Long Tom
Stainless
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2011
- Location
- Fiddlefart, Oregon
Hey folks! Been a while. I got real busy with actual machining and stopped talking about it.
So, got a one-man shop up and running, machine work only. One of my customers sends me a lot of relatively small, pretty lathe work, in stainless, aluminum, bronze, and brass. Much of it involves cutting threads. I do it on my Webb WL435 with a 5c Bison chuck, and it works fine, but it’s a bit like using a logging truck to get a load of firewood. I want to add a small lathe but I want it to be an awesome machine (like the Webb) because life is too short and I’m getting too old to dick around with crap.
I asked on here years ago about 10ee’s and HLV’s and got lots of great info, but took on a line of work involving sizable castings that was perfect for the Webb and has kept me busy. Side note- the Webb really is what they say- an amazing “only” lathe. I do everything from big castings where I have to take the gap out to small precise pretty stuff. A truly fine machine.
Anyway, I don’t want to deal with 10ee quirks; this machine will be run if not daily then close to daily. A nice used HLV-H (there's a mouthful) is the plan but I have been told by several folks now that the Taiwanese clones are excellent machines. I have to admit a brand new machine would be a hoot. My mill is 90’s Taiwanese and is a very nice machine so I’m not opposed on that level.
I’ve got about 10 years left in these hands, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, so that’s the work envelope for the machine. Maybe 20 hours a week for a decade then it’s off to the next guy and I’m off fishin.
I will be putting a DRO on it and running mostly collets but I’ll get a high-quality Set-Tru style chuck for it too. Probably a 5” Bison.
Love to hear your thoughts on this.
So, got a one-man shop up and running, machine work only. One of my customers sends me a lot of relatively small, pretty lathe work, in stainless, aluminum, bronze, and brass. Much of it involves cutting threads. I do it on my Webb WL435 with a 5c Bison chuck, and it works fine, but it’s a bit like using a logging truck to get a load of firewood. I want to add a small lathe but I want it to be an awesome machine (like the Webb) because life is too short and I’m getting too old to dick around with crap.
I asked on here years ago about 10ee’s and HLV’s and got lots of great info, but took on a line of work involving sizable castings that was perfect for the Webb and has kept me busy. Side note- the Webb really is what they say- an amazing “only” lathe. I do everything from big castings where I have to take the gap out to small precise pretty stuff. A truly fine machine.
Anyway, I don’t want to deal with 10ee quirks; this machine will be run if not daily then close to daily. A nice used HLV-H (there's a mouthful) is the plan but I have been told by several folks now that the Taiwanese clones are excellent machines. I have to admit a brand new machine would be a hoot. My mill is 90’s Taiwanese and is a very nice machine so I’m not opposed on that level.
I’ve got about 10 years left in these hands, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, so that’s the work envelope for the machine. Maybe 20 hours a week for a decade then it’s off to the next guy and I’m off fishin.
I will be putting a DRO on it and running mostly collets but I’ll get a high-quality Set-Tru style chuck for it too. Probably a 5” Bison.
Love to hear your thoughts on this.