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Author Topic: Small hobby lathe for making parts?  (Read 2923 times)

Offline Target

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Small hobby lathe for making parts?
« on: October 28, 2017, 02:18:35 PM »
Who has a recommendation for (or warning against) a small hobby lathe for mostly making venturies and such?

Thanks,
Target
« Last Edit: October 28, 2017, 02:39:04 PM by Target »
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Online Lauri Malila

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Re: Small hobby lathe for making parts?
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2017, 03:21:24 PM »
I only own Swiss Schaublin lathes, so I can only recommend them. They are excellent for making toy airplane parts.😜

L
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Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Small hobby lathe for making parts?
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2017, 03:35:54 PM »
I have a Toyo 710. A bit weak for cutting steel, but more than adequate on brass, aluminum and plastics.
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Offline Steve Helmick

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Re: Small hobby lathe for making parts?
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2017, 04:16:03 PM »
I have this Grizzly. It's 7" x 12", which is plenty for venturii and spinner parts. I got the 3-jaw chuck, which runs quite true, and inside/outside jaws. The one mistake I made was getting a 1/2" drill chuck for the tailstock. No need to drill 1/2" holes, and it's too bulky for the relatively short bed length. I would suggest a 3/8" Jacobs chuck, not an import. Finding the chuck you want and a matching arbor can take some head scratching. 

This is very similar to the Harbor Freight 7" x 10", but the extra bed length is important, IMO. You can also get a 7" x 14" from "Mark Tools" (?). Mark often advertises in MA. Grizzly says that these all come from the same factory in China, but extra precision and other options are available to the importer. Of course, Grizzly says theirs are the best.

Mine works quite nicely, but I usually run it in "low range", which is plenty fast, IMO. I guess I could use my tach to find what rpm I'm actually running, if I thought I needed to know. I have not tried cutting threads, but it came with the gears to do that, plus a faceplate and some other items I've never used. I've made aluminum and Delrin venturii, modified spinner backplates, prop nuts, and spinner cones (that's a trick!), and it always comes out ok. But I did run an engine lathe for a living for a few years. I found that real Delrin is better stuff than Acetal Acetate, which I'll never buy again.  D>K Steve

http://www.grizzly.com/products/7-x-12-Mini-Metal-Lathe/G8688
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Offline bob whitney

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Re: Small hobby lathe for making parts?
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2017, 04:50:54 PM »
Steve is right the Grissly or Harbor Freight copy is fine for small stuff but spend the extra $$ and get a 3/8 Jacobs chuck from MSC the cheap chuck will drive u crazy
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Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: Small hobby lathe for making parts?
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2017, 11:07:57 AM »
I've heard lots of good things about Little Machine Shop, and have been very pleased with the one thing (a right-sized knurling tool for my Smithy lathe) that I've bought from them.  I'll buy from them again if they have what I need.
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Offline Norm Furutani

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Re: Small hobby lathe for making parts?
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2017, 12:14:47 PM »
T
When you posted this, Brian and I were st the LittleMachineShop open house! Didn't know you were interested. They carry a line of small lathes plus they provide parts and support for other brands. Lots of good info on their website.
https://littlemachineshop.com/?Source=Google&device=t&keyword=littlemachineshop&utm_medium=referral&gclid=CjwKCAjw-NXPBRB4EiwAVNRLKr1xStwVF1W498USe9UwrxBBK4fpqsrk1wBe8NjLMqdMyLOtrEpNVBoC8OwQAvD_BwE

Also ask the Friday gang, several of us have lathes and experience. Last year I sold a beautiful 9" Logan! Might have a deal on a mini mill.

Norm
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Offline Ken Burdick

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Re: Small hobby lathe for making parts?
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2017, 01:10:41 PM »
I have heard good things about Taig. They have a package for around 500.00 with most of what is needed. Another nice thing is you can get various parts and tooling from them that are excellent quality
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Offline Fredvon4

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Re: Small hobby lathe for making parts?
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2017, 01:44:59 PM »
I am a absolute tool nut and once upon a time managed a army aircraft machine shop so took classes to know what my guys and gals did for me

I excel at wood working thanks to dad and over time have amassed a large variety of wood working tools...some very low end HF stuff and some top of the so called line

I have looked into all the small form factor metal working tools and since my desire was usually for only one or two of something find that the cost benefit is just not there

Venturies can be had for less than $25 all day long from several sources...same with special motor mounts or NVAs

So for me the expense of even the $250 plastic and aluminum bed mills or lathes is not worth the cost considering all the added tooling need

BUT IF I was to jump in the low end economy versions I would trust the Grizzly brand.... I have several of their Taiwan or China wood working  tools that are on par or even better than great brands like Delta (older) and others that are considered the standard in production cabinet/furniture making shops

I would happily argue that my big Grizzly Bands saw is as good as any top end brand there is for easily half the cost

If simple drilling and milling is needed I would like desperately to find a precision small form compound drill press and dead straight chuck with zero run-out and real drill bits in all the proper configurations that were actually straight...I have a certified flat granite comparative slab flat to .00001 in all axis.... yes Virginia I ran a calibration lab and had it certified... Many so called name brand $25 each drill bits will NOT roll across it with out showing a bend

Always aggravates me to have several routers at 20,000~30,000+ rpm and good bits with zero run out ---and 3 different drill presses with enough run out to see by eye  let alone on my dial indicator....

Who ever builds the first small mill with near zero run out for under $100 has my bucks...even if it is a one trick pony at 3" depth by 5" throat
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Offline Juan Valentin

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Re: Small hobby lathe for making parts?
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2017, 02:39:27 PM »

        I have a sherline lathe and milling machine they are great for the small stuff . I bought a bigger one from Micro Mark and I`m not happy with it.
                                                                                                                                             Juan
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