recommendation for a micro lathe?

SVanderkolff

SVanderkolff

Joined
Oct 31, 2002
Messages
979
As I am getting into smaller and more intricate builds I am thinking I can justify getting a micro lathe. At least thats what I tell myself. Does anyone have any recommendations. The taig looks good but I would value some input.
Steve
 
If I were buying a lathe I would make sure it had digital controls, it saves so much time. A cooling/cutting fluid system would not hurt either. make sure the lathe is sturdy, beefy and heavy and the prisms are ok etc.
 
I had a look at it, it looks good, much seems to made of aluminum but it will probably work for such a small machine.
 
i dont have a mill, or experience with them, but i also make wooden boat models, and many of the modelers swear by Taig and Sherline mills for the small stuff
 
Steve, ask Mike Kanter (Adam Michael Knives) for a review on a Taig lathe. He had one.

I think you'd be better off with at least a 5x12 or even larger. I have a 5.5x14 and wouldn't want anything with less beef for even making things like pommel nuts. I turned a bowl for a pipehawk on mine out of wrought iron and that was about all the task I'd want to put it to.

On the other hand, for my knifemaking stuff, I just love my little Taig mill.
 
I would stay the heck away from the HF mini lathe. That was the worst piece of machinery I have ever dealt with. The speed control will burn up the first time you stall the motor, plastic gears, flimsey motor mount, under powered motor. It's a long list and to top things off I had huge fight with HF just to get my money back after the third one died on me.

Now I have the JET 9x20 and could not be happier with it. It's three times more expensive and three times as heavy but a hundred times better.
 
Princess Auto have a small lathe on sale now for $600, heavily built with thread turning capabilities up to 56TPI. I looked at it and thought it would go well in a knifemakin shop but next project is another grinder instead.

George
 
steve,
I use my Taig mill and Sherline mills alot. I also use my Sherline lathe quite a bit.
I no longer use my Taig lathe....somehow either it becam out of center or I somehow bent the shaft you put the chuck on....this makes it pretty useless as is. To be fair I called Taig and they were very assuring that it could be fixed and that they'd work with me to do so.....I've just put it aside and use my Sherline whenever I need a lathe.
one of these days I'll get back to them.

One thing....even on the Taig mill, I use Sherline end mill holders, and before the Taig lathe was damaged, I preferred Sherline 3 or 4 jaw self centering chucks. The Taig jaws extend out farther than the Sherline and I would bang a knucle or finger on them.
I was used to the Sherline long before I got the Taig, so that is probably just me.

I do like the pretty much all steel construction of the Taig mill, but never have had any concerns with the aluminum parts used on the Sherline....and the Sherline variable speed DC motor is nice and smooth
 
B Finnigan said:
I would stay the heck away from the HF mini lathe. That was the worst piece of machinery I have ever dealt with. The speed control will burn up the first time you stall the motor, plastic gears, flimsey motor mount, under powered motor. It's a long list and to top things off I had huge fight with HF just to get my money back after the third one died on me.

Now I have the JET 9x20 and could not be happier with it. It's three times more expensive and three times as heavy but a hundred times better.
Click to expand...

Hey Brent, I wanted to mention that the HF lathe is the same build as Grizlly, Enco and Homier. They are all made by Sieg, although many folks say that the Enco and Grizzly ones are the best fit and finish. They do have some plastic gears, and, as far as I can tell you can't get replacements that are metal.

That being said, I've worked on the $400 Enco lathe and it's a pleasure to use. I don't think you can get a better value than these lathes if you're looking for a small/affordable machinists/metal lathe. The 7x10 is fine for most of the stuff that folks like us do, although the 14" bed would be nice on occasion. Sorry to hear you had trouble with yours, I guess what folks say about the HF ones being lower quality is true. Sadly, they are also more expensive than Enco.
 
i've got a sherline and i like it.. chuck is great, variable speed, comes with alot of gear
but the tail stock sucks bad... its not adjustable.. so you can't center it... its a problem that i have to work around.. :foot:

my bros has the taig and he likes it..... it all depends on what your turning.. if its steel and iron i'd get the bigger lathe's to speed things up alot..

i love my taig mill... .. filing guards sucks... that mill makes me smile alot :D

G
 
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