I'm looking to buy a lathe at some point next year and am looking for some suggestion and advise on what to look for. I'll probably be using this mostly to cut threads and chambers. But it is basically something for me to learn on. From what I have seen and heard Grizzly makes a decent machine, but I hear both Jet and Kent make good stuff also. Also my budget is $10,000 and under. Thanks for the help.
Gunsmithing Lathe Suggestions
- Thread starter Longshot38
- Start date
Re: Lathe Suggestions
If your budget is 10,000 i would recommend getting the grizzly 4003g and a milling machine if you don't yet have one. Some thing like the g9902 or the g9903 depending on whether you have single or three phase power. Tooling will easily eat up the rest....and maybe a little more
If your budget is 10,000 i would recommend getting the grizzly 4003g and a milling machine if you don't yet have one. Some thing like the g9902 or the g9903 depending on whether you have single or three phase power. Tooling will easily eat up the rest....and maybe a little more
Re: Lathe Suggestions
Pretty much anything you buy new sub $10,000 will be either Chinese at the low end, or Taiwanese at the upper end. The Taiwanese stuff is generally is pretty good, but not really in the same league as Anything Japanese or European. Personally I would look for a used Japanese lathe in good condition. Five or six thousand will buy you a pretty nice used Mori Seiki, Takisawa, or Okuma engine lathe. I currently use a 14"x40" Nardini lathe. It's not in the same league as the above, but it's better than most of the Taiwanese stuff I've seen. I wouldn't get anything smaller than a 14"x40". 16"x40" would probably be ideal. Anything larger starts to get cumbersome to work on smaller stuff, and the spindle speeds are often too low for small work. Also get a DRO for it. You can get basic ones for $500-$600. They really are nice when you are turning to a specific size.
- Cameron
Pretty much anything you buy new sub $10,000 will be either Chinese at the low end, or Taiwanese at the upper end. The Taiwanese stuff is generally is pretty good, but not really in the same league as Anything Japanese or European. Personally I would look for a used Japanese lathe in good condition. Five or six thousand will buy you a pretty nice used Mori Seiki, Takisawa, or Okuma engine lathe. I currently use a 14"x40" Nardini lathe. It's not in the same league as the above, but it's better than most of the Taiwanese stuff I've seen. I wouldn't get anything smaller than a 14"x40". 16"x40" would probably be ideal. Anything larger starts to get cumbersome to work on smaller stuff, and the spindle speeds are often too low for small work. Also get a DRO for it. You can get basic ones for $500-$600. They really are nice when you are turning to a specific size.
- Cameron
Re: Lathe Suggestions
Look for something in the size range of maybe 10" X 40". Make sure it will cut standard threads. That is unless you are planning on cutting metric threads.
If you look around. You can find a lot of machine tools used online. But since you're kind of flying into this blind, you might want someone else to check it out first.
Some of the best machines I've ever worked with that weren't NC or CNC were some American made machines made between 1940 and 1970. If you check around with machine tool brokers you may be able to pick up a used Bridgeport mill and a Southbend lathe both for the money you mentioned. A friend of mine picked up a used Bridgeport knee mill with power feed and vairable speed motor & gearbox. But he had to replace the 3 phase motor with a single phase. If I remember correctly there was something wrong with the original motor that it was going to have to be repaired or replaced.
Get a Machinery's Handbook and the math handbook that goes with it. The math book has a lot of specific formulas you may want. If you choose to order the 2 books make sure the formula handbook and the Machinery's handbook are the same version / edition.
Find an old tool maker or machinist that will take you under his wing. Or go to a vocational school. Machine tools are wonderful things. But people get killed or maimed every year working with or around them.
Good luck and be careful.
Look for something in the size range of maybe 10" X 40". Make sure it will cut standard threads. That is unless you are planning on cutting metric threads.
If you look around. You can find a lot of machine tools used online. But since you're kind of flying into this blind, you might want someone else to check it out first.
Some of the best machines I've ever worked with that weren't NC or CNC were some American made machines made between 1940 and 1970. If you check around with machine tool brokers you may be able to pick up a used Bridgeport mill and a Southbend lathe both for the money you mentioned. A friend of mine picked up a used Bridgeport knee mill with power feed and vairable speed motor & gearbox. But he had to replace the 3 phase motor with a single phase. If I remember correctly there was something wrong with the original motor that it was going to have to be repaired or replaced.
Get a Machinery's Handbook and the math handbook that goes with it. The math book has a lot of specific formulas you may want. If you choose to order the 2 books make sure the formula handbook and the Machinery's handbook are the same version / edition.
Find an old tool maker or machinist that will take you under his wing. Or go to a vocational school. Machine tools are wonderful things. But people get killed or maimed every year working with or around them.
Good luck and be careful.
Re: Lathe Suggestions
I know a guy that I used to work with that got a piece of clothing caught on a very large piece while the machine was running. If I remember right the part was bigger than 36" OD. He was caught and flipped over the machine and landed on his head. The guy at the machine behind him was aware enough that he ran around the machines and stopped the machine in question. My friend was lucky. He got away with a mild concussion, a few cracked ribs and a handful of stitches. He was back at work a few days later. But he could have died had he been working alone. That's something we did quiet frequently if the job was a "RUSH".
Safety can NEVER be overlooked around something stronger than your weakest point.
