WTB small lathe
- Thread starter Shorty
- Start date
Shorty said:
You just need a mini lathe like a 7 x 10 or 7 x 12 they are cheap and work good with a few modifactions. Check out this website.
http://www.mini-lathe.com/
daytonajoe
Deceased
previous post
someone had a post at one time on making a mini type tip lathe using a drill and a crutch tip. I inquired before about it and got no response. Am looking for the same thing myself so here could be 2 buyers.
someone had a post at one time on making a mini type tip lathe using a drill and a crutch tip. I inquired before about it and got no response. Am looking for the same thing myself so here could be 2 buyers.
machine
My friend Chris Hightower builds some lighter duty machines than I build. He may have something that will fit your needs. Maybe look around for a used machine. You might want to ask Chris about that.
My machinery is much heavier. {Example only} My saw/lathe [ tapering machine]weighs in at about 7 to 800-LBS, depending on how it's set up. I think the machines that Chris has is about 75 or 80 lbs. They are made to travel with to do on site repairs.
I would contact Chris, and see what you can come up with. I wish you all the best. If I can ever help, please contact me.
blud
Shorty, I know of no machine out here that will do a great job, for that kind of money.My personal opinion on doing work, you got to start with good machinery to do great work. Cheap stuff will get you in trouble very easily.Shorty said:
My friend Chris Hightower builds some lighter duty machines than I build. He may have something that will fit your needs. Maybe look around for a used machine. You might want to ask Chris about that.
My machinery is much heavier. {Example only} My saw/lathe [ tapering machine]weighs in at about 7 to 800-LBS, depending on how it's set up. I think the machines that Chris has is about 75 or 80 lbs. They are made to travel with to do on site repairs.
I would contact Chris, and see what you can come up with. I wish you all the best. If I can ever help, please contact me.
blud
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macguy said:
I'm no cuemaker, nor do I play one on TV, but if you are patient there's a lot of old metalworking lathes out there for reasonable prices. The smaller ones typically have too small a hole through the spindle for butts, but should pass a shaft. Something like this one might be OK, hopefully someone who really knows will comment.
http://cgi.ebay.com/South-Bend-Lathe_W0QQitemZ7544645603QQcategoryZ97230QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This seller has another strange looking SouthBend for sale with some unknown piece sticking out of the tailstock. OF course their suitability also depend on what you call small ... these things can weigh in at several hundred pounds, which is small compared to a lot of metalworking lathes but large compared to many of the purpose-built cue repair lathes.
Dave
daytonajoe said:
I remember that thread, and found it at :
http://www.azbilliards.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=9819
RIP posted a link to some photos of a homebuilt shaft spinner at :
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ripss...g.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ripsstuff2003/my_photos
RIP also mentions in that thread that Jude will be selling a model of cue repair lathe in Shortys price range, have a look at the thread.
I agree with Blud though, which is why I suggested heavier used iron.
Dave
DaveK said:
Unless you are knowledgable and can restore the lathe, most of those old lathes are not worth much to the average person. Did you read the discription he gives of the lathe. He has the model year as 2005, try 1945 on that lathe maybe older. For ferrules, shaft cleaning tips and some part making a mini lathe will meet the needs of most players and you can use it right out of the box once cleaned up, they ship them packed in grease. They cost as little as $300. Even if someone get a larger lathe later they will still find a lot of uses for the mini. I have 5 lathes and in the corner is a small old Atlas 6 x 18 that I still use and would not sell.
