METAL MAX 13" X 40" metal lathe

It looks to be pretty much the same as my Jet. Same castings and belt drive system dimensions, but the switches for changing the feed rates are different. Do you have the machine in? Do you have a owners manual? What info are you looking for?

Kelly
 
It's sitting in the back of my trailor and I haven't unloaded it yet. It's supposed to be brand new. It has the cosmoline all over it so I need to clean it up with kerosine before it's ready for use. I was hoping to hear from someone that has one to hear their opinion before I build the fixtures to use it for cue building. I'm sure it has an owner's manual, but I don't know for sure.

John
 
Should be fine for woodworking, used to use one in my machine shop,
I advise you to get a good buck adjust tru chuck for it
 
I am no machinist, so I won't give you any advice regarding buying this chuck or that other than check out what is already on it realy well.

I have made one serious modification to my lathe, and it seems to have went well. Fixtures that mount directly to the compound via a T-Nut may be better than fixtures clamped in a quick change.

Look at your machine, and see if the motor is mounted behind and sticks out just to the right (facing the machine) of the headstock so that the drive belt is on the left, and the cover over the end of the motor where the fan resides is on the right. See if the start capacitor is mounted on the outside of the motor in the very back towards the bottom. If that is your setup, you could possibly have electrical issues if it is exactly like my Jet. After a change in motor, 2 burned up capacitors and a melted centrifugal rotor, I finally figured out the problem (your welcome WMH). The symptom would be large electrical pops (almost like miniature explosions, not simply sparking) inside the cover every once in a while when you turn the machine on.

That belt drive system is fairly free of vibration. If your floor is unlevel and you need to use leveling feet, don't get the ones with neoprene bottoms.

Open the cover on the left and make sure all of the set screws holding gears on shafts are tight. If you don't, you might near have a heart attack from hearing some loud scary clanging while running.

Just my experiences with what looks to be the same machine, no clue if they are applicable.

Kelly
 
masonh said:
are you saying not to go with qucik change set up?
Click to expand...

I asked John specifically what info he was looking for, and he mentioned information about building add on fixtures. I suggested add on fixtures may be better if they are mounted directly to the compound versus clamped in a quick change. I am thinking about rigidity. I have seen pics on here using both ideas. One of my add on fixtures that works great for me is mounted directly to the compound, and since my lathe is basically the same he posted a link of, I offered it up.

I certainly did not mean to suggest a quick change system should not be used with the lathe in general.

Kelly
 
Thanks everyone for all of your help. I looked at the warranty info on this Metal Max and it looks to be manufactured by the same parent company as Jet and Wilton. From what I can tell it's nearly the same. I have to go rent an engine hoist to move it around in my shop and place it where I want it. Thank you for the pointers on mounting, I'll use leather shims. It came with the factory cabinet and splash guard. I'll go to Big R's tomorrow and get 4 nuts & bolts to fasten it to the cabinet, level it, and clean it up. I was going to buy another AXA knock off wedge tool post for it, but I may just go with your suggestion of using t-nuts to mount my laminate router. I was planning on this lathe being my main taper lathe for shafts and butts.

I'll check out all the gears and lube them, then adjust as necessary. The motor is exactly as you described. I'll really watch out for any electrical problems.

Thanks again for all the info.

Anyone else have experience with this lathe?? Any tips you would like to share I'm all ears and eyes.

Thank you,
John
 
jkmarshall_cues said:
Thanks everyone for all of your help. I looked at the warranty info on this Metal Max and it looks to be manufactured by the same parent company as Jet and Wilton. From what I can tell it's nearly the same. I have to go rent an engine hoist to move it around in my shop and place it where I want it. Thank you for the pointers on mounting, I'll use leather shims. It came with the factory cabinet and splash guard. I'll go to Big R's tomorrow and get 4 nuts & bolts to fasten it to the cabinet, level it, and clean it up. I was going to buy another AXA knock off wedge tool post for it, but I may just go with your suggestion of using t-nuts to mount my laminate router. I was planning on this lathe being my main taper lathe for shafts and butts.

