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Thomas W

Sun Feb 10 2013, 04:42PM

Registered Member #3324 Joined: Sun Oct 17 2010, 06:57PM
Location:
Posts: 1276

Hey guys (and gals),

im looking for a miniture metalwork lathe and mill, just small benchtop ones for my "bedroom workshop"
i havent got huge amounts of money but im willing to spend about Â£600 give or take Â£100 on each of them.
somthing like this:
920a

and

Ash Small

Sun Feb 10 2013, 05:03PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

They come up on Ebay dirt cheap quite often, for a lot less than you're prepared to spend. You might get some accesories as well.

EDIT: Here's the first I found, but smaller ones are often a lot cheaper. Myfords are really sought after as well.

Here's a cheaper one, combined lathe/mill, but it is in Cornwall

Thomas W

Sun Feb 10 2013, 05:31PM

Registered Member #3324 Joined: Sun Oct 17 2010, 06:57PM
Location:
Posts: 1276

Thanks, im personally after a new one, il do some more looking around now

Ash Small

Sun Feb 10 2013, 05:52PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

Well, here's a few new ones available at your local Machine Mart:

klugesmith

Mon Feb 11 2013, 02:49AM

Registered Member #2099 Joined: Wed Apr 29 2009, 12:22AM
Location: Los Altos, California
Posts: 1716

I've been puttering since last summer with a little Sherline lathe.
Not that I chose that brand after lots of research; it turned up at a garage sale for $20. Then I spent about $120 to replace missing or damaged parts, and to get some basic tooling. Have been happy so far. The motor stalls harmlessly if I take too big a cut, or if a tool grabs the work unexpectedly.

Not sure if Sherline sells to the UK, but they do have a metric option (different leadscrews and handwheel graduations).

I have no experience with Sherline milling machines, but they look too floppy for anything except very light work.

The other main brands I know of, at least for hobbyists in USA, are Taig and the "generic Chinese mini-lathe and mini-mill" shown here:

Good luck!
-Rich

p.s. Anyone know where to buy white lead paste, a traditional lubricant for dead centers? I've checked the oil paint section of art stores, and the closest they have is "titanium white".

Conundrum

Mon Feb 11 2013, 08:37AM

Registered Member #96 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4061

I wouldn't use white lead due to extreme toxicity, perhaps a somewhat safer alternative is lithium grease?
Also TiO2 might work, best bet is to try it with various other liquids to make a paste etc.

Daedronus

Mon Feb 11 2013, 09:07AM

Registered Member #2329 Joined: Tue Sept 01 2009, 08:25AM
Location:
Posts: 370

Here is another one from UK:

I do have one like this so you should know:
It's not verry stiff, it will be hard to get good cuts on hard materials.
And another thing, it has a lot of plastic gears that are quite fragile.
And the default tool post is not to great, you should look for a quick change tool post.

Ash Small

Mon Feb 11 2013, 10:09AM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

Mine was made in the 1800's, and has been converted to electric power. It has change wheels for screw cutting, etc, which means that by using a 127 tooth wheel I can cut metric threads as well as imperial. It's really solid, and never given me any problems.

I would recommend lookig around at what is available secondhand.

macona

Mon Feb 11 2013, 02:58PM

Registered Member #3272 Joined: Mon Oct 04 2010, 11:40PM
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 101

I would not buy the 9x20 lathe in the picture. Awful piece of junk. Had one at work and they are a joke. They are loosely copied from an old Emco design.

I would find something used. Maybe an old myford if that is even possible. For a mill look at something like the SIEG X3 or X4. Whatever you get make sure you get a R8 spindle.

Carbon_Rod

Tue Feb 12 2013, 02:45AM

Registered Member #65 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:43AM
Location:
Posts: 1155

@klugesmith
Actually, Sherline makes a pretty good little hobby CNC mill kit, and lasts a long time due to the belt drive system. You avoided some of the biggest problems:
1.) Chipping a tooth and crippling the spindle (some China imports are even nylon gears)
2.) Finding replacement parts (ebay cobb kits to cut your own gears are cheap)
3.) Metric and Standard conversion thread kits (under a few hundred)
4.) Software path planners for additional axis
5.) Domestic freight shipping

In general, finding an older model knee-mill or lathe is easy, but shipping these is very costly.
Sometimes one can literally buy these things locally by the pound/kg for scrap iron, and it can be a good deal if you know what types of wear to avoid. Local auctions are usually an easy win given no one in their right mind wants to move that much steel around.

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