OzFclass

Hi All,

Looking to buy a mini lathe or if there are some with experience that can guide me to what is best quality to buy new that would be much appreciated as well.

Best,

Douw

Hi,

What is your budget and when sort of work do you foresee yourself doing on the lathe?

A machine like this will grow with you and could handle most things you could throw at it in a home setting. It will also hold it's value much better than a Chinese machine.

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/l237

Blanket recommendation, look for Taiwanese rather than mainland China, the difference is noticeable, depends on the size you are looking at and capabilities required

Something like this would be fantastic: https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/adve ... he/906611/

This is what I run and recommend https://www.colchestermachines.au/produ ... ntre-lathe

SeanC18 wrote:This is what I run and recommend https://www.colchestermachines.au/produ ... ntre-lathe

Aaanndddddd what's the retail on one of those at the moment?

$14k used. https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/adve ... he/950012/

Gents, I really appreciate the recommendations... but I'm looking for a MINI... just to mess around with and do some neck turning and maybe a few small (very small) jobs...

Anyone turning their own barrels on those larger lathes?

I was looking at these earlier in the year.
https://www.hobbytools.com.au/proxxon-p ... zsQAvD_BwE

I haven't got one so can't give a first hand opinion.

douwdekock wrote:Gents, I really appreciate the recommendations... but I'm looking for a MINI... just to mess around with and do some neck turning and maybe a few small (very small) jobs...

That's what I said but quickly realised I needed a proper machine.

Selling my Hafco AL51g with stand 3, 4 jaw chuck and a heap of tooling. . Pm sent

douwdekock wrote:Gents, I really appreciate the recommendations... but I'm looking for a MINI... just to mess around with and do some neck turning and maybe a few small (very small) jobs...

Have a look at into Enco mini lathes. They have been around for a long time. Yep one would be good for neck turning and cost effective against some of the fancy neck turning machines so understand your thinking.

If your looking to do pretty much anything else then I wouldn't recommend a mini lathe. Rigidity and weight is your friend.

Main thing for barrels or any work really is spindle diameter and headstock depth more than bed length unless you work between centres and have a thing for truly long barrels, Colchester while lovely and a thing of beauty etc is tier 1, taiwanese is the commercial equivalent 99% won't know the difference, taiwanese to chinese is noticeable to a novice with attention.
For a mini setup, a restored or used but maintained Myford would be excellent.

I went deeply into looking at lathes two years ago.
Just wanted to develop another mechanical/machining skill.

First up - there is almost no such thing as a good quality mini lathe. If you want to neck turn on one or similar sure, but understand you are basically buying a toy.
Step up to a "bench top lathe" and you're in business.
From there you are looking at a full size lathe, weighing probably 800kg plus and starting at say $9000-12000 minimum. Then often needing 3-phase power.

There is a huge difference between Taiwanese versus Chinese made lathes.
Don't waste a cent on Chinese made, you will only have regrets.

As for Brad's comment re turning your own barrels. In most states in Aus that's a Go Straight to Jail thing.

When looking to buy a lathe consider;
What size is the spindle bore (ie. the largest diameter bar you can feed through).
Do you have size restrictions where you want to setup lathe up or do you need a longer length between chuck and tailstock - 24" to fit in tidy or 36" to work on long pieces.
Do you have 3phase or 240v power
Do you want to mainly work in metric or imperial threads (lead screw spec)
When cutting to dimensions will you measure and think in "mm" or "thousand of an inch" so to speak
Weight, can you realistically get 600-800kg chunk of steel into place in your house...

Eky's AL-51G (Hares n Forbes) is a good little one to start.
The 960B is a big step up, made in Taiwan and what a number of Aussie licensed gunsmiths actually use.

After a good search I found a TIDA TD4a - it's a 35mm bore, 24" centre, 240v and "only" 260kg : )
Amazing machine, that is actually the forerunner to the 960b and as a fitter mate of mine said, "that lathe was made back when they didn't know how to make a shit machine."
Like this
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads ... td4a.8068/

Lathes are super interesting to learn to use and I'd recommend one to any person that has the space, funds and interest in precise parts and making stuff.
Always be careful - specs, short sleeves, no watch or rings and no gloves(you see a guy on YouTube wearing gloves with a lathe, switch off immediately). Yeah, they can rip an arm off or kill you. Seriously.
Just my 2cents but I spent a year researching and six months at Tafe before I started my search for one.

Two no BS Youtube channels that will teach you so many amazing techniques for lathes;
Joe Pie
Blondi Hacks

Have fun and be safe.