Mini -Lathe thoughts

ftgokie said:
I am considering buying a Mini-Lathe to just mess around on...Maily replacing tips and such. I am looking at 2 lathes. Can someone give me any ideas on which one would be the better lathe to get

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93799

http://www.grizzly.com/products/7-x-12-Mini-Metal-Lathe/G8688

Thanks everyone for all your help!

Shawn
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either will work for tips,ferrules,add an extension to right end and you can clean shafts,wraps etc
 
In general terms Harbor Freight is regarded as the bottom of the barrel for tools. Grizzly is about in the middle.
 
I have looked at both lathes both china made. I think save your money and get the harbor feight. $399.00 or $525.00 gizz is in my back yard.
 
ftgokie said:
I am considering buying a Mini-Lathe to just mess around on...Maily replacing tips and such. I am looking at 2 lathes. Can someone give me any ideas on which one would be the better lathe to get

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93799

http://www.grizzly.com/products/7-x-12-Mini-Metal-Lathe/G8688

Thanks everyone for all your help!

Shawn
Click to expand...


OH JUST LOOKING AT THAT HARBORFREIGHT GETS ME MAD.......

my brother and I are getting one of these ready to take to a tournament super bowl weekend, he's going to one, I'm going to another. any way, we bought the lathe and a second base (the way's) with out motor ext.....to replace tips, ferrules, clean shafts. we also have a quick change tool post and tailstock, custom shaft collets, and a support for the shaft in the back of the lathe. My brother decided to have a machine shop in Vegas make the collets, and shaft holder instead of waiting until we got home:mad: Lets just say by the time he got all the extra's, and everything, we could have bought a Midsize hightower with the larger headstock for joint work and all the assessories by the time we got done paying for this, that's why everytime I walk in the shop and see that damn thing there I get mad, I'll take pics when we get it attached to the tool box it's going on. When he starts listening to me and not doing what ever he wants, we'll truely be an efficent shop
 
I have had both. Either way you go you will have to make them accurate. A simple v block on the back side will support the shaft. Make it adjustable height with pool table felt for the non mar surface. If you have any questions on how to set this up give me a call.. My number is on my website. East coast time please no calls after 10 pm.
John
 
chuckpilegis said:
Mine was about 300.00 on sale
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Man, chuckpilegis...Im not laughing at you in a bad way...im just laughing......:D ...Man, looking at that contraption makes me get the feeling in im my dads shop....oh the rigging that man can do..I am TOTALLY the opposite....I will spend my money on the best that I can buy and buy every tool and attachment I can...where he will buy somehting on sale and make all his own attachments and such...

Im sure what you have works great for you, it just reminds me of my dads shop is all.....Im honestly not being mean...its just funny....whatever works for you though...That is somewhat like what I am going to get...I just wish the backside of the lathe had a chuck also so I dont have to fabricate something as High Tech as what you have :thumbup: Again...if it isnt broke....dont fix it....Thanks brother...your pics actually helped me out alot....Shawn
 
RFisher said:
OH JUST LOOKING AT THAT HARBORFREIGHT GETS ME MAD.......

my brother and I are getting one of these ready to take to a tournament super bowl weekend, he's going to one, I'm going to another. any way, we bought the lathe and a second base (the way's) with out motor ext.....to replace tips, ferrules, clean shafts. we also have a quick change tool post and tailstock, custom shaft collets, and a support for the shaft in the back of the lathe. My brother decided to have a machine shop in Vegas make the collets, and shaft holder instead of waiting until we got home:mad: Lets just say by the time he got all the extra's, and everything, we could have bought a Midsize hightower with the larger headstock for joint work and all the assessories by the time we got done paying for this, that's why everytime I walk in the shop and see that damn thing there I get mad, I'll take pics when we get it attached to the tool box it's going on. When he starts listening to me and not doing what ever he wants, we'll truely be an efficent shop
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Any time you have to pay for custom modifications you will pay through the nose. I have had one of these little lathes since the mid eighties and have made many thousands of dollars with it at tournaments. I just bought a second one this past June so that I can leave the one in the shop in place. I got it at H/F on sale for 399.00 and I had a 15% off coupon which saved me another 60.00. I have it bolted down to a piece of aluminum channel so that it is easily moved and set up. I made my own collets for a buck or two, I made a bearing mount for the back of the lathe to hold the shaft for around 15.00. Once the bearings height is centered with lathes it never needs resetting any more. Just slide shaft in until the delrin is snug on the shaft and slide shaft in until the proper amount protrudes from the chuck. I put on a quick change tool post system for around 75.00 and redid the tail stock so that a flip of a lever locks it in place or for easy removal. I'm going to mount a sewing machine motor and pedal for easy wrap changes at a tournament. For the tail stock to hold the butt I'll just use the bearing jig that holds the shaft with a center. I was going to buy an extra lathe base for 79.00 plus shipping but I can't see of what use it would be. When I clean and polish a shaft I never restrict the tip end of the shaft. I leave it free as it helps to eliminate the shaft from vibrations do to not being true. Here are a couple of pictures of my set-up:


