Thread: No holiday down south, but a new lathe!!!

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Well, its like this---Wifey and I were going to get away to Florida for a couple of weeks in February---but---I was too busy---she was too busy---didn’t happen. I checked my account receivables and thought---Hmmmmm. All my life I’ve wanted a lathe. I’ve worked like a dog for 42 years, and I’ve got the money. So---I went and bought myself a lathe. And I think it’s a pretty nice lathe. Oh, I know, cheap Chinese junk, yada, yada, yada---but ---its not somebody else’s 40 year old worn out junk. I bought the lathe, the metal stand/cupboard that it mounts on, a set of ½” boring bars, a square tool holder, a parting off tool holder, a 5 piece 3/8”set of tool inserts, a dial indicator with magnetic base, a 5/8” drill chuck, an arbor, a live center, a steady rest, a 4 jaw chuck and adapter, a face plate, a set of 4 different size center drills, a slotted angle plate for milling operations in the lathe, and 2 books on “how to use a lathe”. Odds are, I won’t live long enough to become a proficient machinist, but then again, my old mom is 88 and still going strong. So, I’m setting here in Ontario, with snow up the Wazoo, but I’ve got a new toy to play with----Brian---and Oh yeah---it was on sale for $999.99, so with all the extras and taxes, it came to $1985.00

great machine to have i use mine all the time but mine is older then 40 years old a very old lathe i will have to hunt down a cow my leather flat belt is going south

Every time I built a hotrod, I wanted a lathe so bad, but couldn't afford to build a hotrod and buy a lathe too. There's a lot to be said for building a rod and then keeping it for a few years

Looks better then any trip to Florida to me!!! Have fun Brian!!!

Brian

You can do a lot with that machine.

The lathe I have right now is a 6x18 Atlas that's probably older than I am. As someone who is used to using large "industrial" machines, it can be a little frustrating for me sometimes, but it gets the job done. I use it for something just about every week.

Have fun with it!

Mike

Trips are like eating dinner, in a short while they are gone and you have nothing to show for it. I like tangible items, like the lathe you got. You are going to have that for the rest of your life and turn out (no pun intended) some nice pieces.

Just don't wear your necktie while using it !!

Don

Im sure the lath will work just fine, and a real nice price! The little bit of time ive used one, makes me want one bad!! One of these days! Have fun with it!

I bought that same lathe last year and it's worked great so far. I've learned to keep it oiled really well, you get working on something and forget it may need some oil.
I finally got p!SSed off one day after the chopper shop charged me $120 to get 3 axle spacers made, I went right to Busy Bee and picked up a new lathe. Kinda felt like throwing up after I'd gotten home and realized I just spent $1500 on a temper tantrum!!!
I was told to buy a good book called "Technology of Machine Tools" (third edition) by Krar, Oswald, and ST. Amand, it's about 600 pages and is full of information on lathes and milling operations. It's been a huge help in learning to use it.


Oh yea, don't forget the chuck key!!!

Sean

Nice machine to have for sure, I wish I had room for one. At least I can use one at work if I need to.

Congrats on the Lathe,the way I figure it is a great investment.It also just makes everything you make look very professional. Can I ask where you bought it?

Bought it at the "Busy Bee Tool Company"---I think they are in Canada and in the States.

I've had a lathe for a long time.

The one you bought looks like a good one.
You didn't mention a 3-jaw chuck, but it looks like the lathe comes with one.

An ok size as well.
No matter what size you have you'll have to get inventive in some areas.

An excellent book is Advanced Machine Work from Lindsay publications.
It's a reprint from the 30's which is about the technological age we're working in with our home workshop tools.
Most everything in it applies to what you'll be doing.
If you're tall you may want to think about raising the lathe up 6" or so, so that you're not leaning over it and getting a stiff neck or sore back.
I did that to my 12" x 36" lathe and it was a big help.

Learn to cut threads right away.
It's fun and educational.

Congrats....

Lets see if you can turn out a snow plow on that new toy lol Flower count
is on here Brian

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

great machine to have i use mine all the time but mine is older then 40 years old a very old lathe i will have to hunt down a cow my leather flat belt is going south

Pat, WHEN I served my apprenticeship we had 2 south bend lathes in the shop with the leather belts. When taking to much of a cut the belt would squell and slip off the pulley.Those were the days.

I sold my Shop in 97 , I wish I had taken some of the older equipment and set up a shop in my garage,oh well hind sight.I didn't know I would be building another rod.

Brian, with that size lathe you can make a lot of nice parts.I envey you. Do you have a machinist manual?

Originally Posted by Don Dalton

Pat, WHEN I served my apprenticeship we had 2 south bend lathes in the shop with the leather belts. When taking to much of a cut the belt would squell and slip off the pulley.Those were the days.

I sold my Shop in 97 , I wish I had taken some of the older equipment and set up a shop in my garage,oh well hind sight.I didn't know I would be building another rod.

Brian, with that size lathe you can make a lot of nice parts.I envey you. Do you have a machinist manual?

yep if i try more of any thing over .100 in steel it will at times squell but alum or iron i can go hog wild it is a 14 by 48 ? or so it is a carroll jamieson cone head about 1920 ? but works geat the other one i had was a hendey with a shifter over head gear box but sold that one. i like the old flat belt stuff i have a very old big band saw that has 36 wheels on it a babbitt bearings machine i think they used it to cut the wood for the mayflower but i use it for steel now