Joe and Sal have shown us their new lathes in the last few days. Both of theirs were significant investments which only highlight their dedication and obsession to the cause.
Since I do not embarrass easily, here's a picture of mine. It just arrived yesterday. Obviously, not a significant investment, but it's as much machine as I can afford and as much machine as I am willing to maintain in this environment.
(http://www.raingarden.us/snap/taig.jpg)
It is made by Taig, a small business in Arizona that has been making them for about forty years.. There are others in this size range, notably Sherline and Emco Unimat. From what I can read, Sherline is better than Taig, but Taig I better than Unimat.
There is no power feed, no threading capabilities, no carriage for the tail stock, much smaller motor and probably looser tolerances than a real lathe. It only weighs about 35 pounds. There are plenty of upgrades that can be purchased or made. Some people seem to have made a hobby out of increasing it's capabilities.
It looks pretty rough, but everything seems to work as it should and it came with all the accessories I will need for now.
Don't laugh. This is going to be so much better then trying to turn metal with a hand drill.
-steve
What a cool machine, Steve, wish you lived close so I could watch you turn something out with it in person!
Steve after seeing some of the stuff you make I am sure that little lathe will make some neat stuff !! Very nice !! John Taylor
should be good Steve, if it needs improving on, that brain of yours will, jump into gear, know limmits there man, cheers Don.
:) Don`t sell that lathe short , it`s a good little machine .
Remember ,it`s not always the tool , it`s the person behind the tool......
I have a micro lathe and mill also I have had for 40 years. If someone would like it make me an offer and I'll send it to them. It an Emco.
Joe
Steve, i'm sure you'll put it to good use. Man made the lathe and not the other way around ;)
I used a mini lathe in the past, they are fun to use. I think I have pics by "my grouper special"
Sal
Quote from: Reel 224 on April 20, 2019, 11:55:03 PM
I have a micro lathe and mill also I have had for 40 years. If someone would like it make me an offer and I'll send it to them. It an Emco.
Joe
PM sent. Dominick
Steve, I think you will be surprised by what you can achieve with that lathe.
Here's mine, a Wade CAV 1st generation, manufactured in the early 1920s and still going almost 100 yrs old :o.
It was 'donated' to me as a box of 'bits':
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/9780_21_04_19_2_17_17_27690827.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/9780_21_04_19_2_17_17_276902247.jpeg)
I cleaned it up and equipped it with an 36v e-bike motor with a pwm speed controller and tooth belt drive - quiet and smooth :).
Chris, you have a mini on steroids ;D. That looks to be very capable.
nice lathe!
Sal
Cheers Sal :)
That's beautiful with the heavy cast iron styling Chris. I imagine you had to change out the pulley; right? Adjusting speed with the stepped pulleys is a bit fiddly but what you have looks solid. You usually start to loose me with your frequency modulation and electronics stuff.
-steve
Steve, it's really easier than it sounds, honest ;).
Pulse width modulation (PWM) is a means of controlling a motor's speed without losing torque. The tooth belt and pulleys is a no slip drive reduction system. The rest is simple maths - what speed does the motor run at - what speed do you need - divide one by the other and you get the necessary ratio for the drive pulleys and belt. It ain't rocket science :)
I've got an Emco that is a combo lathe and mill that I think was made in Sweden and for it's size is really precision.
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on April 21, 2019, 09:33:11 AM
Steve, I think you will be surprised by what you can achieve with that lathe.
Here's mine, a Wade CAV 1st generation, manufactured in the early 1920s and still going almost 100 yrs old :o.
It was 'donated' to me as a box of 'bits':
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/9780_21_04_19_2_17_17_27690827.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/9780_21_04_19_2_17_17_276902247.jpeg)
I cleaned it up and equipped it with an 36v e-bike motor with a pwm speed controller and tooth belt drive - quiet and smooth :).
Love it! Wish I had some room for something like that!
Oc1, If I had the actual room for a larger r Mill I surely would have one. The closest thing I have is vintage Black and Decker drill stand for a 1/2 inch Drill. I threw a small x/y table on it. It won't earn the Popular Mechanic's tool of the year award, but with my Harbor Freight foot switch it frees up my hands to do what it can do. I am not disillusioned into thinking it could do the job of a good drill press, I am just happy to have something that can drill a hole straight 4 out of five times...lol
The nice thing us the camping jaw is big enough I can throw a small router in it and do some light feeding of wood, plastic or very light aluminum.