Precision matthews 1440 2sm

[Rockchuck]

Looking at this lathe form precsion matthews. Anybody have one and what do you think about it? The pro's and con's

 

[xr650rRider]

It's made in China instead of Taiwan like the models with "T" in the name. Says precision Japanese bearings but doesn't specify .0001" max runout like the "T" models do. It might be all your after, that's up to you.

 

[El Matador]

I have a 1440 chinese lathe from Jet, and it gets the job done. Precision Matthews is known for great customer service. They are fairly picky about which machines they will import, so chances are you'll get a decent machine. My own experience is the same as most others' with these lathes, and that is that they're very adequate for hobby use and gunsmithing. You won't get the rigidity and smoothness of a Taiwanese, European, or American machine however. My lathe is kinda noisy and sometimes struggles to give me a good surface finish. When I use my buddy's Kingston it's a totally different experience. Very smooth, nice finishes, and quiet operation. But that machine is close to $30k.

Looking at the specs everything is pretty good. That 2" spindle bore is nice, but the tradeoff is the D1-5 spindle mount. Nothing wrong with it other than its not very common. Trying to find additional chucks or accessories, especially on the used market, will be tougher than the more popular D1-4 and D1-6 sizes. For threading there are some change gears you might have to mess with. They only need to be changed when you thread metric stuff or oddball sizes. It is a bit of a burden though. Some of the nicer lathes have a gearbox for such changes where you just throw a lever and you're done. Overall it comes down to price vs quality and I think it looks like a pretty good machine for the price.

 

[LVLAaron]

Really nice to see PM add variable speed to the newer models.

 

[Rockchuck]

Looking also at the pm 1340gt anybody have experience with it

 

[LVLAaron]

Looking also at the pm 1340gt anybody have experience with it

Lots of people have them and make fine barrels with them. I'd take the 13x40 over the 2SM. Get the 3 phase and convert to VFD.

 

[gunnermhr]

Looking also at the pm 1340gt anybody have experience with it

The 1340GT is a nice machine, mine is single phase and works great. If I were buying again, I'd do a 3 phase with VFD, that gives you variable speed and you can also program to stop much quicker. A few other things you can do with the VFD that i think makes it worth the added expense. Nothing of which you "need" but would be a bit nicer.

 

[Fisher T&C]

Looking also at the pm 1340gt anybody have experience with it

I have the 1340GT with a DRO it's excellent for chambers and threads; it's a little light for tapers and contours, but gets the job done. I had to make my own spider for the back of the spindle but not a huge deal.

 

[xr650rRider]

I've got the PM-1340GT. Ordered it as 3 phase and it comes with 2HP motor. Installed Hitachi WJ-200 VFD, 220 volt single phase input, 220 volt 3 phase output. I only ever switch the gearbox from High or Low, can go as low as 30 - 1800 RPM. Added braking resistor and it will stop in 1 second or 3 seconds, switch selectable. Also has a joystick jog, forward/reverse and runs at 6 RPM. Great for tap or die in tailstock for small threads. Used for a while and then added a Clough42 electronic lead screw. Now I leave the Norton threading/feading gearbox in a 6:1 reduction and it's driven with a 3 N-M servo, so enough torque to scare you with the passes it can make without stalling. Since the leadscrew and feedscrew is driven with a servo, full 2HP is available at the spindle. Can cut any thread that is programmed into a custom thread table, metric or imperial. With metric you still have to leave the half-nut engaged (technically you don't but you have to disengage and re-engage in exact same spot). Another advantage is being able to adjust feed rate on the fly as well as RPM with VFD.

So in short, I like it and it can be customized if you desire or just run it out of the box. Not sure about too light for contouring and tapers as that's probably a function of the material your cutting. It comes with a follow rest and is available with a taper attachment but only does 10" at a time and I don't have one.

 

[Ksracer]

That lead screw conversion looks really cool.

 

[Rockchuck]

Looks like the 1340gt ordering tomorrow thanks for all the feedback

Ed

 

[Edward Manning]

Lots of people have them and make fine barrels with them. I'd take the 13x40 over the 2SM. Get the 3 phase and convert to VFD.

Can I ask why everyone state the Three phase? It looks complicated the wire

 

[Edward Manning]

The 1340GT is a nice machine, mine is single phase and works great. If I were buying again, I'd do a 3 phase with VFD, that gives you variable speed and you can also program to stop much quicker. A few other things you can do with the VFD that i think makes it worth the added expense. Nothing of which you "need" but would be a bit nicer.

Do you make barrels with yours? I like to buy one have no experience with a lath

 

[LVLAaron]

Can I ask why everyone state the Three phase? It looks complicated the wire

3 phase is smoother... allows you to run variable speed... high torque at low speed... For barrel work it's no big deal. I've been dealing with electronics/electrical my whole life so a VFD install wasn't a huge problem for me.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I had an opportunity to buy a Kingston and I turned it down.

Idiot.

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

Something I've been curious of is how the PM 1440 chambers, I know it has a long enough cut between centers, but PM offers the 1340GT that is a gunsmithing lathe with a short headstock.

