Buying a lathe

That lathe is too small for cue building. It might make a good tip and ferrule lathe. There is only 12" between centers and the spindle bore is on the small side.
 
If you want to build cues, this is pretty much the bottom of the line for metal lathes.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-x-36-inch-heavy-duty-geared-head-precision-gap-bed-metalworking-lathe-65044.html

You can just fit a cue between centers and (probably, I didn't look) have enough carriage travel to make a full cut on a 30" cue. Harbor Freight is considered to be at or near the bottom of the barrel of the import metal lathes. Quality/tolerances of the specific machine that shows up will vary a little, but it is plenty good enough to build cues with.

A 40" between centers machine is a lot better as things will get a little cramped with the 36" machines.

Good deals on used American lathes, or used import lathes for a cheap price can be had. You have to know what you are looking at to see potential problems though, and used machines don't come with any warranty or help.
 
You can buy a new Grizzly or Enco lathe for that price point. Both are good lathes and I know a few well known cue makers that use both and get excellent results.
 

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Thanks now i know what to look for. The prices on these beast means the only option is getting a used one...
 
Grizzly has a lathe for around $2900 I thought? Now that "gunsmith" lathe costs quite a bit, but that may be overkill on the $$$. It's sweet though!
 
I apologize...I just realized I was on the wrong thread. I thought I was replying to the one that had a Craigslist lathe. Damn...need more coffee...or liquor!
 
tank69 said:
Grizzly has a lathe for around $2900 I thought? Now that "gunsmith" lathe costs quite a bit, but that may be overkill on the $$$. It's sweet though!
Click to expand...

It's not an overkill.
Needs a DRO, rear chuck , tool post mounted spindles ( vertical and horizontal ).
Kaching!!!
 
IMO, you are better off buying an old lathe and tuning and modifying it than buying a cheap china lathe. How can you expect to buy a decent machine tool for under five grand. I have three metal lathes in my shop, all old iron. There vintage is 59, 69 and 79. Despite there age and varied amounts of bed wear any one of these lathes will out perform any of the china lathes talked about in this thread. None of these machines were ready to go but they all were great projects and worth the time invested.
 
Question for the Metal Lathe experts

I currently own a Cuesmith Deluxe and I have very little experience with Metal Lathes, but I have constantly been watching to find a good used one. Living in North Dakota, I rarely ever see anything come up for sale. I have considered a Grizzly lathe, but I am wondering what would be the major advantages to the 40" Lathe that Joey posted, compared to the 36" Gunsmith lathe? I hope to own a metal lathe at some point in the future and would love to hear why people would choose one over the other.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Gunsmith-s-Bench-Top-Lathe-with-Stand/G4003G

Maybe this one is missing some key features and I'm too green to recognize it?


Thanks,

dakota


JoeyInCali said:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/14-X-40-Gunsmith-s-Gearhead-Lathe/G0709

Whip your checkbook out.
Click to expand...
 
dakota said:
I currently own a Cuesmith Deluxe and I have very little experience with Metal Lathes, but I have constantly been watching to find a good used one. Living in North Dakota, I rarely ever see anything come up for sale. I have considered a Grizzly lathe, but I am wondering what would be the major advantages to the 40" Lathe that Joey posted, compared to the 36" Gunsmith lathe? I hope to own a metal lathe at some point in the future and would love to hear why people would choose one over the other.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Gunsmith-s-Bench-Top-Lathe-with-Stand/G4003G

Maybe this one is missing some key features and I'm too green to recognize it?


Thanks,

dakota
Click to expand...

http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-x-36-Gunsmithing-Lathe/G0750G
That one for $200 more gets you an enclosed gear box. Permanently oiled and dust does not get to the gears as easily.
A 40" between centers allows to taper a 30" long piece a little easier and you can face a cue truly between centers ( two center holes instead of chucking on the sleeve or ferrule ).
If you have a taper machine and do not need to taper on the metal lathe, 36" would most likely be good enough.
A rear chuck would be a great addition to any metal lathe imo.
Even just the 4-jaw Taig chuck. Make sure you get a sleeve that's adjustable so you can zero the chuck. I know where to get one made if you need one.
 
dakota said:
.... I have constantly been watching to find a good used one. Living in North Dakota, I rarely ever see anything come up for sale. ....
Click to expand...

My friend there are a couple of used lathes in Manitoba on kijiji right now, both under $1000.

http://manitoba.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-power-tools-Lathe-W0QQAdIdZ494532501

http://manitoba.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-power-tools-Metal-Lathe-W0QQAdIdZ490255446

I looked for about 5 years before finding a reasonable used 10x24, I know your pain. Saskatchewan is very much like North Dakota. I haven't been to visit for close to 30 years now, we used to drive to Fargo to buy vaulting poles from a sporting goods store there. Wonderful folks in general, just like Saskatchewan.

Dave <-- not a cue maker but loves machine tools
 
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