metalmaster10
Stainless
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2012
- Location
- Indiana, USA
I just wanted to share some pro and con info on my newest lathe if anyone is interested.
I was looking for a long time for a new lathe. I wanted something large enough to be robust,
small enough to move into my shop, and would fit into my limited budget… hard to fill all 3.
You may have seen the Grizzly line of gunsmith lathes advertised in your favorite shooting publications...
Well, I got the 16X40 G0509G last year. This is the largest in the “gunsmithing” line
Here is my experience overall.
Price: This seemed to be the “best bang for the buck”
Ordering: there were mix-ups even placing the order… then Backordered! …. Then delayed….then confusion about specific
shipping requirements! It took over 3 months to get the machine here!
I thought since this was a catalog item it would ship right out, I was wrong!
Packing: The machine came fully crated and pretty well protected.
The Machine: To compare this to a Hardinge tool room lathe would NOT be appropriate, this is an import machine.
But, here is my opinion based on 20 years of machining experience.
Overall it is well equipped, came with a steady rest and a follow rest. (I was able to use the follow rest to turn a
14 inch long shaft .473 diameter to within .0015 end to end my first try the way the machine came in the door!)
this shaft was a rush job and a one shot deal…I was glad it came out right. I am pretty sure the outcome can be better
with this machine, but I thought that was pretty fair.
The tailstock is great. Moves free and smooth, but not sloppy; Long stroke. Holds MT#4 and has a good lock.
Carriage / Cross slide: These both work well. Very smooth, but not slopy; with plenty of travel on the cross slide to work across a part.
Backlash is “ok”…. It is a manual lathe. Good compared to an old machine, but fair for a new one.
The graduations on the handwheels are easy to read. There is a unique way to switch from inch to metric
that is pretty slick and easy, but a little sloppy. If you are trying to do work to tenths care must be taken with the dial collar.
However, if you are doing work to TENTHS you are already taking every precaution! ;-)
The quick change toolholder on this was nice for a “budget” model. Maybe not quite an Aloris, but very nice for 1/4 the price, no problems there.
Even came mounted and ready to use.
The Compound Cross slide: This is where I am a little disappointed. It works great. Like the other moving parts, smooth but not sloppy.
Nice Long travel. However, there are only graduations from -65 deg. To +65 deg. Instead of -90 to +90.
If you want to put a face angle of 20 degrees on a part you have to guess! This seemed like a crazy shortfall to me.
Try hard to do everything else right and fail on this.
Optional Taper attachment: I purchased this…. Now I don’t know why. There are no graduations on it! WHY NOT ? ! ? ! ?
Headstock: Break-in went well, time consuming, but needed. I spent 30 or more minutes at every RPM.
Runs smooth all the way from 45 RPM up to its max 1800 RPM.
The outboard end of the headstock comes with 4 adjustable bolts to help center up a long shaft or barrel.
I have used this for a 42 inch long 1” dia shaft and it worked GREAT! The only machine I have that has this type of device.
Came with a nice solid 8” 3 jaw chuck. (Also a 4 jaw and a faceplace that are still in the wrappers)
The gears work well, but can be a little touchy to “find” some of the feeds. This isn’t too big a deal, but it is noticeable and takes a little care.
The overall control features are easy to use and well laid out. The half nut lever is the only part that isn’t as smooth as the rest to operate.
Again, not terrible, but not a $35,000 machine.
All-in-all. With all the extras, shipping, triple ball bearing center, keyless chuck, etc. to my door wired up for about 9K
I think this is a good buy for a new machine in this size bracket.
I have this right next to an Acer the same size that cost twice as much and I much prefer this machine other than the compound graduations.
We have 16 engine lathes in our shop ranging from 1942 WW2 Pacemakers, to S. Bend 17” Turnado’s,
Nardini, Cincinnati, to this. This is now my “go-to machine” I have made a lot of chips with it.
Compared to the other “import” machines I have looked at in this price class I would rank this very high.
The other machines I looked at in this price were not as well refined in their movements. Again, this machine is NOT a Hardinge,
but it also does not carry that price tag. If you are looking into one of these ask questions about shipping or a truck will show
up and you will have no way to unload! Be sure to get real answers not the vague stuff from a sales clerk.
I am NOT trying to sell anything and I am not affiliated with this company, just trying to give info if anyone is considering this type of machine.
