suggest a metal lathe

Adonisy

Adonisy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello , I search all post , and I found some persons use

"Grizzly metal lathe" or "Atlas metal lathe"

now , I want a metal lathe to cue threads , besides "theon threader for Ferrule (5/16-18)" , I hope I can cue shaft's internal threads ...
(such as 3/8-10,5/16-14....)

some machines are very heavy(almost 1000 lbs)
, can you give me a good recommend? (I just want below 500 lbs)

thanks
 
You can look around for a lathe in the 9x20 range, if you just wanted it to thread.
They usually way a lot less than your larger variety, i.e. 14x40, 13x16 etc.
 
Metal Lathe

BiG_JoN said:
You can look around for a lathe in the 9x20 range, if you just wanted it to thread.
They usually way a lot less than your larger variety, i.e. 14x40, 13x16 etc.
Click to expand...

Jon

Can you suggest a meatl lathe and make for doing tips, joint and butt repair.
You can pm, email or just post here.

Thanks
 
The best thing you could get that would allow you to do all the things you would need is a large 14x40 style.
Hopefully some others will chime in on what they think are the best ones out there.
For the record, i use a 14x40 Geared head Gap-bed bench lathe by ENCO.
When we got it, the only thing i had to do was "true-up" the chuck. It has a D1-4 mount and it wasn't set right. It runs true now, and everything is nice and tight (we have had it for a few years). We've cut metal/wood/plastics and everything comes out right.
Some might have other views or opinions on that particular lathe, so let's see what they have to say.

Thanks,

Jon
 
cost factor

BiG_JoN said:
The best thing you could get that would allow you to do all the things you would need is a large 14x40 style.
Hopefully some others will chime in on what they think are the best ones out there.
For the record, i use a 14x40 Geared head Gap-bed bench lathe by ENCO.
When we got it, the only thing i had to do was "true-up" the chuck. It has a D1-4 mount and it wasn't set right. It runs true now, and everything is nice and tight (we have had it for a few years). We've cut metal/wood/plastics and everything comes out right.
Some might have other views or opinions on that particular lathe, so let's see what they have to say.

Thanks,

Jon
Click to expand...

How do you feel about the bench top lathes such as harbor freight to start with. I would like to get my feet wet to make sure I like it before a heavy investment in a 14X40.
 
Kevin Lindstrom said:
How do you feel about the bench top lathes such as harbor freight to start with. I would like to get my feet wet to make sure I like it before a heavy investment in a 14X40.
Click to expand...

We have one of those little harbor freight lathes.
I hate it.
It's not all that accurate. At least not IMO.
Even if you got a good one, you would have to fabricate some kind of steady rest for the outboard (and beyond) side of the lathe. And i wouldn't want to try sanding or polishing a shaft on one of those little lathes.
You can look around and try to find an old US made lathe for less than a new import, but you would have to watch out for excessive wear (on the ways close to the chuck, dovetail gibs etc.) because the best lathes were well used. But it wouldn't be cost effective to get one and have to replace (or scrape) the bed among other things.
Whichever route you go, make sure you are getting a good deal.
I just don't like the little lathes.
The smallest i would go would be a 9x20/24.
 
are we overlooking that Adonisy is from Taipei,,,he already lives close to the source of most of the foreign lathes that make it to our shores,,,he should be looking in his own back yard ,,?,,,shipping from the USA back to Taipei would be kind of redundant,,,I may be wrong but I think he needs to purchase books/videos/dvd's on cuemaking and then make a decision,,,,,,,,,,,been wrong before,,,LOL
 
I'd find an old used belt drive 13 by 40 Jet if I were Adonisy. Make sure it has the v-type bed and has accurate tailstock.
Labor is kinda cheap in Taiwan, so I'd have the bed ground if needed. Have the spindle ground too to make sure it's dead nuts.
 
books video's

Jack Flanagan said:
are we overlooking that Adonisy is from Taipei,,,he already lives close to the source of most of the foreign lathes that make it to our shores,,,he should be looking in his own back yard ,,?,,,shipping from the USA back to Taipei would be kind of redundant,,,I may be wrong but I think he needs to purchase books/videos/dvd's on cuemaking and then make a decision,,,,,,,,,,,been wrong before,,,LOL
Click to expand...

I have Hightower's two tapes and book as well as Unique Products series of 5 tapes. Both are good but both use their respective equipment. Is there a book or tapes on cue repair or cue building that use "generic" equipment that I am missing out on? If so please advise. I would like as economical yet decent way to get started before laying out serious cash for a cue specific lathe or a real heavy duty shop lathe. I need to know that I'll like the repair business and will be able to obtain enough work in order to justify the large lathe investment. I figure if the harbor freight or similar lathe is good enough for me to get started on, I could then build upon that foundation. Any and all suggestions on where to start are greatly appreciated.
 
Kevin, I dunno how a small HF lathe can be used for common repairs since their spindle hole is around 3/4". You can do tips and ferrules but not much else.
Might as well find a used Logan, SB, Clauising or Atlas with 1 3/8 spindle hole or bigger.
 
