Thread: the choice dilema

ok after some advice .
trying to decide , i can buy a cq6230 now or i can keep on saving for as long as it takes and buy a 960 . just like to know how much better a machine is the 960 over the cq6230 .
is the 960 a lot better in any way or just better finished .
( course if i give up smoking then that would bring the 960 closer and quicker with the money saved , could use that as a good reason to quit )
then again is the 960 overkill for a hobby lathe that i may be able to make a few dollars with here and there ( small jobs ) .geeeeeeez i hate trying to decide on stuff like this cos there is always the next one which is just a bit better for some reason but where does one draw the line .

johno

If your talking about the 335, I have a similar one they are a good machine. At the moment the 335 is on special for $2860 and the 336 is $3179. As for whether the 960 is worth the extra, personally I wouldn't pay it.

Dave

Hi Johnno,

Whatever you choose, the accessories and options, make more of a difference... I'd prefer to have DRO, Quick Change Tool Post, and VFD with either model. That said, I've got a CQ6230A (made in about 1993) If I was to upgrade, I'd be thinking of maybe an AL340...

Nothing wrong with the AL960.. I think you'd be ok with either one.

Regards
Ray

the one i can get ( afford ) now is a second hand toolex cq6230 its over 10 years old

Get the one you can afford and the tooling to go and you can be doing stuff now. Prices go up not down so you could ge caught. As said previously its the tooling that makes the difference so as long as the lathe is still capable of turning to toleraces that you want its good.
I went the what I can afford now a couple years ago and haven't looked back
Pete

If it's a green one I have the same lathe, and mine is 7 year old. They are a good lathe as long as it's been looked after, mine has passed every test I gave it and still runs accurate.

When you said you where looking for a lathe I was going to suggest a Toolex lathe, but there is no stores up in Brisbane as far as I know. I have compared them and they are much better than the same size Hare and Forbes lathes sold these days.

If it's in good condition I would go for it.

Dave

Originally Posted by texx

the one i can get ( afford ) now is a second hand toolex cq6230 its over 10 years old

Hi Texx,
Provided it's in good condition, you won't have any problems with that one, as Dave said, He's got the exact same lathe and mine is almost identical, as well as lot's of others are around, so you will get plenty of help setting it up and for when things go wrong.

The best thing you can get for it is a quick change tool post (QCTP) that makes setting up tooling so much easier than shimming tools to get them on center. Close behind is a Digital Readout (DRO) once you install it you will wonder how you ever got by without it.

Regards
Ray