lathe setup advice please

O

Olive

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
hi all,

i've decided to buy a lathe. i'm going for a hightower..
I am buying it in order to do some repair work like new tips, cleaning, fitting shafts etc. however, i would like to have the option to make a sneaky pete as well for future.

i was going for either:

the med size: is the $1500 package enough or is it a worth me going $500 more for the Larger Deluxe Spindle Bore and single steady rest. (i dont know what they even are...)

...or is the micro cue smith II with full options for $1200 enough to do the same job?

i would really appreciate some advice...

also, which essential supplies should I buy from him to get started...

thanks,

o
 
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This is a no brainer. Buy Chris's dvd set for a couple hundred and get the book. You will see the deluxe in action. If you think it is an overkill then get the smaller one.

good luck, Jim.
 
Which lathe to buy

I bought Chris's Mid-Size. I would rather have gotten the Deluxe, but money was tight. Anyway, it's a solid, reasonably priced machine and is a great way to get into cue repair. It's ready to start doing repairs right out of the box.

At times, I have regretted not getting the larger spindle bore option. It allows for more versatility and shorter setup time. For example, it allows you to do joint work through the spindle, but it's not a real problem to set up the steady rest for joint work. Some people have even stated that they "prefer" to do joint work using a steady rest.

The Mid-Size is advertised as a "repair" lathe, but it doesn't take much to make it a full "cue making" lathe. For around $150 (and a little ingenuity), I modified my Mid-Size to add tapering capability for butts and shafts.

You can view some of the cues I've made with my Mid-Size "repair" lathe on my web site listed below.

Bottom line....Chris's Mid-Size is a great choice to get started and you can move up to full cuemaking if you want to later.
 
I would definetely spend the money and get the deluxe. That is what I did and that is just my opinion.
 
thank you for the replies, however i am choosing between the standard mid size and full setup micro II. cannot afford the deluxe ^^

o
 
Get the biggest that you can afford. If the most you can afford is the midsize, then get that. You can sell it down the road pretty easily, and most items you buy for it you can use on the deluxe if you decide to upgrade down the road.
 
Thanks, mid size it is then... do i want the deluxe spindle & steady rest option for 500$ extra... what are they for?

i think i understand what the delux spindle is for from a previous reply. what about the single steady rest? which functions would i use that one for?

thanks again,

o
 
It really depends what you're looking to do, and how patient you are. Personally I opted to take the extra $500 that the deluxe spindle costs and by all the misc. parts that will be needed. I spent $2610, and that got me the midsize, most of the misc parts that I didn't already have, his 10 pack of wood, and leather wrap fixture. All work needs to be done through the steady rests, but I have another lathe with a bigger spindle, so I have that advantage.

I would suggest looking over hightowers website, read the differences between the midsize and the deluxe. That should explain the differences. If you still have questions, e-mail Chris, his customer service is top notch, he'll answer all your questions. Also, if you don't have his book, buy that first. Read the book a couple times to really get a feel for how things are done, then make your decision.

PM me if there is anything else I can help with. Good luck.
 
Olive said:
hi all,

i've decided to buy a lathe. i'm going for a hightower..
I am buying it in order to do some repair work like new tips, cleaning, fitting shafts etc. however, i would like to have the option to make a sneaky pete as well for future.

i was going for either:

the med size: is the $1500 package enough or is it a worth me going $500 more for the Larger Deluxe Spindle Bore and single steady rest. (i dont know what they even are...)

...or is the micro cue smith II with full options for $1200 enough to do the same job?

i would really appreciate some advice...

also, which essential supplies should I buy from him to get started...

thanks,

o
Click to expand...

Let me add this. What ever you decide to buy now, you will be getting more equipment and lathes in the future. You don't replace one lathe with another you add to them. Even hobbyists have four and five lathes. That way you can set them up for dedicated uses. You also once you get started, can keep an eye out for great deals as they come along because you are no longer in a hurry as you are with your first lathe. I can assure you there will be metal lathes in your future if you turn out to have any real interest.
 
just as an update I have now ordered the mid size from Chris Hightower -
ended up being 1800$ with some essential tools and materials and tips.
I'll write a little review once i get it as to how the standard package works out and which tools etc it is worth getting as you start out at the very beginning. thank you for all the advice guys

o
 
ive had both and the deluxe is a no brainer. you will be mad 6 months down the road that you went the mid size route. the cuemakers package is what you need. if money is tight dont even bother. the lathe comes with just that the lathe some drive pins wax sealer and thats it. you need taps bits threaders tooling ect. countless hundreds of dollars after in accessories
 
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