lathe= center to center
- Thread starter BUGSY
- Start date
Yes, 40"is enough assuming you have 40" of apron travel. I have a 12x36 lathe and wish I had a 12x40.
John
John
Depends if you are looking to build cues and/or shafts, and if you are talking 40" total bed length, or between center to center. Cent. to cent. at 40" would be awsome, but 40" bed length is a problem, depending on the size of the tailstock. Another thing to mention is cent. to cent. only accounts for a center drive to a live/dead center at the tail end, not a headstock mounted chuck to a live/dead center on the tail.BUGSY said:
What type are you looking at? I am looking for a larger, metal lathe that will be 13" swing by 40 center to center bed. Enco looks good for the price.
Dave
BUGSY said:
MY appologies for My bad memory, but are You the Bugsy that lives just north of me? If So I would suggest looking in the trading post clasified publication. They often have machine equipment for good prices that would be located in that area alot of the times, so posible a deal could be found that is close in location.
I have a 36
Actually two of them. One has just enough room to work on a shaft and the other has plenty of room, as it is closer to 38 inches between centers though it was sold as a 36 by Jet in the 1980's. I do not cut shafts or butts with the shorter one anymore as the close tolerances cause problems if you do not turn off the feed the moment you are done with a cut. No room for error. I ruined some lathe parts with that mishap, actually more than once I admit. That shorter lathe is dialed in with a center rest and all my joints and pins are done on it. For that it is fabulous. Like it has been said before: one can never have too many lathes! I have five and counting , I know others have way more.
Actually two of them. One has just enough room to work on a shaft and the other has plenty of room, as it is closer to 38 inches between centers though it was sold as a 36 by Jet in the 1980's. I do not cut shafts or butts with the shorter one anymore as the close tolerances cause problems if you do not turn off the feed the moment you are done with a cut. No room for error. I ruined some lathe parts with that mishap, actually more than once I admit. That shorter lathe is dialed in with a center rest and all my joints and pins are done on it. For that it is fabulous. Like it has been said before: one can never have too many lathes! I have five and counting , I know others have way more.
olsonsview said:
Yes, it is a good idea to measure the lathe yourself. Several lathe companies under-spec'd their machines, and I'd guess that some over-spec them. After some searching I found some specs on my lathe, and it claims to be a 10" x 24" ... I think it will swing nearly 11" but I can't figure out how it would ever get 24" c-c ... the tailstock is halfway off the ways with at 22"
Anyway, measure the thing if you have access to it.Dave
DaveK said:Yes, it is a good idea to measure the lathe yourself. Several lathe companies under-spec'd their machines, and I'd guess that some over-spec them. After some searching I found some specs on my lathe, and it claims to be a 10" x 24" ... I think it will swing nearly 11" but I can't figure out how it would ever get 24" c-c ... the tailstock is halfway off the ways with at 22"
Dave
Length measurement is measured from center to center as was pointed out earlier. The chuck and back plate takes up 4 or 5 inches of length as does the center in the tail stock. Length of feed is the critical determining factor.
Dick