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macguy said:
In my shop I have a rolling 4' tool cabinet with a top that is 2'X6'. On this booth I have mounted a 36" Taiwan wood lathe that I've now had for over 30 yrs. I do wraps, sanding butts and polishing of shafts on this lathe. I also have a tip lathe constructed from a stainless, 1 1/4" id tube, running on bearing blocks with a 4" self centering scroll chuck on the end. at the base I have a small tool rest. This little lathe is only good for installing tips but it is great for this operation. If you only do a few tips a year it is way overkill but I put on 3 to 4,000 tips a year and I would be lost with-out it. I can put on a tip, trim perfectly, polish the ferrule and shape the tip in less than 2 min. I have a small enclosed trailer that this booth rolls into for doing tournaments. Since it is all self contained I just unplug it from the wall, roll into the trailer, roll back out of the trailer at the tournament and plug back into an outlet and I'm ready for bussiness. I have a 7 X 10 metal cutting lathe with an extension that mounts to the end of the headstock to hold the shaft stable and this lathe is used for ferrules only. You can get a 7 X 10 metal lathe for between 300 and 375.00 when on sale from H/F and a wood lathe for around 140.00.
Over the years I've done many, many thousands of dollars worth of repair with this basic equipment.
Dick
I have a 7x12, but mostly use it for part turning. I've been center drilling, and modifying My pins with it lately. Took a while to get everything dialed in on it, but it will drill a center dead on now days. It's not bad for an import. Personally I did'nt care for it as a tipping lathe, but have seen them setup, and working very well. I see no reason why it could'nt be used for the right person, but Expect modifications, and the cost of tooling needed. IMO By the time you do all that, you might could have just bought a lightweight cuelathe, setup with most of what you need to get started. You may find a 7x cheap enough on the secondary market to make it worth while to modify It yourself, but for what Mine cost new when I got it + tooling, and mods, could've went with a light weight cue lathe, Like mentioned I too still use it all the time, so it does'nt go unused.
Greg
Greg
I wish that shaftmaster thing was better...from what I have heard it is not that good of a product. It looks ideal though because of its small size and portability. I know all you guys hate it and all...but for me, being I only weigh 85 pounds and can't lift but about 10 pounds comfortably, the shaftmaster type of lathe is exactly what I am looking for.
That shaft spinner idea looks pretty cool...but now who do I contact about building me one perhaps?
Shorty
That shaft spinner idea looks pretty cool...but now who do I contact about building me one perhaps?
Shorty
Cue Crazy said:
That's always the problem, with a new lathe, the tooling and miscellanies stuff you will need will cost more then the lathe. That is what is great about a used lathe if you know what you are buying. I have bought a couple of used lathes that came with thousands of dollars worth of stuff I would hate to have to buy one piece at a time. I found a lathe at a garage sale that was not the greatest but when the lady said everything there went with it I almost fainted. The guy had a six jaw Buck chuck, Aloris tool post and micrometers for every purpose and almost anything else you would want. She sold it all to me for $1000. I was honest with her and told her it was worth much more if she could sell all the stuff individually maybe on ebay or something, (Taking advantage of widows is not my style), but she insisted she just wanted it all gone so I bought it. I doubt many husbands tell their wives what they pay for things.
macguy said:
Sounds like a heck of a deal you got there. You are correct, yard sales can provide some good deals on secondary equipment for the person that knows what to look for. I had a buddy pick up a box full of machinist tools at a yard sale one time. Seems like the lady practically gave the stuff to him. It was her husband's stuff that had passed away also. My buddy use to hit all the sales up, and had people give him stuff all the time. I'm not even sure what all was in it, but there were several good mics & calibers brand new looking, still in the cases. He tried to give It to me, but I wanted to work a deal with him, or trade something, because I worked on his place, and his Moms house all the time to help them out, and thought that would save him some cash, but by the time I was doing more repairs for them, he had given the box to someone else. Wish I would have taken him up on it now, but I'm like you, and had to be honest, letting him know they were probably worth alittle, and I would feel bad just taking them for free. I ended up spending quite a bit just to aquire a few simular tools to what was in that box.
