Lathe for a hobbyist?

[Wolfdog91]

For a guy who wanted to play with gunsmith type stuff on a very hobby type level ( re barreling old actions for personal use and just general metal work) what current production lathe would be a decent choice ? 4000-5000 and down price wise ? Seemed like grizzly would be the best place to start

 

[USMCDOC]

For a guy who wanted to play with gunsmith type stuff on a very hobby type level ( re barreling old actions for personal use and just general metal work) what current production lathe would be a decent choice ? 4000-5000 and down price wise ? Seemed like grizzly would be the best place to start

Precision Matthews

on another note, going to selling my Emco Maximat Super 11

 

[paperpuncher]

Precision Matthews

on another note, going to selling my Emco Maximat Super 11

That Emco is a nice machine

 

[Burnt Powder]

Mine is an ENCO, not EMCO it is a 12x36 gap bed lathe with English and Metric threading gears and swallows 1-1/2” headstock. That’s important, most barrel blanks are 1-1/4” and a few a little larger. There are ways around that but make sure it swallows at least 1-1/4” better yet 1-1/2” and for sure a 4 jaw chuck and a faceplate.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Precision Matthews

on another note, going to selling my Emco Maximat Super 11

How much? Is EMCO Chinese?

 

[ebb]

Buying a lathe is a lot like buying a router, if you try to use it much you will soon have as much in tooling as you do in the lathe. If you can find a GOOD used machine with tooling with it you may be better off. I bought a used one without any tooling, and I got it cheap enough, but still spend money on all kinds of stuff and measuring tools, its set up with a phase converter , but needs a VFD, and I want a DRO, I also want a six jaw chuck. and the list grows ever time I see a good machinist or gun smith doing something cool. Its almost like drug addiction. Someone stop me before a buy tools again.

 

[paperpuncher]

How much? Is EMCO Chinese?

Austrian

 

[markT]

 

[Dimner]

Just for those who are contemplating setting out in this type of hobby.

Even at the hobbyist level equipment with all the tooling, setup, electronics, diy tools stock, measurement tools, chuck etc..... I would have to chamber 35 barrels to break even. Believe me, I have looked into this over and over again. I am so interested in taking the leap, but financially, it's not a smart move over having your barrels done for you. Even for pinker rifles and project guns.

I have decided the first step I'll take are a couple classes at the community college level to learn the basics of measurement and basic lathe skills. For not much money, I think I would be able to make better choices after I have that under my belt. And it will still be useful skills to have if I decide not to get a lathe.

All that being said, it still never stops me from drooling over these lathe threads that come up now and again

 

[USMCDOC]

How much? Is EMCO Chinese?

Emco is Austrian

 

[Stumpy1]

...I have decided the first step I'll take are a couple classes at the community college level to learn the basics of measurement and basic lathe skills. For not much money, I think I would be able to make better choices after I have that under my belt. And it will still be useful skills to have if I decide not to get a lathe...

THIS -a thousand times this. Learn how to run a lathe safely and properly and it will pay dividends forever.
These machines do NOT forgive mistakes.
After some instruction and 'stick time' you will have a much better idea of what you want, or if you even want it.

I applaud your decision making process, Sir.

Frank

 

[ronsatspokane]

Just for those who are contemplating setting out in this type of hobby.

Even at the hobbyist level equipment with all the tooling, setup, electronics, diy tools stock, measurement tools, chuck etc..... I would have to chamber 35 barrels to break even. Believe me, I have looked into this over and over again. I am so interested in taking the leap, but financially, it's not a smart move over having your barrels done for you. Even for pinker rifles and project guns.

I have decided the first step I'll take are a couple classes at the community college level to learn the basics of measurement and basic lathe skills. For not much money, I think I would be able to make better choices after I have that under my belt. And it will still be useful skills to have if I decide not to get a lathe.

