gunsmith lathe
- Thread starter D-Rock
- Start date
Mainly, one has a machinist operating the lathe, the other has a very good machinist operating it. A gunsmiths lath usually will cut a lot more threads and usually has a taper attachment.
Dick
Is it a Chinese lathe? If so, there is not much difference between their regular models, other than a higher starting price.
To add to Dicks comments,
They usually have 36inch between centres,1.25 inch or bigger, headstock bore, cut metric and TPI threads,often have the compound slide base graduated for 360 deg.
Some come with roller bearing steadies.
They are alot more ridgid than most cuemaking lathes.
New gunsmith lathes are quite a bit more than standard engine lathes.
If you can get one for a good price, go for it.
They usually have 36inch between centres,1.25 inch or bigger, headstock bore, cut metric and TPI threads,often have the compound slide base graduated for 360 deg.
Some come with roller bearing steadies.
They are alot more ridgid than most cuemaking lathes.
New gunsmith lathes are quite a bit more than standard engine lathes.
If you can get one for a good price, go for it.
Grizzly has one for a pretty fair price. It has a 17" swing with a removable gap bed, which brings to question. If you are need of a 17" swing, are you turning cannon barrels?
It is basically the same lathe as the Harbor Freight 36", with a qctp and a few extra accessories. The spindle bore is a little bigger, but at 1.5 the H/F will do just fine. Savings? The H/F 36" with stand delivered to your door is less than $2600, so you save $500+, you can pick up the qctp and more with that chunk of change.
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> I asked my original shop instructor this question. His explanation was that a gunsmithing lathe was just "tuned" a little better,as far as being adjusted for higher precision as well as more rigid. He also added that sometimes they have several more options as far as mounting a steady or follow rest,and that he had seen one that had a full 36" taper bar like we use.
I really liked what Dickie said above about a lot of it being the operator. My instructor said something to the effect of ANY lathe can be a gunsmithing lathe if you put the right hands on it. Tommy D.
I really liked what Dickie said above about a lot of it being the operator. My instructor said something to the effect of ANY lathe can be a gunsmithing lathe if you put the right hands on it. Tommy D.
Gun Lathe
Hi,
I think I remember seeing a tail stock that has a torque wrench type lever for setting the tension to the bed ways. I don't know if this is an exclusive feature of the gun lathes only.
For cue making if you want real high precision for pins - drilling, boring & tapping - a collet chuck would be a nice thing to get.
Rick G
Hi,
I think I remember seeing a tail stock that has a torque wrench type lever for setting the tension to the bed ways. I don't know if this is an exclusive feature of the gun lathes only.
For cue making if you want real high precision for pins - drilling, boring & tapping - a collet chuck would be a nice thing to get.
Rick G
You have to be a gunsmith to operate it
if your budget is close to $2895 then don't blow your money on one of these. Do some research and be patient, you can pick up an american made monster these days tooled up with a little bit of patience. HF should be your last choice in my opinion. Also, don't settle for 36"...go to 40"
HF/Grizzly/Jet/Enco/Birmingham/Bolton ect... They are all the same lathe with different paint schemes. If you are going to buy a Chinese lathe, why pay more for a different color?
Also, if you buy one off e-bay or Craigslist, you still have to get it to your door. Many times that may cost you close to what you pay for the lathe. Buying a used lathe is a crap-shoot for someone who knows nothing about used equipment, so in the long run you will do better with new equipment that has a warranty.
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That and bearing end steady rest jaws.
And this?
That doesn't add up to $500+ difference.
agreed that uneductated buying would be a crapshoot. In the longhaul, all the lathes listed above are a crapshoot....just my opinion but its the un-educated people who buy these lathes. if it werent for the uneducated then they probably wouldnt sell any.
speaking from experience...not trying to argue.
So all the cue makers who own one or several of these lathes are uneducated? I think you really didn't mean that hopefully. They are what they are, and will do a fine job too. They may not be bullet-proof like a 40's or 50's engine lathes, they are very good for cue making in the right hands. Much less of a crap-shoot than say a small table top lathe, agreed?
agreed, in the case of jet or maybe high end grizzly. but im pretty sure you don't see to many top cuemakers trying to save a grand or maybe a little more by going to a HF. Regarless, its just my opinion. Respectfully
Maybe one day the OP will be a top cue maker, who knows? He is starting out and wants to get a fair deal, not pay more than he has to to get the lathe.
Just pointing out there is no difference in the lathes, except for accessories. They are all made at the same place. I am a member of a gunsmithing forum too, where they all agree that they are the same and those will do a fine job at gunsmithing. I just thought it would be of interest to share that here. Jet and Grizzly lathes are no different in quality that H/F even though they are higher priced. The stigma you associate with H/F is unjustified when comparing lathes. The OP can save 25 or 30 percent and spend that savings on tooling.
Wow! whats amazing is that you probably honestly believe what your saying.