Could this lathe be modified?

M

mcesarey

New member
http://www.harborfreight.com/garage...x-40-inch-lathe-with-7-inch-sander-67690.html

This looks like a great, cheap start to a basic starter lathe for putting on tips, etc. Could anyone advise what to buy in order to put a carrier bearing on there to accept collets? I've seen a bunch of home-made lathes, and this one being $139 seems like a way better start than many of the home-made ones I've seen. I'm just not sure how to adapt it to put on tips. Thanks!
 
Shaft cleaning and some finish work , but you need some kinda chuck . Not worth much . Jim
 
mcesarey said:
http://www.harborfreight.com/garage...x-40-inch-lathe-with-7-inch-sander-67690.html

This looks like a great, cheap start to a basic starter lathe for putting on tips, etc. Could anyone advise what to buy in order to put a carrier bearing on there to accept collets? I've seen a bunch of home-made lathes, and this one being $139 seems like a way better start than many of the home-made ones I've seen. I'm just not sure how to adapt it to put on tips. Thanks!
Click to expand...

NO.......... it's a total piece of shit........ I had one........... don't even think about it....

Look for a used cue lathe. You are going to pay more than $139.....

Kim
 
pescadoman said:
It's a VERY good policy to avoid anything with a motor from Harbor Freight...
Click to expand...

If you need a chuckle - check out the review on the Horrible Fright web site...

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1/9/2014
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Very Nice for the money
By Ez-Ian
from Nashua, NH
About Me Beginner
PROS
Easy To Use
CONS
BEST USES
Home Use

Comments about Central-Machinery 14" x 40" Lathe with 7" Sander:

I bought this lathe to turn bowls, It works very well for the money spent on this machine.
I have nothing bad to say about this lathe! Ive been making bowls, drum sticks, lamps,
and pool cues with no problems at all!


BOTTOM LINE Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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There you go - pool cues with no problem at all.

I guess we need to put ol' Ez-Ian in the hall of fame:)

Dale
 
And he is only a beginner. Just wait until he gets to be an "expert" and we all are in trouble :rolleyes:
 
Well, I appreciate the input...getting a cheap lathe has proved tougher than I first thought. I asked the owner of the local pool room if he knew of any cheap lathes for sale and he said that he's looking for one, too! Will keep my eye out...sometimes the best deals find you when you're not looking.
 
Back when I first started doing repairs,I bought a lathe very similar to this for 89.00 at a traveling tool sale that came thru town.

I thought I was getting a deal. Once I got it set up,I found out that without modification,it was a paperweight.

The spindle and tailstock screw on mine,and probably that HF lathe,are 18mm-2.5.

This was several years before I took my machinist course. The 2 adapters I had made cost me 35.00 each. The Taig/Hightower chuck I bought for the headstock end was only available in 3/4-16 or 1"-8. I got the 3/4-16 and it was 100.00.

Then I had to fit a chuck on the other end. The 1/2-20 Jacobs I used was 25.00. All together this rig cost me about 400.00 bucks when combined with Chris' basic lathe pin set,a pointed and concave live center.

Since then,the only problem I've had was a start capacitor and a on/off switch that went bad.

So yes,that lathe CAN be used for sanding and/or wrapping. It's the modifications that make it inefficient cost-wise. Tommy D.
 
Tommy-D said:
Back when I first started doing repairs,I bought a lathe very similar to this for 89.00 at a traveling tool sale that came thru town.

I thought I was getting a deal. Once I got it set up,I found out that without modification,it was a paperweight.

The spindle and tailstock screw on mine,and probably that HF lathe,are 18mm-2.5.

This was several years before I took my machinist course. The 2 adapters I had made cost me 35.00 each. The Taig/Hightower chuck I bought for the headstock end was only available in 3/4-16 or 1"-8. I got the 3/4-16 and it was 100.00.

Then I had to fit a chuck on the other end. The 1/2-20 Jacobs I used was 25.00. All together this rig cost me about 400.00 bucks when combined with Chris' basic lathe pin set,a pointed and concave live center.

Since then,the only problem I've had was a start capacitor and a on/off switch that went bad.

So yes,that lathe CAN be used for sanding and/or wrapping. It's the modifications that make it inefficient cost-wise. Tommy D.
Click to expand...

That's somewhat OK for someone who knows how to fix motors, but good luck, and I mean GOOD LUCK if you are counting on any support or a timely fix from anything Harbor Freight.
 
One guy mentioned that he has made pool cues with it. There ya go.

Another review quote.

I purchased this product to make round things, it does that well.
Click to expand...

I'm relieved. And here I thought that if I mess up on mine, I might make some square bowls.

But, I also like making round things.
 
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