Another lathe question

[itchyTF]

It seems "heavier is better", but how much is satisfactory? I'd like to go American but can't find anything around here and I really don't want another "project". I'm considering a PM1340 (Taiwanese) which weighs 1,380 with the welded steel base. Is this sufficient? What am I going to use it for? Good question, nothing big. I always used to have all sorts of projects but now I can't think of anything.

 

[hogpatrol]

Heavier gear set and more horsepower will allow you to take heavier cuts. Are you going to take a 1/4" plus cut with a .045 feed rate? Go heavy. If not, go with a lightweight. In my experience with the small import lathes they are sufficient for common gunsmith work and light cuts.

 

[6MMsteve]

Powermatic, Grizzly, are they all made at same casting factory? you could buy a bigger Griz for what the PM cost but I really don't know that much about Lathes so I need to be quiet lol.

 

[myownman]

I was in the same boat about 2 years ago. I ended up purchasing the PM13X40GT. It's been a great lathe for my needs.

 

[carlsbad]

Taiwanese is a good choice. I have no experience with PM, but what you describe should be quite adequate and nicer that most people start with. --Jerry

 

[carlsbad]

Powermatic, Grizzly, are they all made at same casting factory? you could buy a bigger Griz for what the PM cost but I really don't know that much about Lathes so I need to be quiet lol.

You missed the word "Taiwan". It is very important. --Jerry

 

[cgmaster]

I have some experience with different asian lathes. I have used and set up PM, Grizzly, Acer and a few others. If you are going to go Asian go Japanese (Mori, MAzak, etc...). I own an Acer it is made in the same palnt as the 1340GT and some of the other Grizzly and PM lathes. The Acer I own I bought cheap. It does ok but not great. on the other hand buying a worn out lathe is not good either. If I am looking for a lathe I bring my indicators and tools to check the wear and tolerances on a piece of machine equipment. I have seen several so called rebuilt lathes that were completely worn out and others that looked rough just needed cleaning. I would buy a good lathe stay away from Asian lathes. The cheaper ones the writing on them is not stamped or etched it is printed. After a few years the printing comes off. Look at qulity lathes the marks and writing is stamped, machined or etched so you don't have that problem. Also things you can't see such as metal quality, is not there on the Asian lathes. Support is very lacking. IF you have a problem and need a part good luck finding a replacement. Acer has been fairly decent when I needed parts but I was told that parts may not fit sometimes because the machine was redesigned and they did not know if the old part or newer part would fit. As far a warranty. I set up a PM lathe for someone that had vibration issues that could not be resolved. Grizzly 16x40's I have seen a few issues with when setting up which has not been fixed over the years and Grizzly is aware of the issues. THe Acers do come with better parts. Dorian tool post, Bison chucks and Newall DRO's spindle bearings are better. Even though they all use NSK Acer uses a higher quality bearing in the spindle which can be seen in spindle runout. I have a lightly used Acer 17x60 I am selling because I upgraded to Hardinge and Mazak lathes.

A few of my favorite manual lathes for gunsmithing that I have used have been Rockwell 14x40, Clausing 13 inch and Hardinge Not necessarily in that order.

 

[boltman223]

I agree with the above, go with Japanese if you can. Or the Taiwanese. The Acer deal sounds like a good way to go too.

I own and have used few taiwan lathes that i like.

What i really wanted to add was keep your eye out for takisawa, Victor, caddilac, and yam. These are good quality taiwan lathes. There's a couple others I can't think of right now too.

Bigger and higher on the list would be whacheon and mori-seiki.

For the heavier is better... after working in a job shop I prefer a 7,000 lb American made lathe overy anything, even for the small stuff. I can't explain it, they just feel better.

Not saying don't get a grizzly, pm or something similar, but I would definitely have other stuff higher my list and would wait for one to surface.

Oh and don't forget about the leblond regals.

 

[hoz53]

It seems "heavier is better", but how much is satisfactory? I'd like to go American but can't find anything around here and I really don't want another "project". I'm considering a PM1340 (Taiwanese) which weighs 1,380 with the welded steel base. Is this sufficient? What am I going to use it for? Good question, nothing big. I always used to have all sorts of projects but now I can't think of anything.

I started out a couple years ago and bought a SB 13 ( 56 model). After I got into it I realized it needed a lot of work and I wanted to get machine so I got a Grizzly 14x40. For me it's been a good lathe to start with as I had plenty to learn without trying to compensate for a worn out machine. The Grizzly is plenty good to do light duty work like barrels. I really wouldn't view it as lasting a long time if you use it alot. But I bet for me as a hobbyist it will give me most of the capabilities I need for a long time. I've got a Pm 1340GT to that I haven't even hooked up yet. Have to report on that later. My SB 13 -I completely disassembled it and cleaned it I am painting it, re wicking it and repairing it as I put it back together. Don't get to work on it much. To me the SB is really heavy duty compared to the other two. Makes them look like tinker toys. And the SB 13 was not a heavy duty lathe in its day. It's got some bed wear but Im looking forward to using it. So go ahead and get a Chinese or Taiwanese lathe if you need to to get going with but keep your eye open for a better lathe. I'm still doin that and if I find a heavy American lathe in good condition I will be very tempted. Oh and another thing. Parts for some (many) of the older machines are getting expensive. That's another advantage of a newer import.

