biketestace Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Afternoon peeps, I need opinions on what your thoughts are, on the vast array of lathes available please, May I please point out that I am not an engineer of any sorts, just purely a hobbyist ! I currently own a Myford ML7 and get on really well with it, I use carbide tip tooling etc, and iv enjoyed using aluminium-brass etc.so far, I usually make bushings to suit my reloading press but I want to go bigger and better now and to include screw cutting. I keep hanging my nose over a Warco 240-250 type lathe.... Over the last few years, the Chinese-European made lathes have come on in leaps and bounds, your advise please on whether I do or don't buy would be really helpful. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snarepeg Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 I recon you should go bigger Paul, and sell me your Myford. My eyes are hurting looking at that site, loot, freeadds, gumtree etc. Let mine go to the farm 15 miles away and now miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biketestace Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 I was hoping for views on other lathes mate, I don't want to regret selling the Myford just yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterford103 Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) I have an old Colchester Student , it does everything I want and it's accurate and will outlast me , I have used it to re-barrel several of my rifles and it wasn't horrendously expensive . You might want to look here --- www.lathes.co.uk/ Edited January 3, 2016 by waterford103 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marki Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Of very limited help sorry, I run an old Grayson lathe that does most of what I want. A friend bought a Warco 4 years ago and managed to destroy the gears in no time at all. It took months for replacements to arrive. Maybe the spares supply as improved since then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 There are plenty old British lathes held prisoners in sheds workshops and garages across the country Why buy new junk under these circumstances Just make sure you get everything you need or a 4 jaw or steady could be hard to find on its own later Mostly stuff can be fixed up and brought back to tolerances Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peck Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 You may be interested in watching some of John's video's. Also Keith Fenner (watch the earlier vids from Keith. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDmxnPem-pPfJQATIkfgY2Q Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Problem with buying old machinery is knowing exactly how worn it is before purchase and the extortionate price of hard to find spares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennym Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 colchester student as said or the slightly smaller bantam is a good choice, dont discount the longer bed myford super7b with auto feed and power cross feed and a screwcutting gearbox. the colchesters are great machines but the spares & add ons available for the myord are readily available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biketestace Posted January 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Mmmmmmmmm, So know one is warming to the idea of a new import ? I sort of thought this would be the case, and a Super 7 is on the list because of the available spares etc. My mate has mentioned a Colchester Student, but that's because he wants one ! Thanks for the info so far lads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Mmmmmmmmm, So know one is warming to the idea of a new import ? I sort of thought this would be the case, and a Super 7 is on the list because of the available spares etc. My mate has mentioned a Colchester Student, but that's because he wants one ! Thanks for the info so far lads Not sure there are too many engineers on here and I guess they already have lathes. I have a Myford ML7 but often question why as years can go by without it being used. A mate has a little APTC lathe which I am sure is imported. He is an very good mechanic and repairs all sorts of strange bits of old equipment and airguns, he gets on fine with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Don't pass on the Boxfords either, schools lately have been selling them off, cracking little lathes. If you do come across one, make sure you get as many of the accessories as you can, some are like rocky horse ****. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 I had a Boxford and a Chinese lathe I kept the Chinese one but have put much work into it including a 3 phase Siemens 1hp motor and inverter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennym Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Not sure there are too many engineers on here and I guess they already have lathes. I have a Myford ML7 but often question why as years can go by without it being used. A mate has a little APTC lathe which I am sure is imported. He is an very good mechanic and repairs all sorts of strange bits of old equipment and airguns, he gets on fine with it. I have a friend in the market for an ml7 if you are considering selling? thanks Ken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Just be choosy it really is that easy. If you don't exactly know how to inspect them take a man who does. If it hasn't got all you want or its an old dog walk away. Too much hassle to move then mess with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 I had a Boxford and a Chinese lathe I kept the Chinese one but have put much work into it including a 3 phase Siemens 1hp motor and inverter. It was the opposite for me, had the option of a chinese at the time of purchase, but been from a engineering background took the Boxford, I also went down the same route as yourself with the 3 phase & the inverter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biketestace Posted January 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 ****** It, Im looking for a Super 7 .............................