Laith?

If your going to buy one, keep in mind that many of the drill bits you may use for heatsinks and such, will take up probably 6" (on the average) of room. So if you only have 10" between the centers to start with, your not going to have much room...

Go for a 12" minimum...(IMO)

I use this one: - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices


Pros:
Safty features are nice. It will not let you start it up without closing the cover so you have to remove the key. I have also had pieces get bent and it put on the breaks and stopped in no time flat. Great starter lath to get started.

Cons:
Even with the 12" bed I have to shorten some drill bits to fit them in front of my piece.
Could use some more torque.
Changing gears for threading is a non starter for me. I'll use a Tap or Dye.

Here is the upsized one I would go for if the need becomes great enough:
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices


Thanks,

Ryan

I am to looking for a starter's lathe that I can learn off of, but still have a nice quality lathe for a good price. Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices This is the lathe sightfx said to upsize. the only thing right now is that I am on a budget, and do not want to buy another lathe in a year or so. My nighbor works with lathes at his job but cant make anything for me, but he said he would teach me the proper technique if I needed them.

I was just wondering if this would be a good lathe to work with on aluminum, copper, and steel. More towards aluminum though.

For the specifications that i can read there, it look a good tools for hobby and little works ..... don't know about steel, but for iron and other common metals looks good.

Anyway, i learned that a tool like this one, must be seen "in person", not just on a webpage ..... i mean, for check about quality, finishing, materials, how it work, and so on.

I have the Harbor Freight 7x10 lathe. I used it to make the prototype for Kenom's Groove housing.

Mike

Hemlock_Mike said:

I have the Harbor Freight 7x10 lathe. I used it to make the prototype for Kenom's Groove housing.

Mike

Click to expand...

Nice! I still need to purchase a lot of tools for mine, including all the measurement devices.
I've managed to make my version of that host. I recessed the head and tail so that it can head/tail stand. I wish I knew how to use the my lathe to cut threads :yabbem: , I have to do it by hand still. I need to learn patience too! Instead of waiting for a nice all metal clicky, I got impatient and settled for a cheap ratshack ghetto clicky. I will make a new tail section when/if the nice clicky ever gets here from china.

still needs some polishing and Tritium. Need to send it off to have it grooved for the Trit.

CS ---

Nice work -- Nothing wrong with that. Lotsa dudes here wish they could make a housing.

HMike

Hey guys, just wondering about another lathe. This one I found on craigslist, only used one time and has been collecting dust since. Think this is a good mill/ lathe?