HF lathe

JoeyInCali said:
Kevin, I dunno how a small HF lathe can be used for common repairs since their spindle hole is around 3/4". You can do tips and ferrules but not much else.
Might as well find a used Logan, SB, Clauising or Atlas with 1 3/8 spindle hole or bigger.
Click to expand...

I would only use the HF for tip repair and maybe to make joint protectors.
 
kevin,,,shafts will go far enough through the headstock on the 9 x 20 HF lathe, to do tips and such,,,make sure all the grease is out of the hole and use something around the shaft to protect it from the backside of the head stock,,,,I use a slip on tip to protect the shaft in the chuck,,,just cut the tip off, split the side of the slip on tip and you have a semi accurate collet to hold the shaft in the chuck,,,you will probably need to get a #2MT concave live center from chris hightower or somebody,,,let your imagination be your guide

almost forgot,,,the lathe, 9x20, is in sale at different times ($599 more or less)...if you don't know how to check the runout (trueness) of the lathe, get somebody to adjust it for you,,,it comes with no tooling (buy carbide bits),,,the rest may come to me later,,,,
 
Adonisy said:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=g4000

is this suitable?

can I put butt and shaft into chuck?

because it says can cut thread between 8 to 56 TPI

but I don't know actual thread I can cut....

:)
Click to expand...
With that lathe, you're only going to be able to do limited shaft work. The hole through the spindle is only 3/4 inches (19mm). The distance between centers is 19 inches (around 48 cm). These lathes can be handy in your shop, but the time and money needed to build collets and buying extra tooling can get really expensive. It will thread for you but cutting a thread in wood can be super tricky.

I'm not trying to discourage you from buying a small lathe similar to what you've linked to but, if your goal is to be able to do cue repair, I would seriously look into buying a machine that was designed for that job. Visit Chris Hightowers site along with the other dedicated cue machine sites. They offer all the stuff you need. They may seem a little bit pricey, but by the time you build/buy/create the things you need for the Grizzly machine, you're not really saving much.

Here's one of my machines.
http://www.smithy.com/midas1220xl.htm

It's handy, but I've spent well over a thousand dollars buying tooling for it along with hundreds of hours figuring out different ways to use it in cue work.

Good Luck in your search.
 
that thing's only 20" between centers, too,,,the headstock only has a 1.03" hole,,,still no butt work,,,?,,,that mill head (actually a drill press) hasn't got the rpm/speed to do any cutting that's accurate,,,believe me,,,a friend bought one and it ain't good for any precise work,,,

not trying to make anybody mad,,,just stating what I know,,,MHO.

,,,gonna put my 'el cheapo' way of doing things on paper one day and give it to anybody who wants to save money and do a professional job,,,the answer is not in the high price of the gadget !
 
Adonisy said:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=g4000is this suitable?
can I put butt and shaft into chuck?
because it says can cut thread between 8 to 56 TPI
but I don't know actual thread I can cut....

:)
Click to expand...

adonisy, guess you didn't read earlier posts,,,your already in Taiwan,,,,grizzley, Harbor Freight and a host of other lathe name brand lathes come from China and Taiwan,,, you can save lots of dollars if you purchase these items from where you live,,,shipping costs from the USA would take a lot of your money,,,

for the cost of shipping and the cost of a heavy lathe together, you could probably buy a cuesmith lathe from chris hightower (doesn't weigh as much) and have something to repair/build cues,,,as for cutting threads, you could buy those cue parts in Taiwan at a good price, also,,,check around; you might find a source close to you,,,
 
thanks everyone suggestion~~ :p

I want to buy a metal lathe , just because I want cut shaft's "wood thread"
very well , but many lathes (include Joe Porper,Chris Hightower,Unique)

can not cut thread ... (just use taps...)

so I hope I can find a good metal lathe in the future...(maybe 2 years....)

maybe I will custom my own metal lathe , include follow requirement:

(1)Distance between centers: 58"
(2)Spindle bore: 1-1/2"
(3)110V
(4)weight:below 500lbs
(5)can cut 10,11,14,16,18 threads per inch
(6)milling

Chris HighTower's Deluxe Cue Smith can not cut thread...

it's so pity.... :rolleyes:
 
Jack Flanagan said:
adonisy, guess you didn't read earlier posts,,,your already in Taiwan,,,,grizzley, Harbor Freight and a host of other lathe name brand lathes come from China and Taiwan,,, you can save lots of dollars if you purchase these items from where you live,,,shipping costs from the USA would take a lot of your money,,,

for the cost of shipping and the cost of a heavy lathe together, you could probably buy a cuesmith lathe from chris hightower (doesn't weigh as much) and have something to repair/build cues,,,as for cutting threads, you could buy those cue parts in Taiwan at a good price, also,,,check around; you might find a source close to you,,,
Click to expand...

:) sorry... I read this post .... I will try Taiwan's lathe for help...

thank you very much...

maybe I like USA goods..... :p
 
no problem, friend,,,,a very large portion of "American'/'USA' products have "Made in China" stamped on them.....
 
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