I need a mini-lathe...

mykulmorris

mykulmorris

Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
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I'm looking for a bench-top Mini-lathe to make pins and spacers as I'm getting into making folders. I can make 'em at work on my lunch break and after work (the owner is really cool about that), but I'd like to have one at home, It's so much more convenient... Anyone have one they could part with or have any good suggestions (I don't want to sound cheap but I'm looking for cheap:D)
Thanks
-Michael
 
Harbor Freight and others do have small metal lathes like this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93212
They are all Chinese made cheap ones, and are about what you would expect for the price. They can work fine for small stuff.

My advice is to buy the largest and best one you can afford. In the years to come, you won't regret going too big, but you can definitely regret going too small. As lathes get bigger, they get more powerful and are smoother with the knobs and slides and take more accurate cuts.
 
For a mini-lathe I would recommend the Grizzly model G8688. Prior to purchasing it, I went through three of the Harbor Freight mini lathes. With Harbor Freight, parts where always on back order, usually 6-8 weeks (especially the circuit board/control board). And by the time you purchased the parts, you had spent almost enough for another lathe (thats why I went through three of them) The Grizzly machine is a pretty decent machine for an import. After adding a quick change tool post and an cam-lok on the tailstock, its proven to be very durable and convenient. It does have the plastic gears, and I have had to replace a couple of them over the past three years, but the cost was nothing, and I've never had to back order any part from Grizzly. Also, if your not real familiar with mini lathes, I would suggest looking up Littlemachineship.com They quality replacement parts and accessories for nearly every brand of mini lathe.
 
the new G0602 10" x 22" Bench Top Metal Lathe from grizzly is what I ended up geting. it a little over a grand with shiping.

if your geting it just to make stop pins and standoffs its a lot to invest but you can do alot more with a biger lathe in the long run.
 
mykulmorris said:
I'm looking for a bench-top Mini-lathe...........Anyone have one they could part with or have any good suggestions (I don't want to sound cheap but I'm looking for cheap:D)
Thanks
-Michael
Click to expand...

Now if only you lived in the Pacific Northwest (I think shiiping would be a killer).........I've got a 6" Atlas (and a 9" South Bend) that's in good shape that I'm looking to sell. Don't know about the cheap part, though.:)
 
The Asian 7x10-12 lathes work fine for that kind of stuff and they are better quality than some would have you believe. You might also check out Sherline, Taig, Unimat for some of the other brands. i have owned all of these at one time or another, but the 7x12 is my favorite so far. I have purchased these for the university where I teach and the ones we have are Grizzly, mine is a Protech and there is little difference between them, they are all made in the same place.

Also I do own a larger 10" Rockwell lathe and have acess to much bigger machines in our lab and I must say I use the benchtop machines more frequently, your mileage may vary
 
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