New here. Would like recommendations on benchtop lathe

[DT1]

Hi, this is my first post.
I'm in the market for a new bench top lathe and want to get the best one I can find. I was looking at a Proxxon brand but there are none to be had,
I'd really appreciate some advice. The cost is not a factor. I'm more impressed with quality.
Thanks!

 

[L Vanice]

Hi, this is my first post.
I'm in the market for a new bench top lathe and want to get the best one I can find. I was looking at a Proxxon brand but there are none to be had,
I'd really appreciate some advice. The cost is not a factor. I'm more impressed with quality.
Thanks!

Here is a new Proxxon lathe for sale, if that is what you could not find. It seems overpriced to me, but I guess you are willing to pay.

Proxxon 24400 PD 400 220-Volt Micromat System Mini Engine Lathe 4006274244009 | eBay

Larry

 

[dalmatiangirl61]

Standard Modern made a nice benchtop lathe for the military, 26" swing, 30" C-C, weight is close to 4K so you will want a stout bench.

 

[Joe Henderson]

Logan made some good lathes if you can find one. The old South bend 9" lathes were decent for a benchtop. Emco made one but they're harder to find. If you're looking for tiny, Sherline and Unimat. It depends on what you expect to do with it I suppose.

 

[DT1]

Here is a new Proxxon lathe for sale, if that is what you could not find. It seems overpriced to me, but I guess you are willing to pay.

Proxxon 24400 PD 400 220-Volt Micromat System Mini Engine Lathe 4006274244009 | eBay

Larry

Thanks Larry but I should have stated that I need a 110V lathe.

 

[L Vanice]

Thanks Larry but I should have stated that I need a 110V lathe.

Small transformers are a lot cheaper than lathes. ACME ELECTRIC - T253011S Single Phase Transformer (C) 47503731956 | eBay

Larry

 

[Hodge]

Standard Modern made a nice benchtop lathe for the military, 26" swing, 30" C-C, weight is close to 4K so you will want a stout bench.

I had an opportunity to buy such a lathe several years back. It was well tooled. Carried the same style of mount for the chuck as my other lathes, had what I believe were metric conversion gears. It also had about a 3.5"to 4" through hole. I waffled due to it not have a proper base. Would had to have fabbed up something.

By the time I convinced myself I should buy...... missed it. Regret it every time I think about it.

Hodge

 

[52 Ford]

I had an opportunity to buy such a lathe several years back. It was well tooled. Carried the same style of mount for the chuck as my other lathes, had what I believe were metric conversion gears. It also had about a 3.5"to 4" through hole. I waffled due to it not have a proper base. Would had to have fabbed up something.

By the time I convinced myself I should buy...... missed it. Regret it every time I think about it.

Hodge

If you see a deal, JUMP ON IT. Save the head scratching and the "why" for after it's paid for and on the truck.


Sent using Morse code on - .- .--. .- - .- .-.. -.-

 

[DDoug]

Hi, this is my first post.
I'm in the market for a new bench top lathe and want to get the best one I can find. I was looking at a Proxxon brand but there are none to be had,
I'd really appreciate some advice. The cost is not a factor. I'm more impressed with quality.
Thanks!

Thanks Larry but I should have stated that I need a 110V lathe.

Suggest you ask here:
Forum list | The Hobby-Machinist

Or here:
Forums -

The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop Magazine's BBS

Or even here:
The Home Machinist! - Index page

And even try "searching the archives" here, before asking.

 

[Pathogen]

Try

littlemachineshop.com

 

[Terry Keeley]

There's a guy on the Emco Super 11 group looking to sell a well tooled Compact 5, these are pretty decent quality compared to the China mini lathes.

[email protected] | OT: Does anyone know an appropriate forum or list to sell an EMCO Compact 5 lathe and mill?

Don't be offended if this gets locked, discussing small hobby machines are verboten here.

 

[Luke Rickert]

The only "bench top" lathes that are appropriate on this forum are machines such as the Schaublin 102 which are very high quality professional machines which had new prices similar to nice cars. They are plentiful on the European used market, less so in the US but they are out there and are worth tracking down. For hobby machines you are going to find a warmer welcome on other forums.

I will add that Emco made hobby machines, the big ones are better but the small machines (v10 and smaller) are firmly in the hobby category. Frankly you would be better off with a new Chinese machine than a small Emco. Some of the small Weilers are at least useful if no match to better machines. In the US I would look for a Hardinge or Monarch 10ee but although small, those machines are decidedly not bench top.

Luke

 

[jim rozen]

The only "bench top" lathes that are appropriate on this forum are machines such as the Schaublin 102...

I class those about the same as an Atlas, no feeds or threading, which at least the Atlas has. Basically a higher class shaublin. Real old american iron companies made nice bench lathes.

None of that swiss nonsense in my shop!

 

[dalmatiangirl61]

The only "bench top" lathes that are appropriate on this forum are machines such as the Schaublin 102 which are very high quality professional machines which had new prices similar to nice cars.

I'll put my Standard Modern bench lathe up against any Schaublin, in fact I can probably chuck and turn one.

 

[Ron Hofer]

Hey Terry,

Wish I could agree about a Compact5. I ran one for 10 years or so, mostly on brass. Even on such soft metal, I found the the C5 insufficiently stiff for all but the lightest cut. In fact, if anyone wants such a machine, I'll be happy to part with mine for %500, (plus shipping) including the milling post. I can't compare it to Chinese stuff, tho.

On the other hand, I wholeheartedly endorse the EMCO Unimat 3, if such a small lathe works for you. I've had one for 30+ years and early on I beat the the shit out of it (out of ignorance). Nonetheless, it's held up remarkably well.

Ron

There's a guy on the Emco Super 11 group looking to sell a well tooled Compact 5, these are pretty decent quality compared to the China mini lathes.

[email protected] | OT: Does anyone know an appropriate forum or list to sell an EMCO Compact 5 lathe and mill?

Don't be offended if this gets locked, discussing small hobby machines are verboten here.

 

[PDW]

There's a guy on the Emco Super 11 group looking to sell a well tooled Compact 5, these are pretty decent quality compared to the China mini lathes.

No, they really are not.

I've a Maximat 11 and have a very high regard for it.

The Compact 8 and even more so the Compact 5 are very much hobbyist toys and not worth owning.

My FIL owns a Compact 8 and it's been gathering dust for over 2 decades now. Not very useful but he can't bring himself to admit it and sell it on.

PDW