Which Lathe?

[Archie Atkinson]

I am pondering as to which “mini” lathe to add to my workbench and from research it seems Axminster Tools clicks the boxes. Proxxon and CRE ( Chinese) reviews on sold that site owned by Mr Besos put me off. I am hoping to obtain a lathe at the end of this year when I go into modelling mode for the win. So peeps any ideas?

 

[Archie Atkinson]

I am pondering as to which “mini” lathe to add to my workbench and from research it seems Axminster Tools clicks the boxes. Proxxon and CRE ( Chinese) reviews on sold that site owned by Mr Besos put me off. I am hoping to obtain a lathe at the end of this year when I go into modelling mode for the win. So peeps any ideas?

I meant winter.

 

[Stoke5D]

I've got two lathes; a Unimat PC and a Colchester Student 1800 - I'm lucky enough to live on an old dairy farm, so it has three -phase power.

What I would warn you about is that the model lathes like the Unimat are quite limited in the size of work they can do. So even focusing on my modelling turning work, the Unimat is often not up to it, and mine has got a larger than standard motor on it..

Something to think about. I don't think I'd go below Myford size if I just had one machine. A friend of mine has one and it seems to do all that is required for 7mm.

 

[Paul Cheffings]

I am pondering as to which “mini” lathe to add to my workbench and from research it seems Axminster Tools clicks the boxes. Proxxon and CRE ( Chinese) reviews on sold that site owned by Mr Besos put me off. I am hoping to obtain a lathe at the end of this year when I go into modelling mode for the win. So peeps any ideas?

Hi

I've had a Proxxon PD250e for several years and not had any issues with it for anything I've wanted to do.

Cheers

Paul

 

[Stephen Freeman]

I do have one of those mini machines (not Proxxon) but would say I prefer my ML7, big difference in cost of course.

 

[simond]

Bear in mind that the Axminster lathes are Chinese.

All my Proxxon kit is very good or excellent, but don’t have one of their lathes. I love my Unimat, it does everything I need for 7mm.

I have an Amazon special cheapo CNC milling machine which is also a useful piece of kit, though limited, of course. I’m considering buying a slightly better, bigger one.

I also have a model engineer sized lathe, but it sees little use at the moment. But when I need it, it’s there.

If you want a Myford, there is one for sale in Hythe, Kent, in good condition, with quite a few addd bits & pieces, was my late pal, John’s. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll give you the details.

EDIT, a propos Stephen’s comment - the cost isn’t the big issue, it’s getting it from where it is to where you want it!
Sadly, there are more and more second hand workshops being sold off by kids whose dads are no longer. Prices are dropping accordingly.

 

[CoVianna]

The one lathe I regret selling is my EMCO Compact 5. Sturdy enough for upto Gauge 1 in my opinion. Current Cowells is a great lathe for its size but it’s not cheap to buy or accessorise. Pretty much the same price as a Myford Speed 10 which I would have bought if I had the workshop space.

 

[Tim V]

I have a Unimat and a Myford. They both get used. The Myford needs two people to lift it.

I will say that both benefit from a quick change toolpost, suggest you also budget for one of those. I wouldn't be without one.

 

[John57sharp]

I’d agree that Proxxon kit seems good, I’ve had the drill for years. Also put in a good word for the Taig/Peatol lathe which I do have.

John

 

[john coates]

The one lathe I regret selling is my EMCO Compact 5. Sturdy enough for upto Gauge 1 in my opinion. Current Cowells is a great lathe for its size but it’s not cheap to buy or accessorise. Pretty much the same price as a Myford Speed 10 which I would have bought if I had the workshop space.

Agreed with the comment about the Cowells lathe, I have had mine since 1978 and it is still going strong. I would hate to think how many cast iron O gauge wheels I have turned on it. My Cowells has paid for itself over the years. John

 

[Pete McFarlane]

I have an Axminster C0 - the cheapo basic Chinese mini lathe they sell. So far it's been OK for the limited things I've done with it in 4mm scale, although the motor isn't massively powerful. The biggest challenge has been fitting additional chucks - this involves mounting them on a backplate, as off the shelf 4 jaw or collet chucks seem to be hard/impossible to get for it.

Not used a Proxxon lathe but the drilling machine I have is excellent.

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

Small lathes have capacity limitations which make turning even quite simple things a long job. Fine if you have plenty time, and patience, to take tiny cuts. Not too bad if you are working sub 4mm scale but mind numbing if you are modelling in 7mm.
The Cowells is the best of them and built like, and performs like, a professional machine better than the light alloy Chinese clones although at a price.

 

[76043]

Might be an idea to ask the poster what they want to turn and to what scale?

For example my much derided Unimat 1 has recently benefited from a stabilising plate that locks everything together perfectly. So turning plastic and thinning down 4mm wagon wheels is not only a joy but the item itself is about the same size as a shoebox, which helps as my workbench is also shoebox sized.
Tony

 

[Stoke5D]

Small lathes have capacity limitations which make turning even quite simple things a long job. Fine if you have plenty time, and patience, to take tiny cuts. Not too bad if you are working sub 4mm scale but mind numbing if you are modelling in 7mm.

I agree, people underestimate the importance of this and it's suprising what fine work you can actually do on a normal size Toolroom lathe let alone the larger Model Engineering size machines.

 

[Max M]

Don't forget that you will also need to budget for all the extra tools and attachments you didn't know you needed.
This can add a fair bit to the initial purchase price.

 

[Stoke5D]

True but once you've got the basics you can add tools and accesories as required a lot of it's nice to have - guilty as charged...

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

Don't overlook the fact that once you have a lathe you can use it to make lots of the extras you might want.

 

[JimG]

Buying secondhand can also have the advantage that the accessories are included in the price, and the value of these accessories is often undervalued. I remember when I bought my ML10 new in the 1970s that adding the three jaw, four jaw and tailstock chuck doubled the price. All the other accessories added since then are probably worth two or three times the value of the basic lathe. If I sold the lathe now it would achieve a price set for an original ML10 and all the accessories would be thrown in with the purchase.

Jim.

 

[Mike W]

I used my father's Unimat SL for many years. Cheap, easy to use and does most things. He had a piece of 1in thick steel plate cut and drilled so as to bolt the lathe to it and stop flexing. My own lathe now is a very old Pultra which I love. Both would struggle with larger 7mm cast iron wheels unless you know what you are doing (which I don't!).

Mike

 

[Debs.]

The thread title put me in mind of the niche-est workshop consumer publication, ever!
Together with its partner periodical:
"Swarf Sweepers Digest"