I'll check out all the gears and lube them, then adjust as necessary. The motor is exactly as you described. I'll really watch out for any electrical problems.

Thanks again for all the info.

Anyone else have experience with this lathe?? Any tips you would like to share I'm all ears and eyes.

Thank you,
John
Click to expand...

The electrical problem was the centrifugal rotor was installed to far up the shaft, so it wasn't pulling off fast enough when the motor got up to speed. That was causing problems with burning out the start capacitor and fusing the rotor contact to the switch. The reason the rotor was installed too far up the shaft was holes were drilled to deep into the cover. The fan wanted to clang on the inside of the cover, so even if installed right, when being burned in/tested, adjusting the rotor so there was clearance for the fan was being done. WMH tech said there was a rash of burning out capacitors and switches.

I use the BXA size quick change for mine. I think the AXA might be a bit small.

Glad to help.

Kelly
 
jkmarshall_cues said:
.... I was going to buy another AXA knock off wedge tool post for it, but I may just go with your suggestion of using t-nuts to mount my laminate router. ...
Click to expand...

I agree with this suggestion ... a set up will be more rigid if you eliminate extraneous holding devices, and a lack of rigidity is the cause of many many problems.

Dave
 
i never thought about the quick connect not being rigid enough,but i guess it wouldn't be as rigid as mounted.
 
Well,

I managed to get it uncrated and set up today, moved it out of the trailer I picked it up with. I had to rent a cherry picker engine hoist. It's level and now I'm ready to wire up the plug and check all nuts and bolts before turning on power. I still need to remove the goopy cosmoline with kerosene, YUK!!! I hate to do it, but I know I'll love it when it's done.

Later,
John
 
DaveK said:
I agree with this suggestion ... a set up will be more rigid if you eliminate extraneous holding devices, and a lack of rigidity is the cause of many many problems.

Dave
Click to expand...
shoppic4.jpg

Like that ( www.tnscues.com )?
 
jkmarshall_cues said:
Well,

I managed to get it uncrated and set up today, moved it out of the trailer I picked it up with. I had to rent a cherry picker engine hoist. It's level and now I'm ready to wire up the plug and check all nuts and bolts before turning on power. I still need to remove the goopy cosmoline with kerosene, YUK!!! I hate to do it, but I know I'll love it when it's done.

Later,
John
Click to expand...

I bought a cherry picker from Sam's for $200 when the lathe came in. It is a great machine for the price, the legs fold up and doesn't take up all that much space. A buddy went in halfs with me.

Kelly
 
It cost me $30.00 to rent the cherry picker and Sun Rental is 7-8 minutes away. I think I know what I'm going to ask my boys for Christmas. (<:

The lathe is all cleaned up, wired, and purrs like a puddy cat. Very quiet running lathe, I'm surprised!!

I have a taller fixture for my Porter Cable laminate router, I also tapped two holes into the base and attached a hose clamp up near the top. It can't wiggle at all. It's very secure and is directly fastened where the tool post normally sits.

John
 
Last edited:
jkmarshall_cues said:
The lathe is all cleaned up, wired, and purrs like a puddy cat. Very quiet running lathe, I'm surprised!!
Click to expand...

New toys, aint it great ... have fun :D

jkmarshall_cues said:
I have a taller fixture for my Porter Cable laminate router, I also tapped two holes into the base and attached a hose clamp up near the top. It can't wiggle at all. It's very secure and is directly fastened where the tool post normally sits.
Click to expand...

A quick and easy test is to put an indicator on the thing then give it a little-medium push in various directions. Do the same on a few other things like a tool bit in a holder to get some referernce points. Try pushing your lathe/mill spindles around :D

Dave, wants to test a Hardinge HLV and UM for a few decades
 
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