Sparkynutz
Plastic
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2022
Did occaisional machining for over 20yrs at work and the place closed down. Now 3 jobs later still doing occaisional machining and fabrication this new job does not allow Government work even off the clock.
I've always had projects and have one I need to complete within the next 2 months for my tractor or I'll have to pay someone to do it for me.
Space is an issue so anything I buy can't be as big as the Leblonde or Bridgeport grade machines I'm used to. We did have a tiny Harbor freight bench top lathe for tiny parts that was junk but worked ok sometimes.
I would like to find something in between. I have a 5ftx3ft area in my garage it could fit or a slightly larger area in my basement hobby room.
I've turned a lot of shafts and see that being a main part of my use.
The largest pass through the chuck I can get the better to keep the bed shorter. I've threaded on occasion, but bushings and shafts will be 99% of my lathe use. A combo unit would be nice too tho since I don't have a drill press and precise hole spacing would be very handy for other projects vs a caliper, center punch and hand drill. DRO is nice but not required.
I don't need to hog material off and have plenty of time to make parts. I do not want to be spending that time fixing a crappy machine tho so robustness and accuracy is a definite requirement.
Budget- $3k max but lower end of that and used would be ideal unless its a combo unit to help justify higher cost and use for a combo unit.
I've seen a few used units on Facebook marketplace but skeptical if I will get the accuracy I need.
Any Suggestions? Especially that fit my use and large pass-through needs which don't seem to come up often.
2-1/2 to 3 inch would be ideal if such a thing exists on a small lathe. As of the date of older threads I've found it wasn't at the time of the posts. Hopefully things have changed lately.
I've always had projects and have one I need to complete within the next 2 months for my tractor or I'll have to pay someone to do it for me.
Space is an issue so anything I buy can't be as big as the Leblonde or Bridgeport grade machines I'm used to. We did have a tiny Harbor freight bench top lathe for tiny parts that was junk but worked ok sometimes.
I would like to find something in between. I have a 5ftx3ft area in my garage it could fit or a slightly larger area in my basement hobby room.
I've turned a lot of shafts and see that being a main part of my use.
The largest pass through the chuck I can get the better to keep the bed shorter. I've threaded on occasion, but bushings and shafts will be 99% of my lathe use. A combo unit would be nice too tho since I don't have a drill press and precise hole spacing would be very handy for other projects vs a caliper, center punch and hand drill. DRO is nice but not required.
I don't need to hog material off and have plenty of time to make parts. I do not want to be spending that time fixing a crappy machine tho so robustness and accuracy is a definite requirement.
Budget- $3k max but lower end of that and used would be ideal unless its a combo unit to help justify higher cost and use for a combo unit.
I've seen a few used units on Facebook marketplace but skeptical if I will get the accuracy I need.
Any Suggestions? Especially that fit my use and large pass-through needs which don't seem to come up often.
2-1/2 to 3 inch would be ideal if such a thing exists on a small lathe. As of the date of older threads I've found it wasn't at the time of the posts. Hopefully things have changed lately.