?? Grizzly 16x40 Gunsmith lathe
- Thread starter lgsj27
- Start date
I have one its a nice lathe cuts chambers to .0001 so I am happy. There is some backlash in it but its not a 30000 lathe. It's a great accurate lathe for the money. Only thing I would recommend is inspect yours under power before you buy. My first one came out of the crate rusty and did not work properly. Grizzly customer service is great and fixed the issue
I jut took a look at that lathe on the Grizzly website. I assume this is the one: http://www.grizzly.com/products/16-x-40-3-Phase-Gunsmith-s-Metal-Lathe/G0509G
I have seen this lathe at Grizzly's PA location and it seemed to be pretty solid. I have 2 Grizzly G0554 lathes (discontinued by Grizzly, but still carried by Jet and Summit) that I am very happy with and this one seems to be about the same spec. I am sure you are aware that it is a 3 phase machine.
JS
I have seen this lathe at Grizzly's PA location and it seemed to be pretty solid. I have 2 Grizzly G0554 lathes (discontinued by Grizzly, but still carried by Jet and Summit) that I am very happy with and this one seems to be about the same spec. I am sure you are aware that it is a 3 phase machine.
JS
I have a Grizzly 13 x 40 "Tool Room" lathe. It to had been discontinued by Grizzly. It is still offered by MSC, Jet, Birmingham etc. In my opinion it was the best lathe for gunsmithing they offered. Everyone I know who has bought a "Grizzly Gunsmith lathe" has had to work on it or have it worked on to get it right. As they say you get what you pay for and Grizzly offers a package deal.
A lathe is a piece of equipment you will plan on having for many years. I feel that mine paid for itself within a year. It an my glass blasting cabinet have earned their keep. If I were going to buy another lathe today I would look hard at the Nardini and Kent. Would I buy another Grizzly, probably would just because of the price.
Nat Lambeth
A lathe is a piece of equipment you will plan on having for many years. I feel that mine paid for itself within a year. It an my glass blasting cabinet have earned their keep. If I were going to buy another lathe today I would look hard at the Nardini and Kent. Would I buy another Grizzly, probably would just because of the price.
Nat Lambeth
Thanks Nat! I understand what your saying. I had a Jet GH13x40W and just got too tired of chasing tolerances, it ran real rough and had a good deal of vibration which I could not get rid of. I would not recomend this machine, I sold it. I watched that Grizzly chambering video and it seems the lathe runs smooth indicating some good bearings. I like the fact that I can get a relativly short barrel in the head which is where many folks are chambering form now vs. the tailstock.
I would love to get a Nardini (not sure on the width of the headstock) or a Clausing but finding a good used one is a challange. I like the fact I would have a yr. warrenty on the Grizzly but spooked on the Chinese quality control.
30 years ago I started with a 12x36 Jet and it was an amazinng lathe for the money. I started to chamber through the Headstock and did well. I then changed and started to chamber from the tailstock after talking to Harlod Broughton, and that seemed to work well also for most rifle work.
Now that I am fully in the business and getting customers who want bench and tactical rifles I want to go back to chambering through the head so I know exactly where my bore is at. Plus I like having access to the breech during the process.
Would you know how long a b arrel I can get through a nardini Headstock?
I would love to get a Nardini (not sure on the width of the headstock) or a Clausing but finding a good used one is a challange. I like the fact I would have a yr. warrenty on the Grizzly but spooked on the Chinese quality control.
30 years ago I started with a 12x36 Jet and it was an amazinng lathe for the money. I started to chamber through the Headstock and did well. I then changed and started to chamber from the tailstock after talking to Harlod Broughton, and that seemed to work well also for most rifle work.
Now that I am fully in the business and getting customers who want bench and tactical rifles I want to go back to chambering through the head so I know exactly where my bore is at. Plus I like having access to the breech during the process.
Would you know how long a b arrel I can get through a nardini Headstock?
butchlambert
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Nardini won't work in the headstock.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Nothing wrong at all with 3 phase. It allows you to use a VFD as a converter and also as a speed control.
I have chambered 3 barrels now on my new 16" grizzly lathe. i like it just fine. its big i will say that. maybe a little to big for just doing barrels, but it is accurate!! I am making some new tooling for mine and when its all said and done it will be a great machine.