All that being said, it still never stops me from drooling over these lathe threads that come up now and again

You are correct, financially it takes a while to pay back if you are only chambering rifle barrels. I use the lathe for a lot of tasks beyond that and many of them have nothing to do with shooting. Friends often ask what I use if for. I look at the pan full of chips, scratch my head and tell them: everything. I make tractor, car and boat parts on it. I make fixtures on it. I make plumbing parts on it. Basically I use it for everything. When I do chamber barrels, the advantage is not the savings of money, it is the savings of time. Around here it can take many months to over a year to get a barrel chambered and even longer to get a rifle built. I can do it in a matter of hours. A little longer if I need to contour the barrel.

 

[Wolfdog91]

Well guys honestly this isn't much of a money saving venture or anything like that, idk just seems like it would be something interesting to try

 

[DShortt]

Well guys honestly this isn't much of a money saving venture or anything like that, idk just seems like it would be something interesting to try

I bought a used lathe simply for my own use and projects.

Some guys race cars, some travel around, some chase women and some do all of the above. I personally prefer to work on personal projects but make no mistake. You'll wind up spending more money that you'd ever imagined so best to know that to begin with.

 

[Wolfdog91]

I bought a used lathe simply for my own use and projects.

Some guys race cars, some travel around, some chase women and some do all of the above. I personally prefer to work on personal projects but make no mistake. You'll wind up spending more money that you'd ever imagined so best to know that to begin with.

Lol honestly that's fine with me. Life's an adventure and I'd like to be able to say iv done and played with a lot when I'm all feeble and old and can't do anything anymore
Ever walk into some old guys shop and he flicks on the light and you see decades upon decades of tools and projects and knowledge and books . You know then folks who could tell you how they used to build race car engines to bamboo fly rods or something? Always thought they where the coolest type of folks .

Now am I gonna go drop $10k right off the bat on a state of the art lathe and more on a gunsmith school just to rebarrel some some crappy Spanish Mauser or something for a deer rifle....well no but 3k on a half decent lathe I can fiddle around with for my own curiosity....yeah possibly lol

 

[DShortt]

Lol honestly that's fine with me. Life's an adventure and I'd like to be able to say iv done and played with a lot when I'm all feeble and old and can't do anything anymore
Ever walk into some old guys shop and he flicks on the light and you see decades upon decades of tools and projects and knowledge and books . You know then folks who could tell you how they used to build race car engines to bamboo fly rods or something? Always thought they where the coolest type of folks .

Now am I gonna go drop $10k right off the bat on a state of the art lathe and more on a gunsmith school just to rebarrel some some crappy Spanish Mauser or something for a deer rifle....well no but 3k on a half decent lathe I can fiddle around with for my own curiosity....yeah possibly lol

Yep, I completely understand. The only thing myself and other guys who have posted are trying to make sure you understand is that by the time you're satisfied with the tooling, measuring devices and accessories that you'll decide you 'need' down the road you'll have easily spent another $3K and probably considerably more.

There's always a new item you want to add.

 

[Jon Leary]

I am strictly a hobby amateur gunsmith. I have a grizzly 9729 Lathe mill combo. I have barreled several rifles and other projects. The 9729 isn't the greatest machine out there by far but a lot can be done with it.

 

[Wolfdog91]

I am strictly a hobby amateur gunsmith. I have a grizzly 9729 Lathe mill combo. I have barreled several rifles and other projects. The 9729 isn't the greatest machine out there by far but a lot can be done with it.

Awsome that's right my my price range !

 

[Wolfdog91]

Yep, I completely understand. The only thing myself and other guys who have posted are trying to make sure you understand is that by the time you're satisfied with the tooling, measuring devices and accessories that you'll decide you 'need' down the road you'll have easily spent another $3K and probably considerably more.

There's always a new item you want to add.

Yep that's about how it is with most of my hobbies always buying and adding stuff. Kinda why I love building low cost AR's because I know I'm gonna be adding something regardless. Think if I got something that was 100% good out the box I'd probably get bored of it pretty quick

 

[scasa]

I am strictly a hobby amateur gunsmith. I have a grizzly 9729 Lathe mill combo. I have barreled several rifles and other projects. The 9729 isn't the greatest machine out there by far but a lot can be done with it.

It isn't always the machine ,sometimes it's the driver