wanted smallish metal lathe

dave gee · 11-08-2008

hi
im wondering if anyone has a small metalworking lathe for sale?

i have a small budget of around £200,i know its not much im afraid..

i was going to buy one of the small sieg c0 baby lathes..but ive heard good/bad reports and im confused.

i only want to make small objects on it,rings with a split in them about 25mm max diameter.

im in wakefield,west yorks.
thanks
dave(uk)

**Bunkerbarge** · 12-08-2008

Hi Dave and welcome to the Scale Models forum. You have to tell us a bit more about what you are going to make, you've now got our interest!

As for small lathes, I used to have a Unimat III, which I am sure will do what you want and should be well within the budget. It is a bit limited though and if you want to dabble with anything more adventurous than your rings you will soon outgrow it.

This Chester Cobra is an excellent little lathe and would keep you going for many years to come but if you can't stretch to it then you might want to try to look for a second hand one:

Cobra Lathe

This very lathe is actually sold the world over in various different guises and you can buy just about every accessory and spare part imaginable for it. This is basically the same machine with a different brand stamped on it:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...0m-metal-lathe

I would keep your eye open on eBay for a machine of that size and standard because I am sure that you will want to get something bigger than the Unimat soon.

Here's a very good buy for someone who is happy to do a bit of basic cleaning up:

CLARKE METALWORKER VARIABLE SPEED METAL LATHE on eBay, also, Lathes, Metalworking Milling Welding, Business, Office Industrial (end time 14-Aug-08 17:24:40 BST)

dave gee · 12-08-2008

cheers richard for the warm welcome

ive had a lathe before,interestingly enough it was the cobra one with the milling unit on it also,not a bad little lathe to be honest...bad back meant i had to let it go but now im hoping to get back into the lathe 'scene' again.

im only making split rings as i said..imagine a steel tube,cut a slice off so its a ring,then cut a slit across it with dremel cutting disc to make it an open slightly expanding ring,thats all im making in different sizes.

i will have to keep my eyes peeled on ebay for a bargain hehe..altho for a cobra at £300 new you can buy one of the larger ones from axminster for that with dro on the crosslides.

BlazingPenguin · 31-08-2008

It just so happens I have such a thing and it is up for sale too!

Its home made by some engineering type, so there are a few bits'n'bobs with it, theres a dividing head for it, which Im told is pretty handy if you know how to use one.

Its complete, but it may need a new motor as I remember, its 'bell chuck' model...whatever that means, but that can be unbolted and a 3 or 4 jaw chuck can be fitted instead.
Its has an adjustable tool holder, as you would expect and theres a tail stock, I could probably get some pics with the camera if you are interested in the lathe, you asked first, so you get first dibs, after that its open to first come first served.

peter22 · 01-09-2008

Hi Dave
Bunkerbarge mentions Chester U.K. I bought a lathe from them over 6 months ago, at the same time ordered a Metric Leadscrew, after over 6 months and many e-mails NO LEADSCREW I e-mailed "Sunday Post Raw Deal" and if by magic the Leadscrew was delivered this week - happy with the Lathe but customer service forget it!!!!
Peter
p.s. had an operation on my hand on Tues. so hav'nt attempted to fit it hopefully next week.

bogstandard · 01-09-2008

I really do hate it when people just dig in and bite at a supplier without all the facts.
I use engineering suppliers all the time, and what you have to remember nowadays is it isn't just a matter of getting something special off a shelf, if it isn't in stock, it has to be made, usually in the far east. This can be anything up to six months with lead times and shipment. A phone call rather than email always works better, as then they can explain properly the cause of the delay.
In the case above, OK, maybe a bit long to wait. But no need to dive in and bite.
I have been using Chester UK as a major supplier for many years, from when they were basically running from a little shack out in the country right up until last week when my last order was delivered, and I have never had one complaint.

The mill was modified specially for me by having power feeds on all axis, I have movement problems in my arms. It took them 1 1/2 days to commision, modify, and get it ready for my moving man to pick up and install in my workshop. A great achievement on their part.
The lathe was delivered last week. This was ordered nearly four months ago. But I had it explained to me when I had ordered it, the lathe was on back order and would have to be made. In fact it came two weeks earlier than they quoted.
So to me, unlike the other member, I got the facts and am very happy with their service.

John

**Bunkerbarge** · 01-09-2008

I have to agree with Bogstandard here. My own experience with Chester has been very positive with extreemly good initial delivery and my own lathe did not have the tool kit with it but, sure enough a few weeks later it arrived in the post. I also know of another member of my own boat club who had a Chester Cobra mill/lathe combo which failed on him.

They didn't wait for the return of the old machine as most vendors would. They immediately sent him a new one, no questions asked. That to me is pretty good in this day and age.

I agree that a high percentage of certainly smaller stuff is Chinese in origin nowadays so they are at the mercy of thier suppliers for things such as these and they can take a while to obtain.

tag · 01-09-2008

I must say I have purchased a Mill from Chester and have to agree there customer services STINK
My opinion they are like a lot of other suppliers just happy to move boxes