my opinion, in an attempt to bring a little balance..........
    cheers
    Bill

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by wakeup111 View Post
    if I was in the market I would go for a Sieg SC4 over just about any secondhand lathe. Pretty much any secondhand Hercus will have it's age counted in decades now, with a probable really tough life, so buying secondhand can be a challenge, an interesting challenge maybe, but probably a bit risky.
    Anyway, just my opinion, in an attempt to bring a little balance..........
    cheers
    Bill
    Thanks for the balance, Bill.
    Some people always buy new, and that's fair enough. You do get a modern looking thing.
    Like Tony said, any lathe is better than none.

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