Happy ‘Smithing
I was looking for a long time for a new lathe. I wanted something large enough to be robust,
small enough to move into my shop, and would fit into my limited budget… hard to fill all 3.
You may have seen the Grizzly line of gunsmith lathes advertised in your favorite shooting publications...
Well, I got the 16X40 G0509G last year. This is the largest in the “gunsmithing” line
Here is my experience overall.
Price: This seemed to be the “best bang for the buck”
Ordering: there were mix-ups even placing the order… then Backordered! …. Then delayed….then confusion about specific
shipping requirements! It took over 3 months to get the machine here!
I thought since this was a catalog item it would ship right out, I was wrong!
Packing: The machine came fully crated and pretty well protected.
The Machine: To compare this to a Hardinge tool room lathe would NOT be appropriate, this is an import machine.
But, here is my opinion based on 20 years of machining experience.
Overall it is well equipped, came with a steady rest and a follow rest. (I was able to use the follow rest to turn a
14 inch long shaft .473 diameter to within .0015 end to end my first try the way the machine came in the door!)
this shaft was a rush job and a one shot deal…I was glad it came out right. I am pretty sure the outcome can be better
with this machine, but I thought that was pretty fair.
The tailstock is great. Moves free and smooth, but not sloppy; Long stroke. Holds MT#4 and has a good lock.
Carriage / Cross slide: These both work well. Very smooth, but not slopy; with plenty of travel on the cross slide to work across a part.
Backlash is “ok”…. It is a manual lathe. Good compared to an old machine, but fair for a new one.
The graduations on the handwheels are easy to read. There is a unique way to switch from inch to metric
that is pretty slick and easy, but a little sloppy. If you are trying to do work to tenths care must be taken with the dial collar.
However, if you are doing work to TENTHS you are already taking every precaution! ;-)
The quick change toolholder on this was nice for a “budget” model. Maybe not quite an Aloris, but very nice for 1/4 the price, no problems there.
Even came mounted and ready to use.
The Compound Cross slide: This is where I am a little disappointed. It works great. Like the other moving parts, smooth but not sloppy.
Nice Long travel. However, there are only graduations from -65 deg. To +65 deg. Instead of -90 to +90.
If you want to put a face angle of 20 degrees on a part you have to guess! This seemed like a crazy shortfall to me.
Try hard to do everything else right and fail on this.
Optional Taper attachment: I purchased this…. Now I don’t know why. There are no graduations on it! WHY NOT ? ! ? ! ?
Headstock: Break-in went well, time consuming, but needed. I spent 30 or more minutes at every RPM.
Runs smooth all the way from 45 RPM up to its max 1800 RPM.
The outboard end of the headstock comes with 4 adjustable bolts to help center up a long shaft or barrel.
I have used this for a 42 inch long 1” dia shaft and it worked GREAT! The only machine I have that has this type of device.
Came with a nice solid 8” 3 jaw chuck. (Also a 4 jaw and a faceplace that are still in the wrappers)
The gears work well, but can be a little touchy to “find” some of the feeds. This isn’t too big a deal, but it is noticeable and takes a little care.
The overall control features are easy to use and well laid out. The half nut lever is the only part that isn’t as smooth as the rest to operate.
Again, not terrible, but not a $35,000 machine.
All-in-all. With all the extras, shipping, triple ball bearing center, keyless chuck, etc. to my door wired up for about 9K
I think this is a good buy for a new machine in this size bracket.
I have this right next to an Acer the same size that cost twice as much and I much prefer this machine other than the compound graduations.
We have 16 engine lathes in our shop ranging from 1942 WW2 Pacemakers, to S. Bend 17” Turnado’s,
Nardini, Cincinnati, to this. This is now my “go-to machine” I have made a lot of chips with it.
Compared to the other “import” machines I have looked at in this price class I would rank this very high.
The other machines I looked at in this price were not as well refined in their movements. Again, this machine is NOT a Hardinge,
but it also does not carry that price tag. If you are looking into one of these ask questions about shipping or a truck will show
up and you will have no way to unload! Be sure to get real answers not the vague stuff from a sales clerk.
I am NOT trying to sell anything and I am not affiliated with this company, just trying to give info if anyone is considering this type of machine.
Happy ‘Smithing