If the little woman knew how much I have in just the little bit of equipment I have, she'd have a cow on me
I still have a small mill to tool up better, and need more equipment also. I'd hate to think how much I have in it now, and how much in the future, when I get most of what I still need. + Purchasing, and the cost of materials is a whole nother thing. I use a CS deluxe as My tipping and repair lathe, and been happy with it, but I will be adding a big old cast iron lathe when I get the space worked out, and come accross a good deal like you got. I'm not real happy with the quallity of My table saw and band saw, so will probably replace those with better. I'll probably also get a larger mill. I have about three wood lathes, and rarely even use the one I have setup now. I have a few other tools not even setup, so will be happy when I have the extra space to have everything ready to use at My finger tips. I built My own inlay machine with alittle help, and have a tapering machine in the works, but probably be a while before i get it completed.It's really endless the amount of stuff you can use, but if I was just doing tips, I'd probably just go with a light weight cue lathe as mentioned. Guess we went alittle over board with the deluxe, but It gets used for alot more then just tips and ferrules, and does nice work for it's size and weight. I see It as the mini lathe, something I'll always have a use for, no matter how much equipment I set up or build Myself. Don't think I'll ever stop addding more equipment as I'm able to though. It would be nice if all the lathes used the same size tooling. Each piece I have aquired, uses different tooling.
Greg
Maybe he slipped up and that is why she was a widow.macguy said:
Tracy
Shorty said:
Shorty,
IMO you should keep away from the smaller Shaftmaster. Not too long ago, I did a search on ebay for everyone who bought one, and then I emailed them asking their opinion. Half of them returned them because they just won't spin shafts under any kind of load. A few more people kept it, but don't use it, a couple of them suggested I spend a few more bucks and get a mid-size from Hightower or Unique, and only one person thought it was sufficient for repairs. Along with some AZ forum searches, I decided to get something that I KNEW would work, rather than get something that might be ok.
I ended up with a mid-size lathe from Chris Hightower, and haven't regretted it yet. You should take Blud's advice and get somethin that will work, even if it is a little more up front. If you do anybody else's tips, you can start to recoup the extra cash outlay in relatively short order.
You might consider selling off some of your other cues to subsidize the miz-size...
-td
shaftmaster
New member
This post by td is not true. I make the best portable machine out there. It does tips, ferrules, tenons, wraps and retapers. I'll stand next to anyone anytime anywhere and do a better job faster. My machine sets up in two minutes and is only ten lbs. It's also easy to use.
I'll be at the Plaza in Las Vegas Oct. 25-30 for The Nine Ball National Tournament. The Bycycle Club Casino in Jan. Then the Derby City Classic in Jan. In March the Bar table National Tournament at the Sands Regencey in Reno Nv. Then the biggest retail show of the year in Valley Forge, the "Super Billiards Expo" This year I requested to be with all the other major cue repair booths. I'll be in booth 41 on the lower level, front and center. I wanted this booth just to show my machine and what it can do next to other cue repair. For anyone who would like to see with your own eyes. I'll be more than happy to show you my machine at work and answer any and all questions. For the rest of the year my major tournaments include the BCA and APA Championships in Las Vegas in May and Aug.Thank you for your time. Jude
I'll be at the Plaza in Las Vegas Oct. 25-30 for The Nine Ball National Tournament. The Bycycle Club Casino in Jan. Then the Derby City Classic in Jan. In March the Bar table National Tournament at the Sands Regencey in Reno Nv. Then the biggest retail show of the year in Valley Forge, the "Super Billiards Expo" This year I requested to be with all the other major cue repair booths. I'll be in booth 41 on the lower level, front and center. I wanted this booth just to show my machine and what it can do next to other cue repair. For anyone who would like to see with your own eyes. I'll be more than happy to show you my machine at work and answer any and all questions. For the rest of the year my major tournaments include the BCA and APA Championships in Las Vegas in May and Aug.Thank you for your time. Jude
shaftmaster said:
It is a bad idea to enter into a thread if you are a manufacture and being discussed. No matter what you do there will be fans and detractors it is best to stay out of it, it just comes with the territory you can only come off looking defensive. You have just brought this thread back to life after it was already forgotten.