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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    gold coast
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    303

    Default Choosing a metal lathe

    Hi Guys,
    I have been doing more research since my first post and feel more confident to now ask some hopefully sensible questions. I hope you will be indulgent and I will be grateful for any help.
    My projected use is hobby work in steel and alum using stock from 6mm dia to 50mm dia and up to 400 long (maybe) although I have no idea what I might be making yet. Possibly some stainless pins in 6mm dia.

    I have looked at the H&F Al50ga (550w 20mm bore) and compared it with the Titan TL210V (600W 26mm bore)
    Both weigh about the same and both have power feed on the long, but the Al50GA has a quick change gearbox, and the TL210V has variable speed. Price is about the same for both ($1089, $1390)

    Question 1. What is everyone opinion about which drive to choose?
    At this stage I can't see me doing a lot of thread cutting-but who knows! The variable speed card is USA not chinese. Are either of these a sensible choice for 'messing about'.

    Question 2. Is there any advantage in having a lathe that uses 8mm or 10mm or 12mm tools? Which tools are cheaper for hobby use?
    Question 3. Is there really any advantage between a 26mm dia or a 20mm dia bore? What could I do 'more' with the bigger bore?

    My other option is to step up to a Titan TL250V or an AL250G.

    Both have the additional of power cross feed, and both have 26mm bore, and both have 750kw motors. Price is about $1800 for both.
    The Titan has a variable speed control and the AL250G 80-1600quick change gearbox.
    Question 4. Which of these lathes would you choose and why?
    Question 5. What advantages could I possibly gain from the power cross feed?

    Thanks everyone for reading my questions and thanks in advance to all who answer.
    regards
    Brian

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    Hi Brain,

    Namby pamby little lathes.

    Just kidding
    Welcome
    New rule for "which lathe" threads. Links!!!!!!!! hehe

    To save 40 people googling, I provide the following free of charge.
    H&F Al50ga
    L157 | AL-50GA Bench Lathe | machineryhouse.com.au
    AL250G
    L149 | AL-250G Bench Lathe | machineryhouse.com.au

    Titan site is being "updated" atm but I assume the lathes are still pretty much the same.

    TL210V
    METAL LATHE TL210V 210 x 400mm B/C

    TL250V
    METAL LATHE TL250V 250 x 600mm B/C

    Now I'll have a think about your questions

    Stuart

  3. #3
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Dec 2011
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    Default

    Hi Brian,
    Alaks Mcgregor's thread may be worth a read, he is looking at a similar sized lathe. http://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/metal-lathe-171844/

    Big bore = Good
    Power cross, i have but really only use occasionally, but it is invaluable when i do.
    I prefer the belt drive machines, they are quieter and smoother, cheap gears are exactly that-cheap and noisy.
    My opinion is buy second hand.....
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    qld
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    47

    Default Al-50

    Have to agree with Ueee, big bore = good and belt drive over G/H any day. Geared heads are noisy and potentially a money pit in the cheapies. I can only speak for the AL-50 from your list: An excellent little lathe, although a 20mm bore does limit it usability, a really good selection of imperial and metric threads and there are a veritable plethora of sites devoted to it with loads of accessories and mods you can make including a back gear. Elsewhere it's called the 9 x 20 lathe (try bedair.org for one). The only problem is the drive belt, at around 5mm wide it is prone to breakage and also to slippage when oil intrudes. Another you might want to consider is the Borum BV250, it has a geared head (unfortunately) but it is available in 2 bed lengths - 450mm and 700mm, which could be handy. It's also sold by Riverland Steel on ebay at $1500 at the moment.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    qld
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    47

    Default More

    I forgot to mention, the AL-50 is marketed under a few names (the same is true of a number of lathes), Asset Plant and Titan, I think, also sell this machine, one variation of which is available as a variable speed and is advertised on ebay.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    Bendigo Victoria
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    80
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    7,471

    Default

    I have the EVS version of this lathe

    SM-0920A. Bench Lathe. Steelmaster. Norton Quick Box. 500mm Centres, 230mm Swing, 21mm Bore, - Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery Online | Asset Plant & Machinery

    It has both the EVS and the Quick Chage Gear Box.

    I have been (and still am) extremely happy with this machine and have posted quite a bit of info on it on this forum, which a search will find for you.

    Asset Plant don't seem to list the EVS version at present, so you may have to ask the question.

    I also have a VFD and 3 phase motor for it, which I bought together with a DRO setup on Ebay.

    Any of these lathes, including the AL50, are fairly easy to convert to EVS using a VFD and 3phase motor.
    Again there are numerous threads on these conversions on this forum.

