Two Old Guys with Crossbows it’s the 7x12” Metal lathe from Harbor Freight. If you do some research you will find that most mini lathes sold in the USA (9 out of 12 I think) are made by the same Sieg Factory in China. That being the case the cheapest place to buy it is at Harbor Freight with a 20% off coupon making it less than $500.
Congrats on the new lathe have fun. Few things i learned dont bother with a quick change tool post YET they really only are helpful you have a holder for each tool you use, so your not swaping out tooling messing up your setting and second the cheaper jiwen version is aluminium. it works fine but small gouges will eventually start to show on the dovetail. Meaning you eventually need to remake or modify the body. I milled off the dovetails and machined a steel dovetail that is tapped and bolts on to the aluminium body, eh it works. Also realize that carbide works best on steel and hss on aluminum. Learn to grind hss cutters, it's not hard. This is because carbide works better at speeds just at the limit of this lathe while hss is right at home at lower speeds, do some reading. I used to think ill never need to shift it in to high gear. The finish is so much better it boggles the mind. Good luck
Thanks for your comment, I appreciate all the advise. I used the lathe for a while before I got really tired of having to shim every tool I changed to and bought my self a quick change tool post, you can check out a video on that here ruclips.net/video/RFYjkjwhR8Q/видео.html . I watched a lot of reviews on QCTP's and decided not to go the inexpensive route with "Jinwen" and bought myself the nice one from "Little Machine Shop" and I am really happy with it. I have also learned to grind HSS and have a couple turning tools I ground that cut through aluminium like butter and leave a great finish, even at slow speeds. Thanks again and happy machining!
How much was the price? And what model is that?
Two Old Guys with Crossbows it’s the 7x12” Metal lathe from Harbor Freight. If you do some research you will find that most mini lathes sold in the USA (9 out of 12 I think) are made by the same Sieg Factory in China. That being the case the cheapest place to buy it is at Harbor Freight with a 20% off coupon making it less than $500.
Randy Smith Fabrications Thanks so much Randy! 😎
😀👍
Congrats on the new lathe have fun. Few things i learned dont bother with a quick change tool post YET they really only are helpful you have a holder for each tool you use, so your not swaping out tooling messing up your setting and second the cheaper jiwen version is aluminium. it works fine but small gouges will eventually start to show on the dovetail. Meaning you eventually need to remake or modify the body. I milled off the dovetails and machined a steel dovetail that is tapped and bolts on to the aluminium body, eh it works. Also realize that carbide works best on steel and hss on aluminum. Learn to grind hss cutters, it's not hard. This is because carbide works better at speeds just at the limit of this lathe while hss is right at home at lower speeds, do some reading. I used to think ill never need to shift it in to high gear. The finish is so much better it boggles the mind. Good luck
Thanks for your comment, I appreciate all the advise. I used the lathe for a while before I got really tired of having to shim every tool I changed to and bought my self a quick change tool post, you can check out a video on that here ruclips.net/video/RFYjkjwhR8Q/видео.html . I watched a lot of reviews on QCTP's and decided not to go the inexpensive route with "Jinwen" and bought myself the nice one from "Little Machine Shop" and I am really happy with it. I have also learned to grind HSS and have a couple turning tools I ground that cut through aluminium like butter and leave a great finish, even at slow speeds. Thanks again and happy machining!