I know a guy that I used to work with that got a piece of clothing caught on a very large piece while the machine was running. If I remember right the part was bigger than 36" OD. He was caught and flipped over the machine and landed on his head. The guy at the machine behind him was aware enough that he ran around the machines and stopped the machine in question. My friend was lucky. He got away with a mild concussion, a few cracked ribs and a handful of stitches. He was back at work a few days later. But he could have died had he been working alone. That's something we did quiet frequently if the job was a "RUSH".
Safety can NEVER be overlooked around something stronger than your weakest point.
Re: Lathe Suggestions
I'm deffinately a fan of snug clothing around the lathe. I bought a clausing a couple of years ago from a machinist friend of mine that was moving. For $1000 it sure is a nice place to start. Only wish the hole in the head was large enough for a bigger barrel. Something to consider...
I'm deffinately a fan of snug clothing around the lathe. I bought a clausing a couple of years ago from a machinist friend of mine that was moving. For $1000 it sure is a nice place to start. Only wish the hole in the head was large enough for a bigger barrel. Something to consider...
Re: Lathe Suggestions
I have paid for 5 lathes for gunsmithing over the last 10 years.
There are no perfect choices.
Everything is a trade off.
This year I got a new Precision Matthews 12x36 with DRO.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=216408&page=6
http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM1236.html
I have ~$4k into it.
My brother has a 10 year old Jet 13x40.
80% of the parts are interchangeable between the two lathes, and would be with any other Chinese lathe, like a Grizzly.
Buying and selling a lathe is somewhere between buying and selling a car and getting married and divorced. Think about getting divorced and moving out with your 2000 pound lathe.
A 1955 Bentley with 200k miles is a nicer car than a new Hyundai, but if you just want to get to work, the Hyundai may be the more pragmatic choice.
And in the world of precision machining, the lathe requirements for gunsmithing are nothing special. If the barrel fits, any new lathe is accurate enough.
I have paid for 5 lathes for gunsmithing over the last 10 years.
There are no perfect choices.
Everything is a trade off.
This year I got a new Precision Matthews 12x36 with DRO.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=216408&page=6
http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM1236.html
I have ~$4k into it.
My brother has a 10 year old Jet 13x40.
80% of the parts are interchangeable between the two lathes, and would be with any other Chinese lathe, like a Grizzly.
Buying and selling a lathe is somewhere between buying and selling a car and getting married and divorced. Think about getting divorced and moving out with your 2000 pound lathe.
A 1955 Bentley with 200k miles is a nicer car than a new Hyundai, but if you just want to get to work, the Hyundai may be the more pragmatic choice.
And in the world of precision machining, the lathe requirements for gunsmithing are nothing special. If the barrel fits, any new lathe is accurate enough.
Re: Lathe Suggestions
My gunsmith just paid $15k for a new lathe,he was telling me about that.
This is what my dad says:
<span style="font-weight: bold">
it depends what you call inexpensive lathe. the Jet i have is a relatively inexpensive lathe, but goes for a bit over 6K. that's inexpensive to me.
there's a bunch that are far less. the pic of the Jet is the same as mine.
others import the same machine with a different name put on it. Shop Fox and Grizzly have the same machine, but not in 13 inch swing, but 14 inch. same machine. a smaller but decent machine might be the small grizzly on the link. it's half the price. it's a decent machine for the money. mine weights 2000 lbs. nice solid machine. the others just over 1000. but they will do what a lot of people want to do.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Gunsmith-s-Bench-Top-Lathe-with-Stand/G4003G
</span>
My gunsmith just paid $15k for a new lathe,he was telling me about that.
This is what my dad says:
<span style="font-weight: bold">
it depends what you call inexpensive lathe. the Jet i have is a relatively inexpensive lathe, but goes for a bit over 6K. that's inexpensive to me.
there's a bunch that are far less. the pic of the Jet is the same as mine.
others import the same machine with a different name put on it. Shop Fox and Grizzly have the same machine, but not in 13 inch swing, but 14 inch. same machine. a smaller but decent machine might be the small grizzly on the link. it's half the price. it's a decent machine for the money. mine weights 2000 lbs. nice solid machine. the others just over 1000. but they will do what a lot of people want to do.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Gunsmith-s-Bench-Top-Lathe-with-Stand/G4003G
</span>
Re: Lathe Suggestions
There's a real nice Lebond on ebay right now, has a 5 minute video of it running. Can't ever tell with ebay, but just looking at it in the pictures and video it appears to have been locked in a time capsule most of its life. If I had the $8700 it'd be mine already.....
There's a real nice Lebond on ebay right now, has a 5 minute video of it running. Can't ever tell with ebay, but just looking at it in the pictures and video it appears to have been locked in a time capsule most of its life. If I had the $8700 it'd be mine already.....
Re: Lathe Suggestions
I picked up a nice Harrison M250 that's an early 90's vintage. They were imported by Clausing and badged as Clousing machines. They can run from $2,500 to $6,000 depending on what tooling come with it and the condition of the machine. The spindle hole is 1 3/8".
I picked up a nice Harrison M250 that's an early 90's vintage. They were imported by Clausing and badged as Clousing machines. They can run from $2,500 to $6,000 depending on what tooling come with it and the condition of the machine. The spindle hole is 1 3/8".
