Thread: Old McPherson lathe for learner?

Originally Posted by 419

Thanks, Baron J.

kafie 1980 has a point about the control boards dying under pressure. There's a video somewhere of an Aussie bloke (?Artisan?) who had a Sieg mini mill that had exactly that failure and cost a surprising amount to fix.

Damian

99 times out of 100 its a cheap power device that fails, I've repaired the motor on my mill a number of times and the speed controller only once. That cost me the grand sum of £3.95 plus £2.75 postage, and I still have two devices as spares.

I've recently replaced the motor completely with a bigger one from a treadmill.

Originally Posted by rthorntn

Maybe sit down before you read this lol:

https://www.siegind.com/comparison-b...d-output-power

Can you believe everything they write on the internet?




Here is the youtube video showing the motor replacement: https://youtu.be/I7UU_MoaieI?si=TOg6vUIUSGnk02a2

I will save you the hassle and post the photo here:




You just need to read the thousands of forum posts and watch the thousands of youtube videos on Sieg lathes and mills as I did for over a decade that I owned them

Go to those websites, zoom in on those images, the labels clearly say 350W, and google those model numbers while you are at it.

There is no indication those are 500W motors.

Hi Kafie, Guys,

It doesn't matter how you spin it !
The input power will always be greater than the output power !

Add up the losses, the heat generated, the effort just to keep the motor spinning in its bearings, the conversion from AC to DC and associated switching losses. Non of these are listed so output power values are probably the most honest way to rate the motors.

Just adding my 2c here, in the last few months I picked up a nice hobbyist lathe and mill for $1000 combined, maybe curb your enthusiasm and put the feelers out for both, you'll probably save at least a grand and end up with much better gear...

I should say it was all due to the great members on this particular forum!

Photos to prove it

Hi Richard,

Nice lathe ! A bit of spit and a polish needed.

And some elbow grease but you have yourself a machine shop now

You're not helping!

I was pretty much set to go down to Ausee tomorrow and fork out some moolah for a combo package and get on with things, but now you put this up to make me wonder if I should hope to repeat your magnificent win.

Originally Posted by rthorntn

Photos to prove it

Originally Posted by 419

You're not helping!

I was pretty much set to go down to Ausee tomorrow and fork out some moolah for a combo package and get on with things, but now you put this up to make me wonder if I should hope to repeat your magnificent win.

Sorry...

I didn't even try very hard, I bet you could do better for the same money...

Originally Posted by rthorntn

I didn't even try very hard, I bet you could do better for the same money...

Yeah, but I could also do worse for the same money.

As a couple of much more experienced members pointed out in posts #2 and #3 in this thread, I don't know enough to judge whether an old machine is right for me, or even in satisfactory condition. I could get lucky with an old machine or just some expensive scrap metal.

The new Sieg combo is a safer option for me. If it doesn't work I can take it back for refund or repair, unlike a used machine. The Siegs also don't require refurbishment or repair, which would take time away from other things I'd rather do.

There's also a space issue in my workshop which makes the compact Siegs more attractive, especially as they'll just be occasional use machines and can't justify the footprint your machines have.