 

[hogpatrol]

I agree with the above, go with Japanese if you can. Or the Taiwanese. The Acer deal sounds like a good way to go too.

I own and have used few taiwan lathes that i like.

What i really wanted to add was keep your eye out for takisawa, Victor, caddilac, and yam. These are good quality taiwan lathes. There's a couple others I can't think of right now too.

Bigger and higher on the list would be whacheon and mori-seiki.

For the heavier is better... after working in a job shop I prefer a 7,000 lb American made lathe overy anything, even for the small stuff. I can't explain it, they just feel better.

Not saying don't get a grizzly, pm or something similar, but I would definitely have other stuff higher my list and would wait for one to surface.

Oh and don't forget about the leblond regals.

LeBlond, Hardinge, Clausing, Giddings and Lewis. Now you're talkin'!

 

[Wirelessguy2005]

The Precision Matthew's 1340GT lathe is a very nice machine for the money and they stand behind their equipment with a 5 year warranty which is the best in the industry as far as I am aware. I have owned my 1340GT for over a year now and absolutely love it, I do a number of jobs on it including chamber work and it has always produced great results for me.

 

[boltman223]

I agree with the above, go with Japanese if you can. Or the Taiwanese. The Acer deal sounds like a good way to go too.

I own and have used few taiwan lathes that i like.

What i really wanted to add was keep your eye out for takisawa, Victor, caddilac, and yam. These are good quality taiwan lathes. There's a couple others I can't think of right now too.

Bigger and higher on the list would be whacheon and mori-seiki.

For the heavier is better... after working in a job shop I prefer a 7,000 lb American made lathe overy anything, even for the small stuff. I can't explain it, they just feel better.

Not saying don't get a grizzly, pm or something similar, but I would definitely have other stuff higher my list and would wait for one to surface.

Oh and don't forget about the leblond regals.

LeBlond, Hardinge, Clausing, Giddings and Lewis. Now you're talkin'!

Ohhhh hogpatroool! Don't get me started haha!

Don't forget monarch, lodge and shipley, American pacemaker, and the real leblonds (the N series). Oh boy, It may be too late... nothing like some real heavy American iron.

 

[hogpatrol]

We set up some new Polish lathes in the school where I taught. Eighth inch cut on aluminum with .015 feed and they stalled. Our LeBlonds could do 3/8 or better and a 1/32 feed and just peel that metal off. No substitute for horsepower and big gears. Back before CNC, the old American iron made the money.

 

[hoz53]

LeBlond, Hardinge, Clausing, Giddings and Lewis. Now you're talkin'!

Yeah-if I had a good example of one of them I wouldn't be unhapppy

 

[hoz53]

The Precision Matthew's 1340GT lathe is a very nice machine for the money and they stand behind their equipment with a 5 year warranty which is the best in the industry as far as I am aware. I have owned my 1340GT for over a year now and absolutely love it, I do a number of jobs on it including chamber work and it has always produced great results for me.

Good to hear--I need to get mine running soon.

 

[carlsbad]

People "getting lathe's going" may need 3 phase power. I'll put in a good word for American Rotary. Rotary 3 ph power is the real deal and will give you full rated horsepower. I installed an American Rotary 10 hp 3ph converter and am very happy with it. quiet and smooth. I installed 2 remote controls, one at the lathe and one at the mill and put the phase converter across the shop so it is just a whisper on the background now. Customer service was great helping me wire up the 2 remote controls (which had to be in series rather than parallel).

--Jerry

 

[hoz53]

People "getting lathe's going" may need 3 phase power. I'll put in a good word for American Rotary. Rotary 3 ph power is the real deal and will give you full rated horsepower. I installed an American Rotary 10 hp 3ph converter and am very happy with it. quiet and smooth. I installed 2 remote controls, one at the lathe and one at the mill and put the phase converter across the shop so it is just a whisper on the background now. Customer service was great helping me wire up the 2 remote controls (which had to be in series rather than parallel).

--Jerry

I had a choice when I got my PM lathe of 3 phase or single phase. I got single phase but kick myself for that now. As you know nice thing on 3 phase is you can use an inexpensive VFD for speed control. Also the VFD can convert single to 3 phase. I built a rotary phase converter and it works well. Used a 5hp three phase motor and some capacitors. I will probably put VFDs on 2 lathes and a mill but I'll have the phase converter for other 3 phase motors. Used 3 phase motors are available cheap as people cant use them at home.