I have a friend that is going to buy the PM 1440, I think it's a great deal at $8k.

@urbanrifleman don't feel bad, I think we all have missed a few deals. Look on some of the local auctions and find exactly what you want, there are some screaming deals right now as the economy screeches to a halt with BideNomics...there are several machines that were branded under other names for that same machine, just in case you didn't know. Caddilac, Hwaucheon, Webb, Kingston, Yam, I think they all made a 1440 with the same Taiwan built lathe. Not sure about current models, but there's a lot of great lathes to be had at auction in that same 1440 series, which is different than the PM 1440.

My friend is not in need of chambering through the headstock, just something I'm always aware of.. It is the reason I have two South Bend Heavy 10s, they are long sought after my gunsmiths to chamber through the headstock. I will be moving one to my new shop and setup to chamber.

Grizzly also offers some short headstock lathes, but my friend wants a new PM.

 

[Sniperhandle]

Something I've been curious of is how the PM 1440 chambers, I know it has a long enough cut between centers, but PM offers the 1340GT that is a gunsmithing lathe with a short headstock.

I have a friend that is going to buy the PM 1440, I think it's a great deal at $8k.

@urbanrifleman don't feel bad, I think we all have missed a few deals. Look on some of the local auctions and find exactly what you want, there are some screaming deals right now as the economy screeches to a halt with BideNomics...there are several machines that were branded under other names for that same machine, just in case you didn't know. Caddilac, Hwaucheon, Webb, Kingston, Yam, I think they all made a 1440 with the same Taiwan built lathe. Not sure about current models, but there's a lot of great lathes to be had at auction in that same 1440 series, which is different than the PM 1440.

My friend is not in need of chambering through the headstock, just something I'm always aware of.. It is the reason I have two South Bend Heavy 10s, they are long sought after my gunsmiths to chamber through the headstock. I will be moving one to my new shop and setup to chamber.

Grizzly also offers some short headstock lathes, but my friend wants a new PM.

Those 1440 machines weigh a couple thousand pounds more than a PM 1440 and the headstocks are wide, The only similarity is the "1440" designation, Those are great lathes but not nimble like the PM Machines which are better suited to doing gun work.

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

Those 1440 machines weigh a couple thousand pounds more than a PM 1440 and the headstocks are wide, The only similarity is the "1440" designation, Those are great lathes but not nimble like the PM Machines which are better suited to doing gun work.

I thought the 1340GT was preferable as it has a short headstock, in looking at their website after seeing you mention it, I see there's a 1440 gunsmith lathe.

My friend currently has a South Bend 13. He plans to keep it and do a refurb on it once he gets the PM, but I told him he will most likely use the PM most of the time should he get it. I know I would.

My main lathe will not move up to my new shop until I have a bunch of time to get the electrical setup. My main lathe is a Rivett 1020F from the 60s. It has a very long headstock, but unfortunately only has 20" between centers, so not great for longer barrels.

 

[Bamban]

Before the plandemic, I asked Matt to special order one for me from Taiwan that took over a year to get. It is 1440 variable speed with 5hp motor, 7hp vfd and DRO. He labeled it PM1440TV. I don't think he ever added it to his website. No idea how many of such configuration that he ordered.



I like the one piece cast iron base. One feature I wish it has is a pull out chip pan.

 

[Sniperhandle]

I thought the 1340GT was preferable as it has a short headstock, in looking at their website after seeing you mention it, I see there's a 1440 gunsmith lathe.

My friend currently has a South Bend 13. He plans to keep it and do a refurb on it once he gets the PM, but I told him he will most likely use the PM most of the time should he get it. I know I would.

My main lathe will not move up to my new shop until I have a bunch of time to get the electrical setup. My main lathe is a Rivett 1020F from the 60s. It has a very long headstock, but unfortunately only has 20" between centers, so not great for longer barrels.

I never said the 1340 wasn't any better or worse. I honestly think the 1340 is just about right for doing gun work, But most guy's have pretty much made the light duty 1440 standard. All of those PM lathes are light duty lathes, That's why they weigh 1500 pounds instead of 3 to 4000 pounds like the 1440's that you listed.

Dave Tooley has done hundreds if not thousands of winning barrels on a 10 inch Nardini lathe and he will tell you that a 10 to 12 inch lathe is more "Nimble" and better suited to gun work. I have a 1340 and couple of 12x36 lathes and I do my barrels on the 1340 and other projects on the other lathes. But I'm no expert, I don't do that many barrels per year anymore.

That Chinese PM 1440 2sm is actually just fine for barrel work. Gordy Gritters used chinese Grizzly's for years and turned out fabulous work. There is no doubt the Taiwan Lathe's are of higher quality, But the chinese ones of today are very good machines and if that's what your budget can afford, I think they are fine.

Now if you want to hog off a 0.250 or better at a good feed rate all day long you better get a heavy duty lathe. The brass worm gear on the apron is the weak point on the light duty lathes and you aren't going to hog off material for long on one of the light duty lathes before something is damaged. You might get away with it for a while.