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Dick
 
Thanks everyone for all your input. I have not searched just yet, but is there a bed extension that you can put on here to extend it on out to about 32".

I really dont want to drop big buck just yet, I only am wanting to spend roughly 500-600 on this little setup. I am wanting to get a chuck for the back side of the lathe as well as a bed extension. If there isnt a bed extension that you can buy to extend this one out longer, is it feasable to have one built?
 
ftgokie said:
Thanks everyone for all your input. I have not searched just yet, but is there a bed extension that you can put on here to extend it on out to about 32".

I really dont want to drop big buck just yet, I only am wanting to spend roughly 500-600 on this little setup. I am wanting to get a chuck for the back side of the lathe as well as a bed extension. If there isnt a bed extension that you can buy to extend this one out longer, is it feasable to have one built?
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I don't know of an extension for them, but You can use the bed from another lathe like the one you buy, mount to a bench, and space them Apart. That may work for running a shaft between centers to clean, but you won't have any more carriage travel then the lathe originally had. I had seen a site somewhere, that someone was showing them connecting some bed ways together to try and make a longer lathe with full length travel out of them, but It looked like more of a pain then It is worth to Me. I haven't looked on the web lately though, so for all I know someone could have a kit out by now.

I have the speedway version of those lathes, but use It for other things instead of tips and ferrules. They are fun little lathes though, and Mine cuts pretty decent steel threads for a mini lathe. The gear change could be setup a little nicer to make changing gears quicker, and the gears are made form plastic, but They work, and are easily replaceable should one break. There's a place online called "Little Machine Shop" that You might want to check out If You haven't already. They use to carry all kinds of parts for these lathes.

If Your only wanting to do tips ferrules and shaft cleaning, then You could also set one up like these guys have with the back steady to do tips and ferrules, and just buy a cheap wood lathe to clean and polish on. That may be the easier way to go.

If Your wanting to build cues also, then these lathes may not be for You, and You would be better off saving your money for a cuebuilder lathe or a machine lathe with full travel and a large spindle bore.
 
Thanks Greg.....all good info there...Basically, Im just wanting to start out doing minor stuff to just learn on and get the basics. Then, later down the road, get somthing bigger....I can see me using the small one for various things, like maybe doing rings or whatever...dont really know right now...but I think getting my feet wet with something like this would be the way to go.

I appreciate everyones input



Cue Crazy said:
I don't know of an extension for them, but You can use the bed from another lathe like the one you buy, mount to a bench, and space them Apart. That may work for running a shaft between centers to clean, but you won't have any more carriage travel then the lathe originally had. I had seen a site somewhere, that someone was showing them connecting some bed ways together to try and make a longer lathe with full length travel out of them, but It looked like more of a pain then It is worth to Me. I haven't looked on the web lately though, so for all I know someone could have a kit out by now.

I have the speedway version of those lathes, but use It for other things instead of tips and ferrules. They are fun little lathes though, and Mine cuts pretty decent steel threads for a mini lathe. The gear change could be setup a little nicer to make changing gears quicker, and the gears are made form plastic, but They work, and are easily replaceable should one break. There's a place online called "Little Machine Shop" that You might want to check out If You haven't already. They use to carry all kinds of parts for these lathes.

