Need some info on buying a lathe

[BuffaloBill]

I’ve got a Precision Matthews RML-1440 that I equipped with a VFD and DRO, also supplied by Matt. I’ve been very happy with it, and with the milling machine from him. I would not hesitate to purchase equipment from them.

 

[V35]

I have three lathes, a 22”x198” Lodge&Shipley, a 22”x 120” Kingston, and I bought a PM 1340-GT to work on rifles only. It’s a good unit, I would recommend PM. I’m thinking about getting one of his mills as well to dedicate to working on guns as well.

 

[Terry]

I have three lathes, a 22”x198” Lodge&Shipley, a 22”x 120” Kingston, and I bought a PM 1340-GT to work on rifles only. It’s a good unit, I would recommend PM. I’m thinking about getting one of his mills as well to dedicate to working on guns as well.

I bought the PM 1054 mill. It's excellent!

 

[kendog]

WOW!!! 14" chuck for a 1.25" barrel. I bet that 14" chuck weighs 300+ lbs. I make due with a 8" 4 jaw on my PM-1340GT. I can actually lift it pretty easy.

The older I get, the more that damn TMX 8" weighs! Have an Acer 1440 (Branded "Top Turn") Taiwan machine, and a 6" 4 jaw would be plenty for barrel work. Nice to have both, dont want to have any money left over!

 

[Devin Wiggett]

The problem is getting the lathe! I have a friend who has been waiting for his Precision Mathews for over a year. Grizzly is in the same boat. Supply chain issues

 

[butchlambert]

I'm kinda looking for another, but so many have the D1-5 chucks. At almost 80yrs I don't need that.

 

[Terry]

I bought a spider head from Grizzly. Weights about 10 pounds, replaces 4 jaw chuck.

 

[butchlambert]

I bought a spider head from Grizzly. Weights about 10 pounds, replaces 4 jaw chuck.

Terry, I make my spiders, but need a chuck for other things from time to time. A D1-4 8" 3 jaw is almost overkill for most of my playing around.

 

[dnellans]

I recently decided to try a inboard spider. Grizzly sent me a coupon which made the price very attractive. The dried up cosmoline on it was not…. 30 minutes of scraping and kerosene required.

I was able to take about .500 off the face to shorten it, another 1/8th might be possible but i’ll worry about that when so have a project that pushes the limits. Other than that just a little off the other surfaces to true it all up.

Haven’t used it yet in earnest but seems like it should work well. It’s significantly lighter than either my 3 or 4 jaw. Aside from getting it on/off I don’t know if that’s a good thing however.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I recently decided to try a inboard spider. Grizzly sent me a coupon which made the price very attractive. The dried up cosmoline on it was not…. 30 minutes of scraping and kerosene required.

I was able to take about .500 off the face to shorten it, another 1/8th might be possible but i’ll worry about that when so have a project that pushes the limits. Other than that just a little off the other surfaces to true it all up.

Haven’t used it yet in earnest but seems like it should work well. It’s significantly lighter than either my 3 or 4 jaw. Aside from getting it on/off I don’t know if that’s a good thing however.

If you have the slightest hint of chatter be sure to get the indicator back out. Ive been using one of those on some of my shortest projects and it just appears to hold tight, especially if its on a barrel taper

 

[dnellans]

If you have the slightest hint of chatter be sure to get the indicator back out. Ive been using one of those on some of my shortest projects and it just appears to hold tight, especially if its on a barrel taper

I don’t quite understand your second point, are you saying it’s on the verge of slipping sometimes?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I don’t quite understand your second point, are you saying it’s on the verge of slipping sometimes?

Its on the verge of slipping the whole time, especially on a taper like a barrel. Not much contact area on the points

 

[jkohler]

The one I got from Grizzly I ended up drilling and taping for 1/2x20 bolts.

 

[INTJ]

I'm kinda looking for another, but so many have the D1-5 chucks. At almost 80yrs I don't need that.

The PM-1340GT has a D1-4. If I can start from zero with one and chamber barrels that are very competitive in 1K BR, imagine what you could do.......

 

[butchlambert]

Its on the verge of slipping the whole time, especially on a taper like a barrel. Not much contact area on the points

Dusty, I've done many many barrels in the headstock of my Clausing 6913. I have to use a cathead on both ends because of the length of the headstock length. Never had a problem with slippage. When the chamber is finished I run my indicator into the neck and base to see if it is still true.
I could see a problem if you were hogging metal.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Dusty, I've done many many barrels in the headstock of my Clausing 6913. I have to use a cathead on both ends because of the length of the headstock length. Never had a problem with slippage. When the chamber is finished I run my indicator into the neck and base to see if it is still true.
I could see a problem if you were hogging metal.

I chamber with spiders on both ends(hardinge HLV) and when removing barrels I often loosen the rear first and it pretty amazing how tightly the front only holds.
Even recently with a 37” 375 barrel I put considerable force in the muzzle and the barrel didn’t move.
I do get the indicator out when I’m 5 thou away from a finished tenon diameter anyways just because.

 

[butchlambert]

The PM looks good but are way out timewise.

 

[WayneShaw]

I use a #10 copper wire in contact with the barrel. I've never had a slip.

 

[spike-55]

Sorry, not a 1340GT, mine is a special order from Taiwan, not in PM Website catalog. It is a PM1440TV, identical to the Eisen 1440EV, except for the DRO. The DRO on mine was installed by PM, a rebadged DRO PROs model

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I do like it a lot, fairly rigid with the cast iron base. The 5HP motor driven by 7.5HP Yaskawa VFD works real well.

View attachment 1303178

WOW!!!!! where are the chips and grease on that beauty!!!! she is way to clean and the floor is not even stained and chipped!!! that is one nice shop and housekeeping better that first rate!!!! well done!!!
stan

 

[butchlambert]

WOW!!!!! where are the chips and grease on that beauty!!!! she is way to clean and the floor is not even stained and chipped!!! that is one nice shop and housekeeping better that first rate!!!! well done!!!
stan

When Nez is done he has to push his machines to the side so Bona can get her car in the garage.