Why buy Hightower or bassel lathe?
- Thread starter jdxprs
- Start date
I called Taig a few days ago and asked about getting a large-bore headstock. Ended up having a nice one-hour conversation with Cliff himself. Turns out that they only make those headstocks in 100-200 piece runs. It'll be a while before there is another run I'd wager. 
BTW that man is the most pleasant and gregarious octogenarian I've ever spoken to. His intellect is quite intact, even at 83 years old. Hope I'm doing as well in another 20 years or so.
BTW that man is the most pleasant and gregarious octogenarian I've ever spoken to. His intellect is quite intact, even at 83 years old. Hope I'm doing as well in another 20 years or so.
His wife is the same way (think its his wife). I was, or am a Taig Distributor. Last I talked to them you could not buy any large beds.
On the old Web Site it specificly said anything to do with Cue Building you had to go through Chris Hightower.
Maybe times change?
On the old Web Site it specificly said anything to do with Cue Building you had to go through Chris Hightower.
Maybe times change?
jdxprs
Banned
so the parts of the lathe needed to make cues can't be bought or made by anyone but those guys? I don't understand. They both use taig lathes to build their setups right?
There are a few builders whom base their lathes on the Taig format. However, there are many priority parts that must be modified or built from scratch that cannot be purchased from Taig. You cannot get the completed head stocks nor the extended bed nor taper bars nor probably, numerous other parts from Taig.
To answer your question "so the parts of the lathe needed to make cues can't be bought or made by anyone but those guys?" of coarse not! You can make them yourself or pay someone else to build the needed parts but OH!!! isn't that exactly what the two people you mentioned are doing now?
Dick
I think you should try doing just this and see how that ends up. No malace intended. I offer you a challenge, do just this, and keep it to only 5% above the cost of a normal Taig lathe parts cost, Their list prices for parts, and complete lathes is available everywhere on line.......just a repair lathe that can do joint, ferrule, tip, shaft cleaning, Butt cap repair or replacement, and wrap repair with a 1.380" headstock. Any customizing of parts or from scratch must also count into the price at fair market value. Oh, and The client needs it in 3 weeks to do a full line of repairs at a tourney they are working.
You also need to post a profit at the end of it all.
Dave
Why not buy from Hightower or Bassel?
What do you have against them?
What do you have against them?
jdxprs
Banned
i think you missed my point. i have no desire to become a lathe builder.
jdxprs
Banned
nothing at all. i just wondered since they both base their units off of taig lathes, wouldnt it be a lot cheaper to just do it yourself?
Easier? NO.
Cheaper? NO.
Nothing to see here anymore folks, move along.
Next thread.
One thing you won't get is the expert help and advice from Chris Hightower. He is very good at what he does and based on personal experience, always willing to help. Some years back and with Chris' help, I was able to convert a mid size wood lathe into one I could do tips, ferrules, wraps, shaft work etc. on. Chris lined me up with the parts I needed and it worked out fine for a minimal cost. In my opinion,
Mr. Hightower is an real asset to the industry.
Mr. Hightower is an real asset to the industry.
if you are a machinest and have a lathe, drill press and enought spare materials
you could buy a few taig parts, then find a place to buy the dovetail and bed, and if you had the knowledge, i think after a few trial and errors you might be able to put a lathe together that would get you by.
i was smart enough to figure out that i could do the same thing but would it be a percise as a lathe that was assembled by someone that has done it mant times before, think of all the mistakes they made learning the process of lathe building.
i have had 3 hightower deluxes i bought from chris, and one hightower inlay machine. i also have a lathe made by bassel and a drying station i put together myself.
nice thing about the hightowers and the bassel lathe, quailty construction, and spare parts are readly avaliable, but the biggest feature is their CUSTOMER SERVICE and their KNOWLEDGE.
just another thought, if you ever have to have your appendix taken out, don't call an expert, hell you can buy scaples and suture thread on ebay. it will be much cheaper.
you could buy a few taig parts, then find a place to buy the dovetail and bed, and if you had the knowledge, i think after a few trial and errors you might be able to put a lathe together that would get you by.
i was smart enough to figure out that i could do the same thing but would it be a percise as a lathe that was assembled by someone that has done it mant times before, think of all the mistakes they made learning the process of lathe building.
i have had 3 hightower deluxes i bought from chris, and one hightower inlay machine. i also have a lathe made by bassel and a drying station i put together myself.
nice thing about the hightowers and the bassel lathe, quailty construction, and spare parts are readly avaliable, but the biggest feature is their CUSTOMER SERVICE and their KNOWLEDGE.
just another thought, if you ever have to have your appendix taken out, don't call an expert, hell you can buy scaples and suture thread on ebay. it will be much cheaper.
ditto that,,,,,,,,,
Many with the mechanical aptitude could certainly, eventually, piece together a lathe setup that would do basic cue repair, but as mentioned by another, trial and error would likely severely hinder the effort with respect to "easier", as well as "cheaper".
I's always easier to buy what already has been proven to work, and cheaper to buy what is already tested and then produced "somewhat" in mass,,,,,,,,,which is what both of these guys sell.
If you want to spend time building lathes, have at it,,,,,,,,if you want to spend your time working on cues, then just buy a cue lathe package.
I would like to clear up couple of your assumptions.
First the common parts between my lathes and taig only apply to the basic repair lathe models, which range between $750- $950
As long as we are talking about taig headstock lathes with 0.59" thru hole spindle, most of the parts are common.
But when we talk about High-end Repair Lathes, there is nothing to compare.
I have always encouraged customers to build their own repair lathes if their budget is really limited, only then is when they find out there is no saving to building their own lathe using taig parts
A taig micro lathe ll costs around $475-$500 plus shipping, when you add a 2' extension and a steady rest with tooling and collets, which will run you around $250, then if you really want a good variable speed motor upgrade, that will run you about $200 with brackets and pulleys and belt
All together will cost you about $950 plus shipping
So clearly I don't see any savings compared to a basic repair lathe, that is build calibrated and shipped fully assembled. Whether you buy it on a 4' bed or with a taig bed with extension
You can get either one for $875 from me any day of the week.
Unless you rig a bearing with a bed extension, there are no saving there.
As for high end lathes and cue building lathes, there is nothing to compare.
One last thing, I listed a bunch of 4' beds for sale last week @ $165 each for anyone lolling to build their own lathe.
Best regards
Bassel
www.Customcuelathes.com
248-884-4469
Customcuelathes@yahoo.com
Last edited:
david cooksey
Registered
large bore headstock
Mid-America Pool just had a large bore headstock on Ebay
I am pretty shure they are members of the forum
Dave
Mid-America Pool just had a large bore headstock on Ebay
I am pretty shure they are members of the forum
Dave
So cheat :grin: This guy did a lot of trial and error, then published his plans for a metal lathe :
http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Lathe-Build-Working-Scrap/dp/1878087010
I agree. It took me close to 3 years to build a Gingery lathe
.... and about an hour to pick up a real used 10x24 a few years after that Dave