  7. #7
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    20 V 26 mm bore allows you to accurately centre drill 20 - 26 mm stock so you can subsequently turn it on tailstock centres. I'm finding this is a significant limitation on my 9" Hercus so every time I want to centre drill larger stuff I have to take it to (where I used to) work and do it on the old Nutall. Of course an even bigger bore would be better but I find as you go up in diam, pieces to be turned tend to get shorter pretty quickly.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    20 V 26 mm bore allows you to accurately centre drill 20 - 26 mm stock so you can subsequently turn it on tailstock centres. I'm finding this is a significant limitation on my 9" Hercus so every time I want to centre drill larger stuff I have to take it to (where I used to) work and do it on the old Nutall. Of course an even bigger bore would be better but I find as you go up in diam, pieces to be turned tend to get shorter pretty quickly.
    If the material you are turning needs to have the diameter reduced,have you considered marking the cetres and drilling with a drill press or hand drill.

  9. #9
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    If the material you are turning needs to have the diameter reduced,have you considered marking the cetres and drilling with a drill press or hand drill.
    Sure that's what I do, but it's so much easier and less wasteful to feed stock through the headstock.

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Default

    If you buy somethign popular usually there is a huge amount of help and advice online....

    Buy something rare and obscure, and you hear the sounds of crickets if you are over your head and send out an SOS...
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
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    adelaide
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    Default Not recommended

    I have the AL-250 but I wouldn't recommend it, it is very very badly finished for a start. I have had trouble with the motor and am still wrestling with the less than adequate finish I get (see new thread). It is very noisy and only cuts metric threads. Straight out of the box both gearboxes required work to engage gears properly. Maybe mine is an orphan, so perhaps someone else with the AL-250 can tell you of their experience with it.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
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    Default Choosing a metal lathe

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Sure that's what I do, but it's so much easier and less wasteful to feed stock through the headstock.
    If the spindle bore is too small, a fixed steady can support long material for centre drilling

    Phil

  13. #13
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer View Post
    If the spindle bore is too small, a fixed steady can support long material for centre drilling

    Phil
    Only if the workpiece is short enough. I've had to use the big lathe just for this reason whereas if the h/s bore were bigger, I could have done it on the Colchester. You are one of the people here who machine full size stuff as I do so you'd appreciate the problems of working on a piece of 1.2m long 50NB Sched 80 pipe, truing up a flange welded to the end and counterboring the ID to size.

    Depends on the size stuff you work on but I personally would not own a lathe that didn't have AT LEAST 25mm spindle bore AND power cross feed. I would prefer 40mm spindle bore for a small lathe. There is no such thing as a spindle bore that's too big.

    Geared head vs belt drive, don't care. A VFD helps either way.

    PDW

  14. #14
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by PDW View Post
    Only if the workpiece is short enough. I've had to use the big lathe just for this reason whereas if the h/s bore were bigger, I could have done it on the Colchester. You are one of the people here who machine full size stuff as I do so you'd appreciate the problems of working on a piece of 1.2m long 50NB Sched 80 pipe, truing up a flange welded to the end and counterboring the ID to size.

    Depends on the size stuff you work on but I personally would not own a lathe that didn't have AT LEAST 25mm spindle bore AND power cross feed. I would prefer 40mm spindle bore for a small lathe. There is no such thing as a spindle bore that's too big.

    Geared head vs belt drive, don't care. A VFD helps either way.

    PDW
    I'm afraid I'm with PDW on this one.
    My advice is to purchase the biggest lathe you can afford, If that means hitting up the secondhand market, So be it.
    My big lathe has a 50mm spindle bore and to be honest it's too bloody small quite alot of the time.
    I realize not everyone has the need to spin up large and bulky items, But the one time you do you'll kick yourself for not getting a larger machine, Especially if you could have afforded it.
    Remember you can always turn small things in a big lathe, But it's almost impossible to turn large things in a small lathe.

    As for belt driven verses geared head, I also agree with PDW, Who cares....My big lathe is gear head, It's not overly noisy, I can still hear thee wireless when she's running and the neighbors never complain when I'm out there running her at 3am.

    My Sheraton lathe (Hercus clone) Is belt driven with a norton quick change, And I reacon it's far more noisy than the big fella.

    Anyways there my thoughts, Take them or leave them, Ultimately it's your choice Mate.
    Good luck and enjoy your new toy when you get her.

    Regards Matt
    Warning Disclaimer

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
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    Default

    I'm afraid I don't, and never have, subscribed to the bigger is better attitude with lathes.

    That's like telling a watch maker he should be using a 14" lathe - it's total BS.

    Buy what is large enough for the work you intend to do.

    End of story.

    If later on you decide you want to build a Matilda tank get something bigger.

    That's why lathes come in many sizes.

    Definitely get a quick change gearbox, and belt drive has a lot of advantages re noise, finish and punishment, but geared head is good as well - your choice.

    Rob

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