If Your only wanting to do tips ferrules and shaft cleaning, then You could also set one up like these guys have with the back steady to do tips and ferrules, and just buy a cheap wood lathe to clean and polish on. That may be the easier way to go.

If Your wanting to build cues also, then these lathes may not be for You, and You would be better off saving your money for a cuebuilder lathe or a machine lathe with full travel and a large spindle bore.
Click to expand...
 
ftgokie said:
I am considering buying a Mini-Lathe to just mess around on...Maily replacing tips and such. I am looking at 2 lathes. Can someone give me any ideas on which one would be the better lathe to get

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93799

http://www.grizzly.com/products/7-x-12-Mini-Metal-Lathe/G8688

Thanks everyone for all your help!

Shawn
Click to expand...

I know my reply here is not an answer to your question but IMHO it is the answer you need. For the price difference between either of the two lathes you ask about ($400 - $600 + shipping) and buying one of the Hightower small lathes ($800 - $900) you are being penney wise and pound foolish.

While either of these two lathes (and a couple of others) can be made to work they will not work right out of the box. Assuming you have sufficient skills to make the necessary modifications there will be some things that these lathes will not be able to allow you to "bootstrap". Then it is off to the machine shop to try and convince a machinist to make what you need without having to write a check equal to the amount of the national debt.

Bryan, Dick and others have alluded to the costs involved. I think that unless they have/had some other motivation such as thread cutting or some other function a cue repair lathe won't/can't do or whatever they wouldn't do it again considering the options. The modified lathes that others have sold on here seem to have been harder to move (took longer) than a Hightower (or other) cue repair lathes and as a percentage of investment to return did not do as well as the cue specific lathes.

Again, this is my opinion. Someone will be along shortly with another.

Regards,
Stoney
 
Stoney

brings up a good point, Shawn. I am in the exact same shoes you are in and I have looked at both. As a matter of fact, I spoke with a colleague of mine who had what is pictured above. We went in the back of the pool hall and he went over a couple of things with me demonstrating on the exact same model. The guy who does repairs at Magoo's has a red one just like that. He also has some modifications and tools, but here's the kicker.

These guys have the know how, the hook up, and the experience to make those things work. We apparently don't. I know exactly how you feel. I want to get something in my hands YESTERDAY.

I have asked in a different thread about just a regular lathe, cause I have every intention of growing and not being limited. If it were me, and I bought this small thing, it wouldn't be long before I got the itch to do a full cue and then I would be right back in the same situation. Looking for a machine. You and I may be looking for two different things, you say, but I am willing to bet that you and I aren't so different.

I have checked into the Hightower Lathes and they are the best bet especially for a beginner. You can take it right out of the box and start making an entire cue. I have purchases his book and first two dvds. If I also have Joe Barringer's dvd collection. To me, that is money best spent at this time.

Who knows, maybe you already know how to do tips and know that's all you want to do? Then, I would get this machine. Good luck man.

PM me if you have any Q's or want to borrow a dvd.

P.S. If you read my post (LTB Lathe) you will find that there is a place in town where you can go an look, touch and feel a lathe as described above. It's at 58th between Garnett / Mingo. wttool.com

GOOD LUCK, MY FRIEND
 
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ftgokie said:
Thanks everyone for all your input. I have not searched just yet, but is there a bed extension that you can put on here to extend it on out to about 32".

I really dont want to drop big buck just yet, I only am wanting to spend roughly 500-600 on this little setup. I am wanting to get a chuck for the back side of the lathe as well as a bed extension. If there isnt a bed extension that you can buy to extend this one out longer, is it feasable to have one built?
Click to expand...
http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1896&category=5
 
i had one of these mini lathes from harbor freight and i didnt really like it. i also had the bed extension from little machine shop. i sold both. in the end you should just buy a micro from chris hightower. may be a few hundo more but you can build an entire shaft. it will pay for itself IMO

http://www.cuesmith.com/index.php?menu1=menu_lathes&page=cue_lathe_micro_2

base price is 850. and buy tooling as you go.

i would buy this before the 7x10 if the shaft goes thru

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95012
 
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