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biketestace Posted January 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 You may be interested in watching some of John's video's. Also Keith Fenner (watch the earlier vids from Keith. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDmxnPem-pPfJQATIkfgY2Q Iv watched a few of Johns videos mate, and learned loads in the process Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevb Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Paul, I was in the very same predicament 18 odd years ago, new or used??? I bit the bullet and bought the very best Harrison I could find and to be honest it was not a lot more than Myford money. I have never regretted buying it, nor regretted parting with my Myford. Solidly built, parts are available as is tooling. I did go Chinese for my milling machine (Myford VM copy) and have wished for the past 14 years I had bought a Bridgeport! nothing wrong with it but the quality is not there. Go to a decent company and have a look at what your money will get you...try http://www.homeandworkshop.co.uk/index.html?40020 I have been told they are honest and reliable but have never personally used them. I have used Steve at http://www.premiermachinetools.co.uk/ and can vouch for his honesty and helpfulness.....BUY BRITISH!! Cheers Nev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biketestace Posted January 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2016 Paul, I was in the very same predicament 18 odd years ago, new or used??? I bit the bullet and bought the very best Harrison I could find and to be honest it was not a lot more than Myford money. I have never regretted buying it, nor regretted parting with my Myford. Solidly built, parts are available as is tooling. I did go Chinese for my milling machine (Myford VM copy) and have wished for the past 14 years I had bought a Bridgeport! nothing wrong with it but the quality is not there. Go to a decent company and have a look at what your money will get you...try http://www.homeandworkshop.co.uk/index.html?40020 I have been told they are honest and reliable but have never personally used them. I have used Steve at http://www.premiermachinetools.co.uk/ and can vouch for his honesty and helpfulness.....BUY BRITISH!! Cheers Nev. Thanks Nev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 I run a boxford AUD. Old school. Only downside with it is the 20mm through hole. Makes it a pain for dealing with barrels but there is a way with a fixed steady. I would not be selling off a myford for a chick tin pot paper weight. Better off going and buying a Clarke. If you have room the a student would be the one to look for. Easy to use and built like a tank, just need to check its not worn out, if slide screws and bearings are then do you have a way to fix it up. Love my metric boxford. Also have a Derbyshire watchmakers lathe that I only use for pulling bullets and trimming cases. 1946 and as tight as a ducks bum. Worth twice of the boxford. Keep an eye on my little machine shop and lathes co uk for sales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 What sort of money is an ML or Super 7 worth ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennym Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) taxidriver if your selling one a mint example would bring £8,75 let me know when to pick it up? activeiii can you work on a varmint barrel on an AUD? Edited January 15, 2016 by kennym Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 taxidriver if your selling one a mint example would bring £8,75 let me know when to pick it up? activeiii can you work on a varmint barrel on an AUD? Sorry for lathe reply, only just seen this. To answer your question. No. Varmint barrels are around 22+mm. Head stock bore is 20mm and between centres as about 22" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 HiI recently bought a Myford ML7, the hole through the spindle isn't huge though and only certain barrels would go through I reckon (Not set up yet!! )A couple of years ago I swapped my wood working lathe for this Granville Senior which is so similar to the ML7 that certain parts can be swapped over!! Both machines are superb regarding tolerances but the granville has a larger bore through the spindle so will take more barrels for threading/Crowning It's typical that the one I have set up is a 100 year old flat cone pulley machine that's so worn that parallel turning is out of the question!! I also have a couple of baby lathes too! Flexispeed 7, This was made 100 yds from where I used to live!!! And a Wade, Both the Wade and the Flexispeed use right hand threaded rods for travel/travers so in a moment of absent mindedness, a job can be ruing when backing the tool off as it actually advances it!! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.