Grizzly is working on a new and improved version of the south bend heavy 10. That lathe will be on the marked some time next year. i think i may have to own one. Of course time will tell. it would be trick to have a lathe just for barrels and another for everything else. I hate changing chucks out all the time. Lee
Grizzly is working on a new and improved version of the south bend heavy 10. That lathe will be on the marked some time next year. i think i may have to own one. Of course time will tell. it would be trick to have a lathe just for barrels and another for everything else. I hate changing chucks out all the time. Lee
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Lee,
Wait until you get over 70 years old and had 5 neck and back surgeries. Anything over a D1-4 is too much and I have not a good way to install a skyhook to help me.
Wait until you get over 70 years old and had 5 neck and back surgeries. Anything over a D1-4 is too much and I have not a good way to install a skyhook to help me.
Joe C
Student of the 1911.
I have had the G0509G for about six months now. Mine is set up on a 5hp VFD as Butch mentioned. Another great smith I know has one and sang nothing but praises for it. I looked at all kinds before getting this one.
While I haven't done a rifle barrel yet, I have done a TON of precise 1911 pistol work on mine including threading .575x40 threads on barrels for my tapered sleeve cones. I didn't know how accurate it would be but after I got it set up and running I put a gauge pin in the chuck and checked it...there was zero runout. I did have to sand the bottom of the tailstock just a touch to get it to come to dead center under torque but that was no big deal.
I've made several sets of precision races that measure within .0002" for a process done on the pistols. I'm looking forward to building a rifle for myself over the winter this year. For me it has been a great machine thus far and the folks at Grizzly are super great to deal with.
While I haven't done a rifle barrel yet, I have done a TON of precise 1911 pistol work on mine including threading .575x40 threads on barrels for my tapered sleeve cones. I didn't know how accurate it would be but after I got it set up and running I put a gauge pin in the chuck and checked it...there was zero runout. I did have to sand the bottom of the tailstock just a touch to get it to come to dead center under torque but that was no big deal.
I've made several sets of precision races that measure within .0002" for a process done on the pistols. I'm looking forward to building a rifle for myself over the winter this year. For me it has been a great machine thus far and the folks at Grizzly are super great to deal with.
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
Well here goes,what is a VFD?
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
It is a variable frequency drive. It will convert your single phase to more of a true 3 phase and it is programmable. It also has variable speed. I added resistors to mine for instant stop.
The only problem is it is for one machine and can't be used like a phase converter and operate several machines off one unit.
I have one on each of my step pulley Bridgeports. I love them. If my lathes weren't variable speed, I would have them on the lathes.
The only problem is it is for one machine and can't be used like a phase converter and operate several machines off one unit.
I have one on each of my step pulley Bridgeports. I love them. If my lathes weren't variable speed, I would have them on the lathes.
i have a grizzly d1-6 cathead for the 509 grizzly if someone is needing one. 150 shipped. i only used it one time. lee
butch
i beleive you. i have back problems myself. i do think i will ger a second lathe just for barrel work, i hate changine the chucks on this unit, lee
butch
i beleive you. i have back problems myself. i do think i will ger a second lathe just for barrel work, i hate changine the chucks on this unit, lee
I purchased this one back in November and have chambered about 15 barrels with it: awesome lathe.
http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM1340T.html
It's only about 14" through the headstock, allowing me to chamber barrels as short as 18" directly through the headstock. I did outfit it with a VFD to accomodate the 3-phase motor and it runs very smooth. It uses D1-4 chucks which are not too big or too small for barrel work.
The Grizzly "gunsmith" lathes all seem to be a bit long in the thru-the-headstock dimension for my tastes.
http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM1340T.html
It's only about 14" through the headstock, allowing me to chamber barrels as short as 18" directly through the headstock. I did outfit it with a VFD to accomodate the 3-phase motor and it runs very smooth. It uses D1-4 chucks which are not too big or too small for barrel work.
The Grizzly "gunsmith" lathes all seem to be a bit long in the thru-the-headstock dimension for my tastes.
The VFD allows infinite variability in speed: get whatever gearing is the least expensive.jkohler said:
One thing I did to my 0509 was to build a platform in front of it 5" tall 
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